Non-contact button system

Abstract

The invention relates to a non-contact button system. The system comprises a plurality of buttons; a distance sensor disposed between the plurality of buttons, the distance sensor facing a pressing direction of the buttons and having a plurality of sensing areas; and a control unit configured to select one button among the plurality of buttons using the information on the object detected by the distance sensor. The non-contact button system has the advantages of being high in object recognition accuracy and low in installation cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a contactless button system, and more specifically, to a contactless button system equipped with a ToF (Time of Flight) sensor. Background Technology

[0002] High-rise buildings such as apartment buildings and high-rises are equipped with elevators to facilitate vertical movement. Users typically use their fingers to press elevator touch buttons that display the floor number to go to their destination floor or to open and close the elevator doors.

[0003] Traditional elevator touch buttons are either push-button or capacitive buttons that detect changes in capacitance; however, regardless of the method, finger contact with the button is required. Recently, hygiene has become a critical issue in public facilities, and methods to minimize hand contact, which carries numerous contaminants, are being researched. Therefore, to reduce the spread of infectious diseases through elevator touch buttons installed in subway stations, airports, hospitals, etc., a contactless method for registering destination floors has been proposed, which can be easily applied to structures already equipped with elevators.

[0004] One approach to implementing a contactless (or contactless) button system with high sensing accuracy is to use a Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor. However, applying a ToF sensor to each elevator button presents the problem of needing to replace existing buttons. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Technical issues

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a non-contact button system equipped with a ToF sensor, which has high sensing accuracy and low installation cost.

[0007] Technical solution

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, as a feature, the present invention provides a non-contact button system comprising: a plurality of buttons; a distance sensor disposed among the plurality of buttons, the distance sensor facing the pressing direction of the buttons and having a plurality of sensing areas; and a control unit configured to select one of the plurality of buttons using information about an object detected by the distance sensor.

[0009] Preferably, the control unit is configured to select a button based on a sensing area having distance information indicating the closest distance to the object. Furthermore, the control unit can be configured to select a button only when the distance to the object continues to decrease.

[0010] Preferably, the control unit can be configured to ignore the proximity of an object when it approaches the sensing area corresponding to the front side of the distance sensor, so that button selection is not performed.

[0011] Preferably, the control unit can be configured to select a button based on a change in the orientation of the sensing area of ​​the detected object.

[0012] Technical effect

[0013] According to the present invention with the above configuration, the advantage of the non-contact button system equipped with a distance sensor is that it has high object recognition accuracy and low installation cost. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 The configuration and operation of a contactless button system according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown.

[0015] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows a detailed configuration of the distance measurement unit.

[0016] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The diagram shows the configuration of the ToF (Time of Flight) sensor.

[0017] Figure 4 Detailed Figure 1 The non-contact button system shown operates when an object is normally approached.

[0018] Figure 5 Show Figure 1 The non-contact button system shown operates when an object with a wide area approaches.

[0019] Figure 6 Show Figure 1 The operation shown in the non-contact button system is based on the direction of the object's movement.

[0020] Figure 7 The configuration and operation of a contactless button system according to another embodiment of the present invention are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To fully understand the invention, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiments of the invention may be modified in various ways, and the scope of the invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described in detail below. These embodiments are provided to explain the invention more completely to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the shapes of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated to highlight a clearer description. It should be noted that the same components in each drawing may be denoted using the same reference numerals. Detailed descriptions of known functions and configurations that might unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the invention have been omitted.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating the configuration and operation of a contactless button system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein, Figure 1 (a) is a front view, and Figure 1 (b) is a side view. As shown, the contactless button system 100 includes multiple (e.g., two) buttons 102a, 102b and a distance measurement unit 104. As described in detail below, the distance measurement unit 104 includes a ToF sensor as a distance sensor and a control unit for button selection.

[0023] The ToF sensor is installed between buttons 102a and 102b, facing the pressing direction of buttons 102a and 102b (by...). Figure 1 (Indicated by the arrows in the diagram). Furthermore, the ToF sensor is mounted in front of a surface 107 on which multiple buttons 102a, 102b are mounted, and has multiple sensing areas 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d perpendicular to the pressing direction. The ToF sensor can generate information related to the distance to an object 108 located within the sensing areas 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, as well as information related to the sensing area where the object is located.

[0024] As a Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor, a multi-segment ToF sensor with multiple sensing areas that are laterally adjacent can be used. A multi-segment ToF sensor can not only identify the distance to an object, but also the sensing area where the object exists.

[0025] When object 108 approaches to select a specific button in the contactless button system 100, the Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor of the distance measurement unit 104 transmits information related to the distance to object 108 and information related to the sensing area where object 108 is located to the control unit. The control unit operates to select one of a plurality of buttons 102a, 102b based on the distance information and sensing area information transmitted by the ToF sensor. The control unit maps sensing area 106a to button 102a and sensing area 106d to button 102b. Figure 1In the case of object 108 shown, although object 108 exists in all sensing areas 106a, 106b, 106c, and 106d, the control unit operates to select the upper button 102a because the distance to object 108 in sensing area 106a is closest to the measuring unit 104.

[0026] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The detailed configuration diagram of the distance measurement unit 104 is shown. As shown, the distance measurement unit 104 includes a power supply unit 202, a control unit 204, a ToF sensor 206, relays 208a and 208b, and a circuit board 210.

[0027] Power supply unit 202 receives power from an external source and converts it into power to drive distance measurement unit 104. ToF sensor 204 is a distance sensor that senses the distance to objects within the sensing area. Control unit 206 determines the selected button based on the distance sensed by ToF sensor 204, generates a control signal based on the determination result, and provides the control signal to the selected relay. When a control signal is provided from control unit 206, relay 208a selects button 102a, and relay 208b selects button 102b. Circuit board 210 provides electrical connections between components 202, 204, 206, 208a, and 208b.

[0028] Because the distance measurement unit 104 only needs to be installed in the existing button system, the contactless button system 100 according to this embodiment is easy to install and has low installation cost.

[0029] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The diagram shows a configuration of a Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor. As shown, the ToF sensor 204 includes a transmitting unit 302 and a receiving unit 304. For example, the transmitting unit may consist of a VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface Emitting Laser), and the receiving unit may consist of a SPAD (Single-Photon Avalanche Diode). The distance measurement unit 104 may include a glass plate 306 or similar device in front of the ToF sensor 204 to prevent contamination or damage to the ToF sensor 204.

[0030] The emitting unit 302 emits infrared light, and the receiving unit 304 receives the reflected infrared light. For example, the FOI (field of illumination) of the emitting unit 302 is approximately 40 degrees, and the FOV (field of view) of the receiving unit 304 is 30 to 60 degrees in the Y-axis direction and 30 to 42 degrees in the X-axis direction. The ToF sensor 204 measures the distance to the object 108 by measuring the time from the emission of infrared light by the emitting unit 302 to the receipt of the signal reflected from the object 108 by the receiving unit 304.

[0031] Figure 4 It is shown in detail Figure 1 The diagram illustrates the operation of the contactless button system 100 when objects 402 and 404 are normally approaching, wherein... Figure 4 (a) shows the situation when object 402 points to the upper button 102a, and Figure 4 (b) shows the situation when object 404 points to the lower button 102b.

[0032] like Figure 4 As shown in (a), when object 402 is a hand with its index finger extended and pointing towards the upper button 102a, object 402 is sensed in all sensing areas 106a, 106b, 106c, and 106d. The distance to object 402 detected by the distance measurement unit 104 is closest in sensing area 106a, similar in sensing areas 106b and 106c, and farthest in sensing area 106d. In this case, the control unit operates so that the upper button 102a mapped to sensing area 106a is selected.

[0033] like Figure 4 As shown in (b), when object 404 is a hand with its index finger extended and pointing towards the lower button 102b, object 404 is sensed in some sensing areas 106c and 106d. The distance to object 404 detected by the distance measurement unit 104 is relatively far in sensing area 106c and relatively close in sensing area 106d. In this case, the control unit operates so that the lower button 102b mapped to sensing area 106d is selected.

[0034] Figure 5 Show Figure 1 The non-contact button system 100 shown operates when an object 502 with a wide area approaches.

[0035] when Figure 5When the object 502 shown approaches the contactless button system 100, it is sensed in all sensing areas 106a, 106b, 106c, and 106d. The distance to the object 502 detected by the distance measurement unit 104 is relatively far in sensing areas 106a and 106d, and relatively close in sensing areas 106b and 106c. Sensing areas 106b and 106c are located directly in front of the distance measurement unit 104 (i.e., the ToF sensor), and the distance measurement unit 104 is located between buttons 102a and 102b. When the closest distance is detected in sensing areas 106b and 106c corresponding to the area directly in front of the distance measurement unit 104, the control unit can ignore the approach of the object 502 because it is difficult to identify the button. Furthermore, when the distance detected in the sensing area 106a mapped to button 102a and the distance detected in the sensing area 106d mapped to button 102b are approximately similar and the distance difference is small, the control unit can ignore object 502 because it is difficult to specify the selected button.

[0036] Figure 6 Show Figure 1 The operation performed in the non-contact button system 100 shown is based on the movement direction of objects 602 and 604.

[0037] In the case of object 602, the nearest distance is detected in sensing area 106a, and during button selection processing, the distance from sensing area 106a to object 602 gradually changes in a direction that becomes closer over a predetermined time period. When the distance to the object in the sensing area where the nearest distance was detected changes to continuously becoming closer, the control unit determines the movement of object 602 as a normal button selection process and causes the specific button to be selected.

[0038] When object 604 moves like a visually impaired person groping for Braille, the nearest distance is detected in sensing area 106d, but no gradual change in distance over a predetermined time is detected in sensing area 106d. In this case, the control unit of distance measurement unit 104 ignores object 604, thus not performing non-contact button selection, and performs button selection only by contact.

[0039] Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating the configuration and operation of a contactless button system 700 according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein, Figure 7 (a) shows the case where object 708 moves upward. Figure 7(b) Shows object 710 moving downwards. As shown, the contactless button system 700 includes multiple (e.g., two) buttons 702a, 702b and a distance measurement unit 704. The distance measurement unit 704 includes a ToF sensor and a control unit as described in detail with respect to distance measurement unit 104.

[0040] The ToF sensor is installed between buttons 702a and 702b, facing the pressing direction of buttons 702a and 702b (by...). Figure 7 (Indicated by the arrows in the diagram). Furthermore, the ToF sensor is mounted in front of a surface 705 on which multiple buttons 702a, 702b are mounted, and has multiple sensing areas 706a, 706b, 706c, 706d perpendicular to the pressing direction. The ToF sensor can generate information related to the distance to objects 708, 710 located within the sensing areas 706a, 706b, 706c, 706d, as well as information related to the sensing area where the object is located.

[0041] like Figure 7 As shown in (a), when object 708 moves upward to select a specific button in the contactless button system 700, the sensing area that senses the shortest distance of object 708 changes in the direction of 706d → 706c → 706b → 706a. In this case, the control unit operates so that the upper button 702a is selected. Figure 7 As shown in (b), when object 710 moves downward, the sensing area that senses the shortest distance of object 710 changes in the direction of 706a → 706b → 706c → 706d. In this case, the control unit operates so that the lower button 702b is selected. In this way, the control unit can determine the user's gesture by the change in the direction of the sensing area to perform button selection.

[0042] Although not shown, the presence of an object is determined by using a separate sensor with a longer recognition distance, and the position recognition ToF sensor mounted on the control button is in a low-power state when no object is detected, which reduces the total power consumption.

[0043] The embodiments of the present invention described above are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Therefore, it will be well understood that the present invention is not limited to the forms mentioned in the detailed description above. Consequently, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims. Furthermore, the present invention should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A contactless button system, comprising: Multiple buttons; A distance sensor is disposed between the plurality of buttons, the distance sensor facing the pressing direction of the buttons, and having multiple sensing areas; as well as The control unit is configured to select one of the plurality of buttons using information about the object detected by the distance sensor.

2. The contactless button system according to claim 1, wherein, The control unit is configured to select a button as the distance to the object continues to decrease.

3. The contactless button system according to claim 1, wherein, The control unit is configured to ignore the proximity of the object when the object approaches the sensing area corresponding to the front side of the distance sensor.

4. The contactless button system according to claim 1, wherein, The control unit is configured to select a button based on a detected change in the orientation of the sensing area of ​​the object.

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