Button switch with non-contact operation function

Abstract

To provide a button switch with non-contact operation function that allows the design to be enlarged without increasing the overall size of a button and has few restrictions on the arrangement of the LEDs for button illumination.SOLUTION: A button switch with a non-contact operation function 1 allows selection between button contact operation by pressing a button body 21 of an operation button 2 and button non-contact operation by a photoelectric sensor, and a transmitting port for transmitting light emitted from a transmitter 43 of the photoelectric sensor and a light receiving port for receiving reflected light of the transmitted light are provided at symmetrical positions separated from each other across the center of the button body 21, and a pattern 24a indicating the operation content is provided in the center of the button body 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a button switch with a non-contact operation function. [Background technology]

[0002] As shown in FIG. 9, elevators have traditionally used push button switches 100 with a pattern 101a (in this case, 1, the destination floor) displayed on the surface of the button 101 indicating the button operation such as the destination floor and the door opening / closing direction (see Patent Documents 1 to 3). That is, the conventional push button switch 100 has a substrate (not shown) covered with a cover 102 and a button 101, and when an operator manually presses the button 101 inward into the cover 102, a switch (not shown) on the substrate provided below the button 101 is operated, and a signal corresponding to the design displayed on the surface of the button 101 is sent to the elevator control unit, causing the elevator to operate in accordance with the signal. In Fig. 9, 103 is a connector unit.

[0003] However, many people have concerns about hygiene regarding elevator push button switches 100, because the buttons 101 are operated by an unspecified number of people. This tendency has become more prevalent, especially due to the spread of coronavirus infection. In view of this, a button switch 200 with a non-contact operation function as shown in FIG. 10 has been proposed recently.

[0004] In this button switch 200 with non-contact operation function, the destination floor of the elevator can be set by pressing the button 201 in the same manner as in the conventional push button switch 100, and the button 201 is equipped with a non-contact sensor portion. The non-contact sensor unit has a sensor window 210 provided at the bottom of the button 201, and is configured so that light emitted from a transmitter of a photoelectric sensor provided on a substrate unit (not shown) and reflected light of this emitted light can pass through and be received by a receiver.

[0005] That is, in the above-mentioned button switch 200 with non-contact operation function, when a hand is held in front of the sensor window 210, the light emitted from the transmitter of the photoelectric sensor is reflected by the hand, and when this reflected light is received by the receiver, a signal corresponding to the pattern displayed on the button 201 is sent to the elevator control unit, even if the button 201 is not directly touched. In FIG. 10, 201a denotes a design, and 203 denotes a connector portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-272473 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2009-289510 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2012-74393 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the case of the above-mentioned button switch 200 with non-contact operation function, the sensor window 210 of the photoelectric sensor is formed at the bottom of the button 201, so the size of the pattern 201a indicating the operation content displayed on the surface of the button 101 must be made small. Also, because the sensor window occupies the bottom side, the button illumination LED that lights up the button can only be provided on the top side, which may result in uneven lighting and reduced brightness. Furthermore, because the transmitter and receiver are located on the bottom side of the button, the non-contact response range is toward the bottom, and there is a risk of erroneous response in areas outside the button.

[0008] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a button switch with a non-contact operation function that allows the design to be enlarged without increasing the overall size of the button and that places fewer restrictions on the placement of the LED for illuminating the button. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The button switch with non-contact operation function of the present invention is incorporated in an elevator operation panel and comprises an operation button exposed on the surface of the operation panel, and a substrate section that supports the operation button, is housed within the operation panel, and is electrically connected to a control section of the elevator at least via a signal line, the substrate section having a photoelectric sensor having a transmitter and a receiver, the operation button has a pattern on its surface indicating the button operation content, has a light exit section for transmitting light from the transmitter to the outside of the operation button, and a light entrance section through which reflected light heading toward the receiver enters toward the receiver, and is a button switch with non-contact operation function that is selectable between a button contact operation in which an operation instruction signal is sent to the control section by pressing, and a button non-contact operation in which an operation instruction signal is sent to the control section when the receiver receives the reflected light via the light entrance section, and is characterized in that the operation button has the pattern provided in the center, and the light exit section and the light entrance section are provided individually at separate positions on the outer edge of the operation button.

[0010] Although not particularly limited, the button switch with non-contact operation function of the present invention is preferably configured such that the transmitter and receiver are arranged in symmetrical positions around the central axis of the operation button, and the light exit portion and light entrance portion are arranged in symmetrical positions around the central axis of the operation button. In other words, with the above configuration, the operation button can be installed inverted, and when the positions of the light exit section and the light entering section are inverted upside down or left to right, there is no need to prepare a separate substrate section, thereby reducing costs.

[0011] In the above configuration, although not particularly limited, the button switch with non-contact operation function of the present invention is preferably configured such that the substrate portion has a substrate main body and a connector portion extending from one side of the substrate main body, the substrate main body has at least two orthogonal central axes that serve as centers of symmetry, the transmitter and receiver are provided in positions that are symmetrical about one of the central axes, and the connector portion is formed in a symmetrical shape about one of the central axes. With the above configuration, even if the connection portion on the elevator control panel side is reversed left and right, there is no need to prepare a separate base plate portion. In other words, in the case of a conventional button switch with non-contact operation function shown in Figure 10, in order to change the protruding direction of the connector, it is necessary to prepare separate board parts with connector parts protruding in left and right directions, which increases the number of parts and increases costs. However, by using the above configuration, only one type of board part and button is required, making it possible to reduce costs.

[0012] Although not particularly limited, the button switch with non-contact operation function of the present invention preferably includes a first optical waveguide member that guides the transmitted light emitted from the transmitter to the light exit section, and a second optical waveguide member that guides the reflected light that enters from the light entrance section to the receiver. In other words, with the above configuration, the light emitted from the transmitter can be reliably output from the light output section with almost no attenuation, and the reflected light entering from the light input section can be reliably received by the receiver with almost no attenuation, thereby improving the accuracy of non-contact operation.

[0013] Although not particularly limited, the button switch with non-contact operation function of the present invention preferably has a button body formed of a light-transmitting material, the substrate portion has an illumination LED which projects light onto at least the design portion of the operation button, and a light-shielding layer which makes the light of the illumination LED invisible from outside the operation button through the button body is provided at a position which does not interfere with the light emission from the light exit portion on the back surface of the button body and the light entering from the light entrance portion. That is,

[0014] In the present invention, the optical waveguide member is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include those used in known optical waveguides having a core layer made of a highly light-transmitting material such as an acrylic resin, a methacrylic resin, polycarbonate, polystyrene, an epoxy resin, or an oxetane resin, a polyamide, a polyimide, a polybenzoxazole, a polysilane, a polysilazane, or a silicone resin, and a cladding layer that prevents light from leaking from the side of the core layer.

[0015] In the present invention, a photoelectric sensor is a sensor that emits "light" such as visible light or infrared light from a light-projecting part, detects the light reflected by a detection object or the change in the amount of light blocked by the light-receiving part, and obtains an output signal. An infrared sensor is preferable. Effect of the Invention

[0016] The button switch with non-contact operation function of the present invention is incorporated in an elevator operation panel and comprises an operation button exposed on a surface of the operation panel, and a substrate section supporting the operation button and housed within the operation panel and electrically connected to a control section of the elevator at least via a signal line, the substrate section comprising a photoelectric sensor having a transmitter and a receiver, the operation button having a pattern on its surface indicating a button operation content, a light exit section for transmitting light from the transmitter to the outside of the operation button, and a light entrance section through which reflected light heading for the receiver enters the receiver, and the button switch with non-contact operation function is selectable between a button contact operation in which an operation instruction signal is sent to the control section by pressing, and a button non-contact operation in which an operation instruction signal is sent to the control section when the receiver receives the reflected light via the light entrance section, and the operation button has the pattern provided in the center, and the light exit section and the light entrance section are provided separately on the outer edge of the operation button and at separate positions, thereby providing the following excellent effects.

[0017] That is, since the light exit portion and the light entrance portion are provided separately at positions spaced apart from each other on the outer edge of the operation button, a large space can be secured in the center of the button, and a large design can be displayed on the surface of the button. In addition, since there is no need to provide large windows in the operation buttons, there are fewer restrictions on the placement of LEDs for illuminating the buttons. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a button switch with a non-contact operation function according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the button switch with non-contact operation function shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a second embodiment of the button switch with a non-contact operation function according to the present invention. [Figure 7] 7 is a rear view of a button body of the button switch with non-contact operation function of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional push button switch. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional button switch with a non-contact operation function. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a button switch with a non-contact operation function according to the present invention.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, this button switch with a non-contact operation function 1a includes an elevator (not shown) board portion 4, a cover 3, and an operation button 2a. The board unit 4 includes a board unit main body 41 and a connector unit .

[0021] The board body 41 includes a base portion 40 having a substantially square shape when viewed from the front, and a switch operation portion 45 . The base portion 40 has a locking protrusion 47 protruding from its side peripheral surface, which engages with the locking claw portion 32 of the cover 3 described later, and is also provided with a transmitter 43, a receiver 44, a tactile switch 46, and an illumination LED 48 on its surface facing the operation button 2a, as shown in FIG. 4. The connector portion 42 is arranged to be electrically connectable to the elevator control portion and the button switch 1a with non-contact operation function, and protrudes from the board portion main body 41 so as to be parallel to the central axis of one side wall of the board portion main body 41 and to be symmetrical about the central axis.

[0022] The transmitter 43 and the receiver 44 are fixed to the base portion 40 so as to be symmetrical about the vertical center of the substrate main body 41, and the transmitter 43 is formed of an infrared emitting LED, and the receiver 44 is formed of an infrared sensor. The tactile switch 46 is fixed to the center of the base portion 40, and is designed to temporarily open the circuit when pressed by a switch operating protrusion 45a (described later).

[0023] Although only two lighting LEDs 48 are shown in FIG. 4, they are positioned offset from the transmitter 43 and receiver 44, facing the plate-shaped portion 24 of the pattern member 24 described later from the back side of the button body 2b, and are arranged to form a square with the tact switch 46 as the diagonal center, so as to emit visible light.

[0024] The switch operation unit 45 is provided so as to be movable toward and away from the base unit 40 while being biased in a direction away from the base unit 40 by a biasing means such as a spring (not shown). The switch operation portion 45 is provided with a switch operation protrusion 45a at a position facing the tactile switch 46, and has fitting holes 45b formed at positions facing the transmitter 43 and the receiver 44, respectively.

[0025] The switch operation portion 45 is maintained in a non-contact state with the tact switch 46 by the biasing means unless it is pressed by an operation button 2a, which will be described later. One end of one of the paired optical waveguide members 25 is fitted into each of the fitting holes 45b.

[0026] The cover 3 has an external shape that is approximately the same as that of the substrate main body 41, and is provided with a locking claw portion 32 at a position facing the locking protrusion 47, and a guide tube portion 31 in the center for guiding the button body 21 of the operation button 2a so that it can be retracted.

[0027] The operation button 2a includes a button body 21 and a design member 24. The button body 21 is fitted into the guide tube portion 31, and its lower end is supported and fixed to the switch operation portion 45, and is provided with two through holes 21a and a design portion fitting hole 21b.

[0028] The two through holes 21a are formed at symmetrical positions in the up-down direction of the button body 21, and the other ends of two optical waveguide members 25, which will be described later, are fitted into the two through holes 21a, respectively. The two optical waveguide members 25 are those used in known optical waveguides, which include a core layer made of a material with high optical transparency and a clad layer that prevents light from leaking from the side surfaces of the core layer.

[0029] Although not shown, one end of one optical waveguide member 25 is positioned so as to face the transmitter 43 of the photoelectric sensor, and the other end is fitted into one of the through holes 21 a of the button body 21 . The other optical waveguide member 25 has one end disposed at a position facing the receiver 44 of the photoelectric sensor, and the other end fitted into the other through hole 21 a of the button body 21 .

[0030] That is, in one optical waveguide member 25, the outgoing light emitted from the transmitter 43 is guided from one end to the other end of the optical waveguide member 25, and the outgoing light is emitted from the other end which serves as the light output section. In addition, in the other optical waveguide member 25, the outgoing light emitted from the light output section and the reflected light reflected by a hand or the like are guided from the other end of the optical waveguide member 25 to one end, and are received by the receiver 44.

[0031] The pattern member 24 is formed from a light-transmitting resin material and has a plate-shaped portion 24b that fits into the back side of the button body 21, and a pattern portion 24a that protrudes from this plate-shaped portion 24b, fits into the pattern portion fitting hole 21b, and has a tip that protrudes from the surface of the button body 21. The pattern portion 24a is a protrusion having a pattern shape (1 in this embodiment) indicating the operation content. In addition, the pattern member 24 is configured such that light is irradiated from the lighting LED 48 onto the plate-shaped portion 24b, causing the pattern portion 24a to glow.

[0032] The cover 3 covers the peripheral edge of a substrate body 41, which will be described later, and has a guide tube portion 31 protruding from the center. The guide tube portion 31 guides the button body 21 so that it can be recessed. In addition, the cover 3 has a locking claw portion 32 protruding at a position corresponding to the locking protrusion 47, and when the button body 21 is fitted into the button body guide tube portion 31, the locking claw portion 32 covers the board body 41 so that it fits into the locking protrusion 47, thereby allowing the operation button 2a to be attached to the board body 41.

[0033] This button switch 1a with non-contact operation function is configured as described above. When the operation button 2a is pressed, the switch operation portion 45 moves toward the base portion 40 against the biasing force, and the tact switch 46 is operated. When the tactile switch 46 is operated, an operation signal corresponding to the design of the non-contact operation function-equipped button switch 1a is sent to the control unit.

[0034] In addition, since it is equipped with a photoelectric sensor, by holding a hand over the button body 21 of the operation button 2a without touching it, the transmitted light is emitted from the transmitter 43 and passes through one optical waveguide member 25 to the other end of the one optical waveguide member 25, which is the light output portion, and is reflected by the hand or the like. The reflected light is guided from the other end of the other optical waveguide member 25, which is the light input portion, to one end, and when it is received by the receiver 44, an operation signal is sent to the control unit, making it possible to operate the pattern content even in a non-contact state.

[0035] As described above, this button switch 1a with non-contact operation function allows the operator to freely select between touch button operation and non-contact button operation. Moreover, in this button switch 1a with non-contact operation function, the through holes 21a which serve as light emitting or receiving ports are provided at symmetrical positions around the center of the button body 21, so that a large pattern display area can be secured in the center of the button body 21.

[0036] Furthermore, in this button switch 1a with contactless operation function, the light emitter 43 and the receiver 44 are arranged in symmetrical positions on either side of the center of the substrate main body 41, and the connector portion 42 protrudes from the substrate main body 41 so as to be parallel to the central axis of one side wall of the substrate main body 41 and to be symmetrical on either side of the central axis. Therefore, even if the position of the connector portion is reversed depending on the type of elevator, it is possible to simply rotate the operation button 2a 180 degrees, and there is no need to prepare a separate substrate portion 4. Furthermore, in this button switch 1a with contactless operation function, one end of the optical waveguide member 25 is fitted into the fitting hole 45b facing the transmitter 43 or the receiver 44, and the other end of the optical waveguide member 25 is fitted into the transparent hole 21a which serves as the light-emitting port or the light-receiving port, so that the transmitted light emitted from the transmitter 43 is reliably emitted to the outside of the button body 21 via the optical waveguide member 25, and the reflected light reliably enters the light receiver 44 via the optical waveguide member 25.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of a button switch with a non-contact operation function according to the present invention. 6, this button switch 1b with non-contact operation function is similar to the button switch 1a with non-contact operation function, except that the optical waveguide member 25 and the button body 2b are configured as described below in detail, as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components as those in the button switch 1a with non-contact operation function are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0038] In detail, as shown in FIG. 6, in this button switch with non-contact operation function 1b, no through hole 21a is drilled in the button body 26 of the operation button 2b, and the other end face of the optical waveguide member 25 is arranged to be in close contact with the rear surface of the button body 26. 7 and 8, the button body 26 is provided with a light-shielding layer 27 on its back surface. The light-shielding layer 27 can be formed by, but not limited to, applying a resin paint having light-shielding properties to the back surface of the button body 26, fitting a molded product made of a light-shielding material thereon, adhering a molded product made of a light-shielding material to the back surface, or by two-color molding with the button body.

[0039] The light-shielding layer 27 includes a portion where the other end faces of the two optical waveguide members 25 are in close contact with each other and a portion around the periphery of the portion, in which the light-shielding layer is not formed 27a. In addition, in Figs. 7 and 8, 26a is a pattern portion fitting hole.

[0040] In this button switch 1b with non-contact operation function, as described above, the button body 26 of the operation button 2b has a light-shielding layer 27 on the back surface, so the light of the lighting LED 48 cannot be directly seen from the surface of the button body 2b. Therefore, it is possible to prevent uneven color of the lighting of the button body 26, such as only the front part of the lighting LED 48 of the button body 26 being brighter than other parts. In addition, in this button switch 1b with non-contact operation function, the other end face of one optical waveguide member 25 is in close contact with the back surface of the button body 26, so that the emitted light emitted from the transmitter 43 is guided to the other end of the optical waveguide member 25 via the optical waveguide member 25, and then passes through the button body 26 on the front surface thereof and is emitted to the outside of the button body 26. That is, the position of the button body 26 facing the other end of the waveguide member 25 serves as a light exiting portion. And, since the other end face of the other optical waveguide member 25 is in close contact with the back surface of the button body 2b, the portion of the button body 26 where the other end face of the other optical waveguide member 25 is in close contact serves as a light entering portion, and the reflected light entering from this light entering portion is guided to one end of the other optical waveguide member 25 and is received by the receiver 44.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the pattern is formed by fitting the pattern part of the pattern forming member into the through hole provided in the button body, but the pattern may be provided by printing. In the above embodiment, the light emitting aperture and the light receiving aperture are provided symmetrically in the vertical direction, but they may be provided symmetrically in the horizontal direction. In the above embodiment, an optical waveguide member is used, but depending on the arrangement of the transmitter and receiver, an optical waveguide member may not be provided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1a, 1b button switch with non-contact operation function 2a, 2b Operation buttons 21, 26 Button body 21a Through hole 21b, 26a Pattern fitting hole 24 Design elements 24a Design section 24b Plate-shaped part 25 Optical waveguide material 27 Light blocking layer 27a Part without light shielding layer 3 Cover 31 Guide tube 32 Locking claw 4. Board section 40 Base 41 Main body of circuit board 42 Connector part 43 Transmitter 44 Receiver 45 Switch operation section 45a Switch operation protrusion 45b Fitting hole 46 Tactile Switch 47 Locking protrusion 48 LED lighting

Claims

1. an operation button that is incorporated in an elevator operation panel and exposed on a surface of the operation panel; and a substrate that supports the operation button, is housed within the operation panel, and is electrically connected to a control unit of the elevator at least via a signal line; The substrate portion includes a photoelectric sensor having a transmitter and a receiver, The operation button has a pattern on its surface indicating the button operation content, The operation button includes a light exit section for emitting light from the transmitter to the outside of the operation button, and a light entrance section for receiving light reflected from the transmitter toward the receiver, a button contact operation in which an operation instruction signal is sent to the control unit by a pressing operation; a button switch with a non-contact operation function that is capable of selecting a non-contact button operation in which an operation instruction signal is sent to the control unit when the receiver receives the reflected light through the light incident unit, The operation button has the pattern at the center, A button switch with a non-contact operation function, characterized in that the light exit portion and the light entrance are individually provided at positions spaced apart from each other on the outer edge of the operation button.

2. A button switch with a non-contact operation function as described in claim 1, wherein the transmitter and receiver are arranged in symmetrical positions around the central axis of the operation button, and the light exit portion and light entrance portion are arranged in symmetrical positions around the central axis of the operation button.

3. The substrate portion has a substrate body and a connector portion extending from one side surface of the substrate body, The substrate body has at least two orthogonal central axes serving as a center of symmetry, and the transmitter and receiver are provided at positions symmetrical with respect to one of the central axes, 3. The button switch with a non-contact operation function according to claim 2, wherein the connector portions are formed symmetrically with respect to either one of the central axes.

4. 3. A button switch with a non-contact operation function as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a first optical waveguide member that guides the transmitted light emitted from the transmitter to the light exiting portion; and a second optical waveguide member that guides the reflected light that enters from the light entering portion to the receiver.

5. The operation button includes a button body formed of a light-transmitting material, the substrate portion has an illumination LED that projects light onto at least the design portion of the operation button, 3. A button switch with a non-contact operation function as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a light-shielding layer that makes the light of the illumination LED invisible from outside the operation button through the button body is provided at a position on the back surface of the button body that does not interfere with the light emission from the light exit portion and the light entering from the light entrance portion.

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