Pushbutton Switches

Abstract

To provide a push button switch allowing a push-in operation and a non-contact operation as, for example, a switch for operating an elevator.SOLUTION: A push button switch 1 comprises: a push button 10 that can be pushed in; a movable contact that interlocks with the push button 10; and a stationary contact with and from which the movable contact is brought into contact and separated through the operation of the movable contact. The push button switch 1 includes a light emitting device 130 that emits light and a light receiving device 131 that detects light. A light emitting position at which the light emitted from the light emitting device 130 is radiated to the outside and a light receiving position at which the light detected by the light receiving device 131 is received from the outside are arranged outside the edge of the push button 10 on a line of sight seeing a push-in direction. The light receiving device 131 is arranged to detect the light emitted from the light emitting device 130 and reflected on an object in a detection area that is set in a space on the opposite direction side of the push-in of the push button 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a push button switch having an operating mechanism. [Background technology]

[0002] Push button switches are used in various machines such as elevators. For example, the applicant of the present application has proposed a push button switch applicable to operating an elevator in Patent Document 1. The push button switch described in Patent Document 1 is operated by an operator by directly pressing it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-4767 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, recently, there has been an increasing demand for push button switches that can be operated without contact, for the purpose of improving convenience, ensuring public health, etc. However, as described in Patent Document 1, there is still a high demand for push button switches that are operated by directly pressing them.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a push button switch that can be operated not only by pressing, but also in a non-contact manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the push button switch described in the present application is a push button switch comprising a push button that can be depressed, a movable contact that is linked to the push button, and a fixed contact at which the movable contact is opened and closed by the operation of the movable contact, and is characterized in that the switch comprises a light-emitting element that emits light, and a light-receiving element that detects light, and the light-emitting position at which the light emitted from the light-emitting element is irradiated to the outside and the light-receiving position at which the light detected by the light-receiving element is received from the outside are positioned outside the edge of the push button when viewed in the direction of depression, and the light-receiving element is positioned so as to detect light emitted from the light-emitting element and reflected by an object within a detection area that is set in the space on the opposite side of the push button being pressed.

[0007] In the above-mentioned push button switch, when viewed from a viewpoint of a pressing direction, a midpoint of a line segment connecting the light emitting position and the light receiving position is located on the push button.

[0008] Further, in the push button switch, the shape of the outer edge of the push button when viewed in the pressing direction is rotationally symmetric, and the midpoint of the line segment connecting the light-emitting position and the light-receiving position approximately coincides with the center of symmetry of the rotational symmetry.

[0009] The push button switch further comprises an emission light path through which light emitted from the light-emitting element passes, an emission lens disposed at the emission position for refracting light that has passed through the emission light path, a receiving light path through which light detected by the light-receiving element passes, and a receiving lens disposed at the light-receiving position for refracting light from the outside and passing it through the receiving light path.

[0010] In the above push button switch, at least one of the light emitting lens and the light receiving lens is formed with a refractive surface for refracting light on the emission side or the incidence side.

[0011] In the above push button switch, at least one of the light emitting lens and the light receiving lens is characterized in that a refracting surface for refracting light is formed on both the light emitting side and the light receiving side.

[0012] In the above push button switch, at least one of the light emitting path and the light receiving path is tubular with a protruding portion protruding inward.

[0013] The push button switch further comprises means for causing the light emitting element to emit light in a predetermined light emitting pattern, means for comparing the light receiving pattern of light detected by the light receiving element with the light emitting pattern, and means for determining that reflected light of light emitted from the light emitting element has been detected when the light receiving pattern matches the light emitting pattern.

[0014] The push button switch described in the present application includes a push button that can be depressed, and a light receiving element that detects light emitted from a light emitting element and reflected therefrom. Effect of the Invention

[0015] The push button switch according to the present invention includes a push button that can be pressed, a light emitting element, and a light receiving element. The light receiving element detects light emitted from the light emitting element and reflected by an object in the detection area. This allows the push button switch according to the present invention to have excellent effects such as enabling not only a pressing operation, but also a non-contact operation by detecting the reflected light from an object in the detection area. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an elevator to which the push button switch described in the present application is applied. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a push button switch described in the present application. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a mechanical contact mechanism included in a push button switch described in the present application. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-contact contact mechanism included in a push button switch described in the present application. [Diagram 5]2 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of a control configuration of a non-contact contact mechanism provided in the push button switch described in the present application. FIG. [Figure 6] 5A to 5C are schematic cross-sectional views showing an example of the operation of a mechanical contact mechanism provided in the push button switch described in the present application. [Figure 7] 5A to 5C are schematic cross-sectional views showing an example of the operation of a mechanical contact mechanism provided in the push button switch described in the present application. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an optical path related to a non-contact contact mechanism included in a push button switch described in the present application; [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an optical path related to a non-contact contact mechanism included in a push button switch described in the present application; [Figure 10] 4 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the distance from the surface of a push button and the amount of received light in a non-contact contact mechanism included in the push button switch described in the present application. [Figure 11] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a light emission process of a non-contact contact mechanism included in the push button switch described in the present application. [Figure 12] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a light receiving process of a non-contact contact mechanism included in the push button switch described in the present application. [Figure 13] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-contact contact mechanism included in a push button switch described in the present application. [Figure 14] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-contact contact mechanism included in a push button switch described in the present application. [Figure 15] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-contact contact mechanism included in a push button switch described in the present application. [Figure 16] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-contact contact mechanism included in a push button switch described in the present application. [Figure 17] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-contact contact mechanism included in a push button switch described in the present application. [Figure 18] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a push button switch described in the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] <Application Examples> The push button switch described in the present application is used, for example, as an elevator operation switch. The push button switch 1 illustrated in the drawings will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an elevator to which the push button switch 1 described in the present application is applied. FIG. 1 shows a plurality of push button switches 1 arranged on an operation panel inside a car that moves up and down as an elevator. The push button switch 1 described in the present application is applicable to various push button switches 1 such as a push button switch 1 marked with a number indicating a destination floor number, a push button switch 1 marked with a symbol used for opening and closing a door, and the like. Note that the push button switch 1 described in the present application can be applied not only to the push button switch 1 arranged on an operation panel inside an elevator car, but also to various push button switches 1 such as a push button switch 1 for calling the car on an operation panel at a place where the elevator moves up and down.

[0019] <Example of push button switch 1 configuration> FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the push button switch 1 described in the present application. The push button switch 1 includes a push button 10 and a housing 11 in which the push button 10 is arranged. In the present application, the direction in which the push button 10 is arranged with respect to the housing 11 is expressed as the front, and the direction in which the push button 10 is pressed is expressed as the rear, but these directions are for convenience of explanation and do not limit the arrangement direction of the push button switch 1 described in the present application. The push button 10 is substantially disk-shaped. The push button switch 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a push button 10 used to open and close a door, and a marking portion 100 imitating the shape of an open door symbol or the like indicating that the door is to be opened is formed in the approximate center. The marking portion 100 is formed using a material such as a translucent resin, for example, and transmits visible light emitted from an irradiation portion (not shown) provided inside the push button switch 1. A mechanical contact mechanism 12, which will be described later, is arranged behind the push button 10, and a non-contact contact mechanism 13, which will be described later, is arranged around and behind the push button 10. The mechanical contact mechanism 12 and the non-contact contact mechanism 13 serve as contact mechanisms that open and close the circuit of the push button switch 1.

[0020] On the outside of the edge of the push button 10 when viewed from the front in the pressing direction, there are arranged a light emitting lens 132 that refracts light emitted from a light emitting element 130 (see FIG. 4, etc.) described later, and a light receiving lens 133 that refracts light detected by a light receiving element 131 (see FIG. 4, etc.) described later. Because the light emitting lens 132 and the light receiving lens 133 are arranged on the outside of the edge of the push button 10, the operator's fingertips do not come into contact with them when the operator presses the push button 10, so it is possible to prevent adhesion of oils and other deposits from the fingertips.

[0021] The light-emitting lens 132 is disposed at a light-emitting position where the light emitted from the light-emitting element 130 is irradiated to the outside, and the light-receiving lens 133 is disposed at a light-receiving position where the light detected by the light-receiving element 131 is received from the outside. When viewed from the front in the pressing direction, the shape of the outer edge of the push button 10 is an approximately circular shape that is subject to rotation, and the midpoint of the line segment connecting the light-emitting position where the light-emitting lens 132 is disposed and the light-receiving position where the light-receiving lens 133 is disposed approximately coincides with the center of symmetry of the rotational symmetry. When an operator presses the push button 10, the operator performs a pressing operation by targeting the center of the marking portion 100 of the push button 10. The same is true in the case of non-contact detection, where the operator approaches the push button 10 with the center of the marking portion 100 as the target. The push button switch 1 described in the present application is capable of accurately detecting the fingertip approaching the marking portion 100 by matching the midpoint of the line segment connecting the light-emitting position and the light-receiving position with the center of symmetry of the rotational symmetry that is the center of the marking portion 100.

[0022] 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the mechanical contact mechanism 12 included in the push button switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the mechanical contact mechanism 12 with the top of the drawing being the front of the push button switch 1. The mechanical contact mechanism 12 is a mechanism that outputs a signal when the push button 10 is pressed, and includes various members such as a movable contact 120, a fixed contact 121, and a biasing member 122. The movable contact 120 is a contact attached to the rear of the push button 10 and is linked to the push button 10, and the fixed contact 121 is a contact fixed within the housing 11. The biasing member 122 is a member such as a compression coil spring that biases the push button 10 forward.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the non-contact contact mechanism 13 included in the push button switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the non-contact contact mechanism 13 included in the push button switch 1 described in the present application, with the upper side in the figure being the front of the push button switch 1. In FIG. 4, in order to easily understand the function of the non-contact contact mechanism 13, an arrow indicating the light emitted from the light emitting element 130 and detected by the light receiving element 131, and an object such as a fingertip that reflects the light are shown. The non-contact contact mechanism 13 includes a light emitting element 130 such as an LED (Light emitting diode) that emits light, and a light receiving element 131 such as a PD (Photo Diode) or a PT (Photo Transistor) that detects light. Furthermore, the non-contact contact mechanism 13 includes various components such as the above-mentioned light emitting lens 132 and light receiving lens 133, an optical path member 134 that serves as an optical path for light, and a control unit 135 that controls the light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131.

[0024] The light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131 are covered by an optical path member 134 having a two-stage, approximately cylindrical shape. The optical path member 134 covering the light emitting element 130 has a shape in which a cylinder with a smaller radius is stacked on the front of a cylinder with a larger radius. The rear cylinder of the optical path member 134 covering the light emitting element 130 mainly functions as a light shielding portion 134a that blocks light, and the front cylinder of the optical path member 134 is an emitted light path 134b that mainly passes light emitted from the light emitting element 130. The optical path member 134 covering the light receiving element 131 has a shape in which a cylinder with a smaller radius is stacked on top of a cylinder with a larger radius. The rear cylinder of the optical path member 134 covering the light receiving element 131 mainly functions as a light shielding portion 134a that blocks light, and the front cylinder of the optical path member 134 is a received light path 134c that mainly passes light detected by the light receiving element 131. The optical path member 134 is disposed in the housing 11 so as to cover the light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131. By covering the light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131, the optical path member 134 limits the emission direction of the light emitted by the light emitting element 130 and prevents the light receiving element 131 from detecting light other than the intended light. An example of light other than the intended light is visible light emitted from an illumination unit that is disposed inside the push button switch 1 and illuminates the marking portion 100 of the push button 10.

[0025] A light-emitting lens 132 is disposed at the front end of the optical path member 134 that covers the light-emitting element 130. The light-emitting lens 132 is composed of an optical member such as a convex lens. The light-emitting lens 132 receives light that is emitted from the light-emitting element 130 and passes through the light-emitting optical path 134b, refracts the incident light, and emits it to the outside. A light-receiving lens 133 is disposed at the front end of the optical path member 134 that covers the light-receiving element 131. The light-receiving lens 133 is composed of an optical member such as a convex lens. The light-receiving lens 133 refracts light that is incident from the outside, and emits it toward the light-receiving element 131 through the light-receiving optical path 134c.

[0026] The light emitted from the light-emitting element 130 passes through the light-emitting optical path 134b, is refracted by the light-emitting lens 132, and is emitted to the outside. If an object such as a human fingertip is present within a detection area set in front of the push button switch 1, the light emitted to the outside is reflected by the object. The light reflected by the object enters the light-receiving lens 133 from the outside, is refracted by the light-receiving lens 133, passes through the light-receiving optical path 134c, and is detected by the light-receiving element 131.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of the control configuration of the non-contact contact mechanism 13 included in the push button switch 1 described in the present application. The non-contact contact mechanism 13 of the push button switch 1 includes a control unit 135 using integrated circuits such as an integrated circuit (IC), a large scale IC (LSI), or a very large scale IC (VLSI), and the control unit 135 controls the entire mechanism including the light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131. The control unit 135 outputs a light emitting signal of a preset light emitting pattern to the light emitting element 130, thereby causing the light emitting element 130 to emit light in a light emitting pattern based on the light emitting signal. Furthermore, the control unit 135 detects the detection of light by the light receiving element 131. When the control unit 135 determines that the light receiving element 131 detects the reflected light of the light emitted from the light emitting element 130, it outputs an ON signal to the control circuit of the elevator main body. The control unit 135 may be accommodated in the housing 11, or may be arranged outside the housing 11.

[0028] <Operation> Next, the operation of the push button switch 1 described in the present application will be described. First, the mechanical contact mechanism 12 will be described. FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic cross-sectional views showing an example of the operation of the mechanical contact mechanism 12 included in the push button switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the push button 10 of the push button switch 1 is not pressed, and FIG. 7 shows a state in which the push button 10 is pressed. As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the push button 10 is not pressed, the movable contact 120 attached to the rear part of the push button 10 (lower part in FIGS. 6 and 7) is separated from the fixed contact 121, and the circuit is in an open state. As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the push button 10 is pressed by an operator, the movable contact 120 linked to the push button 10 moves backward and comes into contact with the fixed contact 121, and the circuit is closed. When the circuit is closed, the mechanical contact mechanism 12 outputs an ON signal to the control circuit of the elevator body. When the operator releases the pressure, the biasing member 122 biases the push button 10 forward, and in conjunction with the forward movement of the push button 10, the movable contact 120 moves away from the fixed contact 121, opening the circuit.

[0029] 8 and 9 are schematic diagrams showing an example of an optical path related to the non-contact contact mechanism 13 included in the push button switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 8 illustrates the form of the non-contact contact mechanism 13 included in the push button switch 1 according to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 4 and the like. FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment that does not include the light emitting lens 132 and the light receiving lens 133 shown for comparison. As shown in FIG. 8, the light emitting lens 132 included in the non-contact contact mechanism 13 refracts the light emitted by the light emitting element 130 to limit the range of light irradiation. The light receiving lens 133 limits the range of light received by the light receiving element 131. In FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the range of light irradiation emitted by the light emitting element 130 and the range of light received by the light receiving element 131 are shown by solid lines, and the area where the irradiation range and the light receiving range overlap is shown by dotted lines as a detection area. The detection area is set in the front space on the opposite side to the pressing of the push button 10.

[0030] When an object such as a human fingertip is present in the detection area where the illumination range and the light receiving range overlap, the light receiving element 131 can detect the reflected light of the light emitted by the light emitting element 130. The push button switch 1 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 has a limited detection area for the object compared to the other embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 by limiting the illumination range and the light receiving range with the light emitting lens 132 and the light receiving lens 133. In detail, the push button switch 1 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 has a front surface of the push button 10 that is out of the detection area, and also out of the detection area when it is moved away from the push button 10 by a predetermined distance or more. Furthermore, the detection area is narrower in the up, down, left, and right directions perpendicular to the front direction compared to the other embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9. Since the front surface of the push button 10 is out of the detection area, including the surface of the push button 10, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection in response to an object that is not approaching. Since the front surface of the push button 10 is out of the detection area when it is moved away from the push button 10 by a predetermined distance or more, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection in response to an object that is not approaching. By narrowing the detection area in the up, down, left and right directions, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection, such as reaction to a fingertip approaching another push button 10.

[0031] FIG. 10 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the distance from the surface of the push button 10 and the amount of received light in the non-contact contact mechanism 13 of the push button switch 1 described in the present application. In FIG. 10, the solid line shows a graph according to an embodiment including the light-emitting lens 132 and the light-receiving lens 133 illustrated in FIG. 8 and the like, and the dashed line shows a graph according to another embodiment not including the light-emitting lens 132 and the light-receiving lens 133 illustrated in FIG. 9 for comparison. In FIG. 10, the horizontal axis shows the distance from the surface of the push button 10, and the vertical axis shows the amount of received light detected by the light-receiving element 131 as reflected light, and the relationship is shown. The amount of received light gradually increases as it moves away from the surface of the push button 10, peaks at a predetermined distance, and then gradually decreases. As illustrated by the dashed line in FIG. 10, by appropriately setting a threshold value, the range of distances where the amount of received light exceeds the threshold value is set as the detection area in the implementation. By providing the light emitting lens 132 and the light receiving lens 133, the peak of the amount of received light becomes narrower and higher, so that it is possible to improve the detection accuracy and detection sensitivity.

[0032] The push button switch 1 described in the present application is configured with a light emitting lens 132 and a light receiving lens 133 using convex lenses, which provides various effects such as limiting the detection area, but it is also possible to configure the switch without using a convex lens.

[0033] Next, the control of the non-contact contact mechanism 13 included in the push button switch 1 described in the present application will be described. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of the light emission process of the non-contact contact mechanism 13 included in the push button switch 1 described in the present application. The non-contact contact mechanism 13 starts the light emission process when a start condition such as the start of the power supply or the input of a start signal from the control circuit of the elevator body is used as a trigger. The non-contact contact mechanism 13 outputs a light emission signal based on a predetermined light emission pattern preset from the control unit 135 to the light emitting element 130 (S101), and the light emitting element 130 emits light in a light emission pattern based on the input light emission signal (S102). The output of the light emission signal based on the light emission pattern from the control unit 135 is, for example, an output of a pulse pattern that can be appropriately set, such as repeating light emission for a predetermined time a predetermined number of times at a predetermined interval. The light emission of the light emitting element 130 by the light emission signal in the predetermined light emission pattern is repeatedly executed.

[0034] FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an example of a light receiving process of the non-contact contact mechanism 13 included in the push button switch 1 described in the present application. The non-contact contact mechanism 13 starts the light receiving process when a start condition such as the start of a power supply or the input of a start signal from a control circuit of the elevator body is used as a trigger. The control unit 135 sets the light receiving element 131 to a light receiving standby state (S201). When the light receiving element 131 detects light receiving (S202), the control unit 135 compares the light receiving pattern detected by the light receiving element 131 with a predetermined light emission pattern that causes the light emitting element 130 to emit light (S203). By comparing the light emission pattern and the light receiving pattern in step S203, it is determined whether the detected light is a reflected light of the light emitted from the light emitting element 130 or not. In particular, by setting a different light emission pattern for each push button switch 1, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of reflected light of light emitted from another push button switch 1.

[0035] Based on the comparison in step S203, the control unit 135 determines whether the detection of light by the light receiving element 131 is detection of reflected light of light emitted from the light emitting element 130 (S204). If the comparison in step S203 shows that the light emission pattern and the light receiving pattern match, it is determined in step S204 that reflected light has been detected, and if they do not match, it is determined that the detected light is not reflected light. If it is determined in step S204 that reflected light has been detected (S204: YES), the control unit 135 outputs an ON signal (S205). In step S205, the non-contact contact mechanism 13 outputs an ON signal to the control circuit of the elevator main body by the control unit 135. After finishing outputting the ON signal in step S205, the non-contact contact mechanism 13 returns to a light receiving standby state.

[0036] In step S204, if it is determined that the light emission pattern and the light reception pattern do not match (S204: NO), the process returns to the light reception standby state in step S201.

[0037] In this manner, the control unit 135 controls the non-contact contact mechanism 13 of the push button switch 1, and when the non-contact contact mechanism 13 determines that the light receiving element 131 has detected the reflected light of the light emitted from the light emitting element 130, it outputs an ON signal to the control circuit of the elevator body.

[0038] <Modification> The push button switch 1 described in the present application can be realized as an embodiment modified as appropriate according to various conditions such as specifications, standards, applications, etc. Some examples of the countless modifications of the push button switch 1 described in the present application will be described below.

[0039] 13 and 14 are schematic cross-sectional views showing an example of the non-contact contact mechanism 13 included in the push button switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 show the light emitting element 130, the light receiving element 131, the light emitting optical path 134b, the light receiving optical path 134c, the light emitting lens 132, the light receiving lens 133, and the light emitted from the light emitting element 130 and detected by the light receiving element 131. FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 show an example in which convex lenses are used as the light emitting lens 132 and the light receiving lens 133. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the light emitting lens 132 is a convex lens in which a refracting surface that refracts light is formed only on the incident side that is the light emitting optical path 134b side. The light receiving lens 133 is a convex lens in which a refracting surface is formed only on the exit side that is the light receiving optical path 134c side. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14, the light-emitting lens 132 is a convex lens having a refractive surface formed on both the incident side, which is the light-emitting optical path 134b side, and the exit side, which is the outside side, for refracting light. The light-receiving lens 133 is a convex lens having a refractive surface formed on both the incident side, which is the outside side, and the exit side, which is the light-receiving optical path 134c side. As is clear from a comparison between FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the optical path of light differs depending on the embodiment of the light-emitting lens 132 and the light-receiving lens 133, and the detection area to be set also changes accordingly. Compared to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14 allows the detection area to be set at a position closer to the push button 10. For example, when the outer shape of the push button 10 is large and the arrangement interval between the light-emitting lens 132 and the light-receiving lens 133 is long, the detection area is set at a position farther from the push button 10. If it is practically preferable for the set detection area to be closer to the push button 10, it is possible to move the set range of the detection area closer to the push button 10 by using a convex lens with refractive surfaces formed on both sides, as exemplified in Fig. 14. In particular, since the light emitting lens 132 and the light receiving lens 133 exemplified in Fig. 14 are formed with inclined surfaces on the outer sides, it is possible to set an optimal detection area by appropriately setting the angle of the inclined surfaces.

[0040] FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the non-contact contact mechanism 13 included in the push button switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 15 shows the light emitting element 130, the light receiving element 131, the light emitting optical path 134b, the light receiving optical path 134c, the light emitting lens 132, the light receiving lens 133, and the light emitted from the light emitting element 130 and detected by the light receiving element 131. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, on the light emitting side, the light emitted from the light emitting element 130 at an angle from the front direction is reflected repeatedly in the light emitting optical path 134b and is emitted to the outside without passing through the light emitting lens 132. On the light receiving side, the light incident from the outside without passing through the light receiving lens 133 is reflected repeatedly in the light receiving optical path 134c and is detected by the light receiving element 131. If there is a lot of light that is emitted without passing through the light emitting lens 132 and light that is incident without passing through the light receiving lens 133, the setting accuracy of the detection area decreases. Therefore, by adjusting design elements such as the size and positioning of the light-emitting lens 132 and the light-emitting optical path 134b, and the light-receiving lens 133 and the light-receiving optical path 134c, the occurrence of the situation illustrated in Figure 15 can be suppressed, and the accuracy of setting the detection area can be improved.

[0041] FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the non-contact contact mechanism 13 included in the push button switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 16 shows the light emitting element 130, the light receiving element 131, the light emitting optical path 134b, the light receiving optical path 134c, the light emitting lens 132, the light receiving lens 133, and the light emitted from the light emitting element 130 and detected by the light receiving element 131. FIG. 16 shows a modified example in which the generation of light that does not pass through the light emitting lens 132 and the light receiving lens 133 cannot be avoided due to the design of the push button switch 1. The push button switch 1 shown in FIG. 16 has a stepped protrusion 134d protruding inward near the center of the inner wall of the cylindrical light emitting optical path 134b. Of the light emitted from the light emitting element 130, the light emitted toward the front passes through the light emitting lens 132 and is emitted to the outside, and the light emitted at an angle from the front is blocked by the protrusion 134d. The push button switch 1 illustrated in FIG. 16 can block light emitted to the outside without passing through the light emitting lens 132 by using the protrusion 134d of the light emitting optical path 134b. Also, the push button switch 1 illustrated in FIG. 16 has a stepped protrusion 134d that protrudes inward near the center of the inner wall of the cylindrical light receiving optical path 134c. Light that enters the light receiving path without passing through the light receiving lens 133 is blocked by the protrusion 134d. As described above, the push button switch 1 illustrated in FIG. 16 can improve the accuracy of setting the detection area.

[0042] FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the non-contact contact mechanism 13 included in the push button switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 17 shows the light emitting element 130, the light receiving element 131, the light emitting optical path 134b, the light receiving optical path 134c, the light emitting lens 132, the light receiving lens 133, and the light emitted from the light emitting element 130 and detected by the light receiving element 131. FIG. 17 shows another form of the protrusion 134d shown in FIG. 16. The protrusion 134d shown in FIG. 17 is formed as an inclined surface with respect to the front direction. The protrusion 134d formed as an inclined surface shown in FIG. 17 also has the same effect as the protrusion 134d shown in FIG. 16.

[0043] FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the push button switch 1 described in the present application. FIG. 8 shows another form in which the outer shape of the push button switch 1 is modified. In FIG. 18, the marking portion 100 imitating the shape of an open door symbol or the like is omitted. In the push button switch 1 shown in FIG. 18, the housing 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the shape of the push button 10 arranged on the front side of the housing 11 is formed in a substantially square shape when seen from the front in the pushing direction. The vicinity of the apex on the upper right side of the front side of the housing 11 is a light emitting position where the light emitting lens 132 is arranged, and the vicinity of the apex on the lower left side is a light receiving position where the light receiving lens 133 is arranged. Even in the form shown in FIG. 18, the light emitting lens 132 and the light receiving lens 133 are arranged on the outside of the edge of the push button 10, so that the operator does not touch the push button 10 with his / her fingertips when pushing the push button 10, and it is possible to prevent adhesion of oils and other deposits on the fingertips. In addition, since the shape of the outer edge of the push button 10 is a rotationally symmetrical, approximately square shape, the midpoint of the line segment connecting the light-emitting position and the light-receiving position is formed to approximately coincide with the center of symmetry of the rotational symmetry. Therefore, the push button switch 1 described in the present application can accurately detect a fingertip approaching the display unit 100 by making the midpoint of the line segment connecting the light-emitting position and the light-receiving position coincide with the center of symmetry of the rotational symmetry that is the center of the display unit 100. The same effect can be obtained even when the shape of the outer edge of the push button 10 is formed into another rotationally symmetrical shape such as a rectangle. In addition, the shape of the outer edge of the push button 10 can be designed to be line-symmetrical and the symmetry axis of the line symmetry can be located on the push button 10, and various other forms can be developed.

[0044] As described above, the push button switch 1 described in the present application includes a mechanical contact mechanism 12 using a push button 10 that can be pressed, and a non-contact contact mechanism 13 using a light emitting element 130 and a light receiving element 131, and the light receiving element 131 detects light emitted from the light emitting element 130 and reflected by an object such as a human fingertip. This allows the push button switch 1 described in the present application to achieve excellent effects such as enabling not only pressing of the push button 10, but also non-contact operation by detecting reflected light from an object. Detection by the non-contact contact mechanism 13 not only improves convenience, but also improves hygiene by avoiding direct contact, and furthermore, reduces the number of machine operations to prevent breakdowns, among other effects.

[0045] In addition, the push button switch 1 described in the present application limits the irradiation range of the light emitted by the light emitting element 130 and further limits the range of the light received by the light receiving element 131 by the arrangement and shape of the light emitting lens 132 and the light receiving lens 133. The push button switch 1 described in the present application sets the detection area of ​​the object by limiting the irradiation range and the light receiving range. Specifically, the detection area is set so that the vicinity of the front surface of the push button 10 is out of the detection area, and also when the object is moved away from the push button 10 by a predetermined distance or more. Furthermore, the detection area is narrowed in the up, down, left and right directions perpendicular to the front direction. Since the vicinity of the front surface of the push button 10, including the surface, is out of the detection area, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection in response to an object that is not approaching, for example, when the push button 10 is operated by a visually impaired person or the like who recognizes the position of the push button 10 by touch. Since the detection area is exceeded when the object is moved away from the push button 10 by a predetermined distance or more, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection in response to an object that is not approaching. The push button switch 1 described in the present application has excellent advantages, such as being able to prevent erroneous detection, such as reacting to a finger approaching another push button 10, by narrowing the detection area in the up, down, left and right directions.

[0046] Furthermore, in the push button switch 1 described in the present application, the light emitting position and the light receiving position are located on the outer side of the edge of the push button 10. As a result, the push button switch 1 described in the present application has an excellent effect of preventing adhesion of oils and other deposits from the fingertips because the operator does not touch the push button 10 when depressing the push button 10.

[0047] Furthermore, the push button switch 1 described in the present application is designed so that the midpoint of the line segment connecting the light-emitting position and the light-receiving position coincides with the center of the rotationally symmetric object that is the center of the marking section 100, thereby providing excellent effects such as making it possible to accurately detect the tip of a finger approaching the marking section 100.

[0048] Furthermore, the push button switch 1 described in the present application has excellent effects such as being able to improve the accuracy of setting the detection area by forming a protrusion 134d that protrudes inwardly of the cylindrical light-emitting light path 134b and the light-receiving light path 134c.

[0049] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be expanded into various other forms. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted as being restrictive. The technical scope of the present invention is described by the claims, and is not restricted in any way by the text of the specification. Furthermore, all modifications and changes within the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

[0050] For example, in the above embodiment, a form of application as an elevator operation switch is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to apply the push button switch 1 as various other push button switches other than elevator operation switches, such as an industrial robot operation switch, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1 Push Button Switch 10 Push Button 100 Notation 11. Cabinet 12 Mechanical contact mechanism 120 Movable contact 121 Fixed contacts 122 Pressing member 13 Non-contact contact mechanism 130 Light emitting element 131 Photodetector 132 Luminous Lens 133 Receiving lens 134 Optical path components 134a Light shielding part 134b Light emitting path 134c Light receiving optical path 134d Protrusion 135 Control Unit

Claims

1. A push button switch including a push button that can be depressed, a movable contact that is linked to the push button, and a fixed contact that is connected and separated by operation of the movable contact, A light emitting element that emits light; an emission light path through which light emitted from the light emitting element passes; A light receiving element for detecting light; a light receiving optical path through which light detected by the light receiving element passes; Equipped with a light emitting position for irradiating light emitted from the light emitting element to the outside and a light receiving position for receiving light detected by the light receiving element from the outside are disposed outside an edge of the push button when viewed in a pressing direction, the light receiving element is disposed so as to detect light emitted from the light emitting element and reflected by an object within a detection area that is set in a space on the opposite side to the pressing of the push button, Furthermore, a light-emitting lens disposed at the light-emitting position and configured to refract the light that has passed through the light-emitting optical path; a light receiving lens disposed at the light receiving position, which refracts light from the outside and passes the light receiving optical path; Equipped A push button switch characterized by:

2. 2. The push button switch according to claim 1, When observing the pressing method, the midpoint of the line segment connecting the light emitting position and the light receiving position is located on the push button. A push button switch characterized by:

3. 3. The push button switch according to claim 2, The shape of the outer edge of the push button when viewed in the pressing direction is rotationally symmetric; The midpoint of the line segment connecting the light emitting position and the light receiving position substantially coincides with the center of symmetry of the rotational symmetry A push button switch characterized by:

4. 4. The push button switch according to claim 1, At least one of the light emitting lens and the light receiving lens has a refractive surface formed on the light exit side or the light incident side to refract light. A push button switch characterized by:

5. 4. The push button switch according to claim 1, At least one of the light emitting lens and the light receiving lens has a refracting surface formed on both the light exit side and the light incident side for refracting light. A push button switch characterized by:

6. 6. The push button switch according to claim 1, At least one of the light-emitting optical path and the light-receiving optical path is cylindrical with a protruding portion protruding inward. A push button switch characterized by:

7. 7. The push button switch according to claim 1, means for causing the light emitting element to emit light in a predetermined light emitting pattern; means for comparing a light receiving pattern of light detected by the light receiving element with the light emitting pattern; a means for determining that reflected light of light emitted from the light-emitting element has been detected when the light-receiving pattern matches the light-emitting pattern; A push button switch comprising:

8. 8. The push button switch according to claim 1, Equipped with elevator push buttons marked with numbers indicating floor numbers, symbols used to open and close doors, or symbols to call cars A push button switch characterized by:

Images