Non-contact Optical Switch for Elevator and Door Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switches for elevators and automatic doors require separate installation and wiring for disabled and non-disabled users, leading to increased costs and risks of infection and improper operation due to contact-based mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact switch system using a pair of long sensor blocks with sensors installed in line, allowing finger movement direction, length, and speed to be sensed, eliminating the need for direct contact and enabling integrated installation for both user types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If contact type switches (push-button or touch pad) are used, then the switch can be operated easily by non-disabled persons, but there is a high risk of bacterial or viral infection through finger contact and improper operation by disabled persons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based switching system with an optical sensing system. The optical sensor detects finger movement through a gap without requiring physical contact, thereby eliminating infection risk while maintaining ease of operation. The sensor detects changes in light transmission caused by finger movement to activate the switch.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical field as an intermediary between the user's finger and the switch mechanism. Instead of direct mechanical contact, the finger modulates light transmission through the gap, and the optical sensor converts this optical modulation into a switching signal, serving as a non-contact intermediary.
2Reliability
If separate switches are installed for disabled and non-disabled persons, then the risk of improper operation by disabled persons is reduced, but installation cost and wiring complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal switch that serves both disabled and non-disabled persons through the same mechanism. The optical sensor detects finger movement patterns that work for all users regardless of physical ability, eliminating the need for separate switches and reducing installation complexity while maintaining operation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic detection of finger movement characteristics (direction, length, speed) to differentiate between intentional activation and accidental contact. This dynamic approach allows a single switch to reliably serve all users by adapting to different usage patterns without requiring separate static switch configurations.
3Measurement precision
If the gap between sensor blocks is reduced to detect finger movement, then the sensitivity of detection is improved, but the risk of accidental activation by disabled persons fumbling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent requires a specific pattern of finger movement (excessive action in terms of movement distance and direction) to activate the switch. Rather than detecting any finger presence, the system requires the finger to move through the gap in a specific manner, which reduces false activation from accidental contact while maintaining detection sensitivity for intentional use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by analyzing multiple parameters of finger movement (direction, length, speed) to determine whether activation is intentional or accidental. The system processes the movement pattern information and provides feedback control, only activating the switch when the movement pattern matches the expected intentional usage pattern.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The non-contact switch reduces installation costs, ensures sanitation, and minimizes malfunctions caused by accidental contact, providing a safe and accessible operation for both non-disabled and disabled users.
Implementation Method 1
a beam switch using an optical sensor
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a non-contact switch which is used for an elevator or general automatic doors, and comprises: buttons B including a push button or an optical sensor button for selecting an elevator movement or opening an automatic door; a pair of long sensor blocks 10, which are installed adjacent to or above the push button and arranged so as to face each other with a gap 12 equivalent to the width of one to two human fingers therebetween; and a plurality of sensors S which are installed in a single file on the surfaces of the sensor blocks that face each other, wherein a sensor detects movement of a human finger moving with the gap 12 at or above a predetermined length or at or above a predetermined speed and selects an upward or downward movement for a destination floor for the elevator or opens the automatic door.