Push Button Switch with Optical Contactless Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a growing demand for push button switches that can be operated in a contactless manner to enhance convenience and public health, while existing push button switches primarily rely on direct pushing operations.
Innovation Solution
A push button switch design incorporating a pushable button, a light emitting element, and a light receiving element, with a light shielding member and lenses to limit the light emission and reception ranges, allowing contactless operation by detecting light reflected from objects within a prescribed region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a push button switch uses direct pushing operation, then the structure is simple and reliable, but it cannot provide contactless operation functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The push button switch is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect both direct pushing operations through the movable contact mechanism and contactless operations through the light emitting/receiving elements. This multi-functionality allows the same device to adapt to different operation modes (contact and contactless) without requiring separate switches, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the traditional mechanical pushing operation mechanism with the optical detection mechanism (light emitting element and light receiving element) into a single integrated push button switch. By merging these two different detection methods in one device, the switch achieves both direct pushing and contactless operation capabilities while maintaining a unified structure.
2Ease of operation
If a push button switch adds light emitting and light receiving elements for contactless operation, then contactless operation is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light emitting element and light receiving element act as intermediaries that enable contactless operation. Instead of requiring direct physical contact between the user and the switch, the optical elements mediate the interaction by detecting reflected light from objects. This intermediary mechanism provides contactless operation capability while keeping the added complexity manageable through focused use of optical components.
3Ease of operation
If the light receiving element detects reflected light from objects, then contactless operation is achieved, but erroneous detections may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The light shielding member is designed with a light passing part at a specific location to control where light can pass through. By creating a localized light path through the shielding member, the system restricts light detection to a specific spatial region, thereby reducing erroneous detections from objects outside the intended detection zone while maintaining contactless operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The light shielding member extracts or blocks unwanted light paths from the detection system. By selectively removing (blocking) light that would cause erroneous detections and allowing only the desired light paths to reach the light receiving element, the system improves detection accuracy while maintaining contactless operation.
4Reliability
If a light shielding member is added to control light paths, then erroneous detections are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light shielding member is designed with a specific light passing part that segments the light paths. By dividing the light transmission into controlled segments (allowing light through specific regions while blocking others), the shielding member achieves precise control over light detection without requiring a completely complex shielding structure. This segmented approach reduces erroneous detections while adding minimal complexity.
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
Enables both traditional pushing and contactless operation, improving convenience and hygiene by allowing detection of objects without direct contact, while reducing erroneous detections through controlled light ranges and patterns.
Implementation Method 1
a light receiving element that detects light emitted from the light emitting element and reflected by an object within a prescribed region
Data Source
AI summary
A push button switch 1 comprises: a push button 10 that can be pushed in; a movable contact 120 that is linked to the push button 10; and a fixed contact 121 that comes into contact with or separates from the movable contact 120 by operation of the movable contact 120. The push button switch 1 further comprises a light-emitting element 130 for emitting light, and a light-receiving element 131 for detecting light. The light-receiving element 131 is disposed so as to detect the light emitted from the light-emitting element 130 and reflected by an object within a prescribed region. The push button switch 1 outputs an ON signal if the push button 10 has been pushed in, thereby causing the movable contact 120 to come into contact with the fixed contact 121, or if it is determined that the light-receiving element 131 has detected light reflected by an object.