Ultrasonic Sensor Cover with Horizontal Slits for Finger Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing human presence sensors in information processing apparatuses face issues with finger intrusion causing sensor failure and reduced detection range due to the design of the cover member and monitoring windows.
Innovation Solution
A cover member with horizontally arranged slits wider than the opening of the horn, preventing finger intrusion while maintaining the detection range by ensuring the ultrasonic waves can be output and received effectively, thereby preventing dead angles and ensuring stable detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the opening area of the monitoring window is restricted to prevent finger intrusion, then the reliability of the sensor is improved, but the detection range of the sensor decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is divided into multiple regions: a finger protection region with protrusions that prevent finger intrusion, and a monitoring window region with slits that allow ultrasonic wave passage. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between protection and detection range.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the cover member have different structures optimized for their specific functions. The protrusions in the finger protection region provide mechanical protection, while the slits in the monitoring window region provide acoustic transparency. This local differentiation allows the cover member to simultaneously achieve finger protection and maintain detection range.
2Reliability
If a cover member with monitoring window is added to protect the sensor, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the ultrasonic sensor from finger intrusion, maintains the detection range through properly designed slits, and prevents dead angles by ensuring adequate opening area. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby managing device complexity while improving reliability.
3Measurement precision
If the slit width is increased to maintain detection range, then the detection performance is improved, but the risk of finger intrusion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is divided into multiple regions: a finger protection region with protrusions that prevent finger intrusion, and a monitoring window region with slits that allow ultrasonic wave passage. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between protection and detection range.
Solution Approach 2:
The slits are designed with specific dimensional characteristics where the width is sufficient for ultrasonic wave passage but the height is limited to prevent finger intrusion. This asymmetric design optimizes the slit dimensions to satisfy both detection performance and protection requirements.
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 solution effectively prevents finger intrusion and maintains the detection range, ensuring stable detection of users by the ultrasonic sensor, even when users approach from various angles, thus efficiently recovering the apparatus from sleep mode to standby mode.
Implementation Method 1
a sonic wave output unit configured to output a sonic wave
Implementation Method 2
a horn configured to restrict an output direction of the sonic wave output from the sonic wave output unit
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a sonic wave output unit that outputs a sonic wave. A horn restricts an output direction of the sonic wave output from the sonic wave output unit. A cover member is provided on the sonic wave output unit, wherein a region on the cover member corresponding to an opening of the horn is provided with a horizontally arranged slit having a width equal to or larger than a horizontal width of the opening.