SWITCH INCLUDING SENSOR FOR DETECTING TARGET TO BE DETECTED IN NON-CONTACT MANNER

• US 20170214401A1
• Filed: 01/17/2017
• Published: 07/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: KORESAWA, KOUHEI, SAKAMOTO, GOSUKE
• Application Number:
  US15/407,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20170214401A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/088 operating with electric fields G01V3/082 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/78 using opto-electronic devices, i.e. light-emitting and photoelectric devices electrically- or optically-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960705 Safety of capacitive touch and proximity switches, e.g. increasing reliability, fail-safe

Abstract

A switch includes a sensor that, in operation, outputs a detection signal indicative of approach of a target without making contact with the target, and a control circuit that, in operation, generates an operation signal for operating the apparatus on the basis of the detection signal supplied from the sensor. The control circuit generates the operation signal when the detection signal becomes smaller than a second threshold value within a predetermined period from a time when the detection signal exceeds a first threshold value that is different from the second threshold value and does not generate the operation signal when the detection signal becomes smaller than the second threshold value after elapse of the predetermined period from the time when the detection signal exceeds the first threshold value.

Claims

1. A switch for operating an apparatus, the switch comprising:

a sensor that, in operation, outputs a detection signal indicative of approach of a target without making contact with the target; and

a control circuit that, in operation, generates an operation signal for operating the apparatus based on the detection signal supplied from the sensor, wherein;

the control circuit generates the operation signal when the detection signal becomes smaller than a second threshold value within a predetermined period from a time when the detection signal exceeds a first threshold value that is different from the second threshold value, and

the control circuit does not generate the operation signal when the detection signal becomes smaller than the second threshold value after elapse of the predetermined period from the time when the detection signal exceeds the first threshold value.

2. The switch according to claim 1, wherein

the first threshold value is larger than the second threshold value.

3. The switch according to claim 1, wherein

the first threshold value is smaller than the second threshold value.

4. The switch according to claim 1, wherein

the sensor includes an electrode that, in operation, detects a change of electrostatic capacitance that occurs between the target and the sensor.

5. The switch according to claim 1, wherein

the sensor includes a light receiver that, in operation, receives an infrared ray reflected or radiated by the target and outputs the detection signal upon receiving the infrared ray.