JPH0843200A - Optical axis sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively detect the optical axis of an incident light with a simple structure by standing free-standing screens on the bottom (emitting part) to divide the bottom, and deciding the optical axis according to the output value of the sensor provided on the region. CONSTITUTION:Two free-standing screens 1 (preferably reflecting plates of stainless steel, etc.) are, for example, stood, and a bottom (emitting part) 2 is quartered. Since shadows are, when a light is cast at the screens 1, formed, optical sensors 3a-3d provided on the quartered regions generate different outputs in response to the irradiating quantities. That is, if the axis is in the vertical direction, the output values of the sensors 3a-3d provided at the quartered regions become equal, and become different values as the axis is displaced from the vertical direction, and hence the axis of the incident ray can be discriminated. According to the structure, it can follow up the change of the axis, it is adapted for the axis sensor of the light varying at its optical axis like solar light.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical axis sensor suitable for use in, for example, lighting control of a sunlight lighting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the optical axis has been detected by detecting means such as PSD or CCD.

In addition, there is light on the screen (ON /
It was only judged to be OFF).

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned PS
Detection means such as D and CCD are expensive, and the determination of only ON / OFF using a partition has only revealed a specific angle such that the optical axis is in the vertical direction or in front.

Further, it is not suitable for detecting an optical axis which changes every moment like the optical axis of sunlight.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to detect an optical axis when one optical axis exists, one or more partitions or reflectors are erected on the bottom surface to divide the bottom surface. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical axis sensor in which light is applied to the bottom surface to determine the optical axis according to the output value of the optical sensor provided in each of the divided areas.

[0007]

The shadow of the screen or reflector differs depending on the optical axis of the light, and the light reflected from the screen or reflector enters.

Therefore, the output value of the optical sensor is different, and the optical axis can be discriminated.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the optical axis sensor according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical axis sensor using a screen.

As shown in FIG. 1, for example, two partitions (preferably a reflection plate made of stainless steel or the like) 1 are erected to divide a bottom surface (irradiation portion) 2 into four. When the light hits the screen 1, it forms a shadow, and therefore, the photosensors 3a to 3d provided in the respective four-divided areas generate different outputs depending on the respective irradiation amounts.

That is, when the optical axis of the incident light is a small angle with respect to the bottom surface 2, the shadow becomes long, and when it is close to the vertical, the shadow becomes short. The outputs of the optical sensors 3a to 3d also differ depending on the light reflected from the partition 1 by using the partition 1 as a reflecting plate made of stainless steel or the like.

Therefore, if the optical axis is in the vertical direction, the output values of the optical sensors 3a to 3d provided in the four-divided areas become equal, and as the optical sensors 3a to 3d deviate from the vertical direction.
The output value of 3d becomes a different value, whereby the optical axis of the incident ray can be discriminated.

[0014]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the optical axis of the incident light can be accurately detected and the change of the optical axis can be tracked regardless of the simple structure. Thus, it is suitable as an optical axis sensor for light whose optical axis changes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an optical axis sensor using a screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Partition 2: Bottom (irradiation part) 3a to 3d: Optical sensor

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Shozo Kato 2-5-5 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An optical axis is determined according to an output value of an optical sensor provided in each of the divided areas by dividing the bottom surface by arranging one or more partitions on the bottom surface. The optical axis sensor characterized in that 2. The one or more reflecting plates are erected on the bottom surface to divide the bottom surface, and light is applied to the bottom surface to determine an optical axis according to an output value of an optical sensor provided in each of the divided areas. An optical axis sensor characterized by being decided.