JPH10276485A - Remote control receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a remote control light receiving device which can freely set light receiving sensitivity from a desired direction and can receive light from a wide range with little noise. SOLUTION: An infrared light transmitting window 1 provided in a device outer shell 1 is provided.
1 and a light receiving element 3 for receiving an infrared signal and converting it into an electric signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control light receiving device for a device operated by an infrared remote control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a light receiving device of an infrared remote controller is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a part through which infrared light is transmitted is provided in a part of the outer casing of the device (FIG. 7 shows an example of an air conditioner).

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view around the remote control light-receiving device shown in FIG. 7; 1 is an outer casing of the device; 3 is a light-receiving element; 4 is a printed circuit board on which the light-receiving element 3 is mounted; External light 11 is an infrared light transmitting window, which has a visible light blocking characteristic to prevent a reception failure due to visible light, and is provided in a part of the outer casing of the device.

In the above configuration, the relationship between the positional relationship between the infrared light transmitting window 11 and the light receiving element 3 and the light receivable range is as shown in FIG. That is, when the light receiving element 3 is located at the position 3a near the infrared light transmitting window 11, the light receiving range is 31.
a. When the light receiving element 3 is located at a position 3b far from the infrared light transmitting window 11, the light receivable range is 31b.

Therefore, in order to require light reception from a wide range such as an air conditioner and to be less susceptible to optical noise generated from lighting equipment, the light receiving element 3 and the infrared light transmitting window 1 are required.
It is necessary to accurately design the positional relationship with 1.

[0006]

However, if these contents are to be realized, the structure of the device is complicated, and the design is restricted and the cost is increased.
Further, when the light receiving element 3 shown in FIG. 6 is installed near the outer casing 1 of the apparatus, the light receiving element 3 is often distant from the control device for processing the light receiving signal, and a means for connecting them is required. In addition, light emitted from a lighting device or the like easily enters the light receiving element directly, resulting in noise and deteriorating reception performance.

Further, when the light guide is made movable and has a function as a switch button, it is difficult to take a stroke of the movable part. Structure becomes complicated, design restrictions and cost increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a remote control light-receiving device capable of freely setting light-receiving sensitivity from a desired direction irrespective of the installation position of a light-receiving element.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a remote control light receiving device according to the present invention is provided with a light guide material in the form of a Fresnel lens on the outer periphery of a device. With the light guide material, the light receiving sensitivity from any direction can be freely set, and with a simple structure, the noise can be reduced and the receiving performance from a wide range can be obtained.

[0010] Further, the light guide member is made movable so as to have a function as a switch button.

[0011] Further, a light guide member for guiding infrared light is provided with a structure for blocking visible light.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a light guide member having a Fresnel lens shape on the outer periphery.
It is a remote control light receiving device.

The light guide material for guiding infrared light is formed in a Fresnel lens shape. This is a light guide material that guides infrared light with movable characteristics.

A light guide material for guiding infrared light is provided with a visible light blocking characteristic. In this way, the provision of the Fresnel lens-shaped light guide allows the receiver sensitivity to be set freely over a wide range, regardless of the positional relationship between the light receiving element and the infrared light transmission window, and is generated from lighting equipment. Noise.

Further, the degree of freedom in design is expanded in terms of structure and design. By providing a light receiving element and a switch on a printed circuit board of a remote control signal control device, an electric connection means such as a wire harness and a button dedicated to the switch can be provided. It can be abolished, and the equipment can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view around the remote control light receiving device. FIG. 2 is a front view of the air conditioner.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the air conditioner. FIG. 4 is a top view of the air conditioner.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the light guide member and the light receiving element. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a light guide and a light receiving element formed in a Fresnel lens shape.

In each of the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes an outer casing of the apparatus, 2 denotes a light guide material, 3 denotes a light receiving element, 4 denotes a printed circuit board on which the light receiving element 3 is mounted, and 5 denotes an infrared signal from a remote controller. Irrespective of the positional relationship of the external light transmission window 11, the infrared light transmitted through the infrared light transmission window 11 is refracted by the light guide 2 and reaches the light receiving element 3 to be received. The angle of refraction and the sensitivity can be freely set by the angle and the number of Fresnel lenses.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 6, the light guide member 2 has a spring function between the light guide member 2 and the mounting portion so that the lens portion can move. When the light guide member 2 is pressed, the switch 6 on the printed circuit board of the remote control signal control device is turned on. To function as a switch button.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the function as the switch button and the infrared light transmitting window can be shared.

Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the configuration is the same as that of the first or second embodiment, the description is omitted.

In this embodiment, the light guide 2 is made of a material having a visible light blocking property. In addition, a thin Fresnel lens has a small transmission loss of an infrared signal.

With the above configuration, the infrared light transmitting window 11 (visible light filter) in the first or second embodiment can be omitted.

[0026]

As is apparent from the above embodiment, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the position of the light receiving element and the infrared light transmitting window is determined by the Fresnel lens-shaped light guide material provided on the outer periphery of the device. Good remote control signals can be received over a wide range irrespective of the relationship, and the degree of freedom in designing the structure and design around the remote control light receiving device is expanded.

Also, by designing the lens angle to lower the light receiving sensitivity from the lighting equipment direction, the optical noise level generated by the light lighting equipment and the like is suppressed, and the receiving performance is improved.

The Fresnel lens is different from other lens types.
A filter that is thin and has low transmission loss can be made.

Since a sufficient distance can be provided between the outer casing of the device and the light receiving element, no special countermeasure against static electricity is required.

The light receiving element can be easily provided on the printed circuit board of the remote control signal control device, the electric connection means such as a wire harness can be eliminated, and the equipment can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

By making the lens portion of the light guide material movable and having a function as a switch button, the switch button can be omitted, and the equipment can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

By providing a light guide material for guiding infrared light to have a visible light blocking characteristic, a visible light filter can be eliminated in addition to the above-described effects, and cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view around a remote control light-receiving device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a light guide member and a light receiving element according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view around a remote control light-receiving device of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an installation position of a remote control light receiving device of an air conditioner.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view around a remote control light receiving device of a conventional air conditioner.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between a position of an infrared light transmission window and a light receiving element and a light receivable range.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Exterior of air conditioner 2 Light guide 3 Light receiving element 4 Printed circuit board 5 Infrared signal 6 Remote control light receiving device 11 Infrared light transmission window 13 Switch

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Makoto Hori 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A remote control light receiving device in which a light guide material provided outside is a Fresnel lens shape in a device operated by an infrared remote control. 2. The remote control light receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide member for guiding infrared light has a movable characteristic. 3. The remote control light receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide member for guiding infrared light has a visible light blocking characteristic.