Contact detection sensor and contact detection method
View Patent ↗A low-cost contact detection sensor and contact detection method for easily detecting a contact by a third party is provided. A contact detection sensor comprises an antireflection structure including structure elements having a predetermined shape which are put in an array periodically at a pitch smaller than a wavelength of visible spectrum; and a substrate including the antireflection structure in at least a part of a surface portion thereof. The antireflection structure distinguishes whether the detection target is contacted by a human body or not based on a change in reflectance which occurs to an area of the detection target contacted by the human body when the detection target is contacted by the human body.
1. A contact detection sensor for distinguishing whether a detection target is contacted by a human body or not, the sensor comprising:
an antireflection structure including structure elements having a predetermined shape which are put in an array periodically at a pitch smaller than a wavelength of visible spectrum; and
a substrate including the antireflection structure in at least a part of a surface portion thereof;
wherein the antireflection structure distinguishes whether the detection target is contacted by a human body or not based on a change in reflectance which occurs to an area of the detection target contacted by the human body when the detection target is contacted by the human body.
2. A contact detection sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate constitutes at least a part of a surface of the detection target.
3. A contact detection sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is sheet-like.
4. A contact detection sensor according to claim 3 , further comprising an adhesion layer provided on a rear surface of the substrate for bonding the substrate and the detection target.
5. A contact detection sensor according to claim 3 , wherein the substrate has a generally flat area on at least a part of a surface thereof.
6. A contact detection sensor according to claim 3 , wherein the substrate has the same color as, a same hue color as, or an analogous color to, the color of the detection target.
7. A contact detection sensor according to claim 3 , wherein the substrate has the opponent color to, or a near complementary color to, the color of the detection target.
8. A contact detection sensor according to claim 3 , wherein a plurality of substrates each having the antireflection structure in at least a part of the surface portion thereof are stacked in a releasable state.
9. A contact detection sensor according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of substrates each have a mark for identifying the individual substrate.
10. A contact detection sensor according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of substrates have a mark for identifying the sensor of a stacking type.
11. A contact detection sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is tape-like.
12. A contact detection sensor according to claim 11 , further comprising an adhesion layer provided on a rear surface of the substrate for bonding the substrate and the detection target.
13. A contact detection sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the substrate has a generally flat area on at least a part of a surface thereof.
14. A contact detection sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the substrate has the same color as, a same hue color as, or an analogous color to, the color of the detection target.
15. A contact detection sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the substrate has the opponent color to, or a near complementary color to, the color of the detection target.
16. A contact detection sensor according to claim 11 , wherein a plurality of substrates each having the antireflection structure in at least a part of the surface portion thereof are stacked in a releasable state.
17. A contact detection sensor according to claim 16 , wherein the plurality of substrates each have a mark for identifying the individual substrate.
18. A contact detection sensor according to claim 16 , wherein the plurality of substrates have a mark for identifying the sensor of a stacking type.
19. A contact detection sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the structure elements of the antireflection structure are generally conical or pyramid-shaped protrusions and/or generally conical or pyramid-shaped recesses.
20. A contact detection sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the structure elements of the antireflection structure are arranged periodically in the array at a pitch which is equal to or smaller than ½ of the wavelength of visible spectrum.
21. A contact detection sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the structure elements of the antireflection structure have a height or a depth which is equal to or greater than the pitch.
22. A contact detection sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the structure elements of the antireflection structure have a height or a depth which is equal to or greater than three times the pitch.
23. A contact detection sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a top surface or a bottom surface of the structure elements of the antireflection structure has a shape selected from the group consisting of a generally circular shape, a generally quadrangular shape, and a generally hexagonal shape.
24. A contact detection sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is formed of a transparent material.
25. A contact detection sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is formed of an opaque material.
26. A contact detection sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is formed of a black material.