Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - 27
Electrical/Electronics
Touchless Switches Provide a Hygienic User Interface Option
With an integrated infrared detector and LED indicator ring, these electronic switches make
it easier for designers to create durable and clean user interfaces.
IDEC Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA
W
orldwide awareness surrounding
the need for hygiene was escalated
to the extreme by COVID-19. Now
that the pandemic's beginning is a few
years in the past, designers and OEMs
for machinery and other user-facing
equipment are investigating ways to
provide an adequate user interface,
while minimizing the need for people
to touch the controls.
A new option in the form of low-profile
touchless switches incorporates
smart electronics and a dedicated sensor
to provide reliable detection without
any moving mechanism. This means
the devices are very durable and provide
a long operating lifetime. The
compact form factor is nearly flush and
requires very little depth behind the
panel face, so it is easy to install anywhere
and resists damage from most
types of contact (Figure 1).
Although cleanliness is always recommended,
these touchless switches improve
user safety and minimize infection
risk even if large numbers of people operate
them. There is no need for users to
wear gloves, and no requirement for using
protective films or performing chemical
sanitation, which saves on labor and
material costs.
The switch works using near infrared
LED photoelectric reflection technology,
with a central emitter and receiver in
the front face to detect objects, such as a
user hand or finger. A standard diffuse
reflection model includes a sensitivity
adjustment and is suitable for detection
ranges of about 70 to 250 mm. A shortrange
convergent reflection model emits
and receives light at an angle without
any adjustment, for a detection range of
about 5 to 30 mm.
The short-range model is less affected
by object color or material, and is less
susceptible to background objects, to
avoid false detection. Of course, the reflectivity,
color, material, and surface of
the object being detected always plays a
role. Dark objects, such as gloves, would
be detected only at a closer distance
Tech Briefs, October 2023
Figure 1: IDEC CW touchless switches are a robust family of high-performance operator interface
devices usable in almost any application or environment, providing a way for personnel to hygienically
interact with electronics and automation. (Image: IDEC)
Figure 2: Touchless switches incorporate infrared LED diffuse reflection technology to detect an
object such as a user hand without requiring any contact, and they provide built-in visual feedback
with a red/green LED indicator ring. (Image: IDEC)
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Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Intro
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Sponsor
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Cov1
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Cov2
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - 1
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - 2
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - 3
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - 4
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - 5
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Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - 25
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - 26
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-1A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-2A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-3A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-4A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-5A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-6A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-7A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-8A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-9A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-10A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-11A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-12A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-13A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-14A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-15A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-16A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-17A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-18A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-19A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-20A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-21A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-22A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-23A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-24A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-25A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-26A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-27A
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Comsol-28A
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Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Cov3
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Cov4
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - MD-Cov1
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - MD-Cov2
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - MD-1
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - MD-2
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - MD-3
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Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - MD-Cov4
Tech Briefs Magazine - October 2023 - Sensor-Cov1
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