SWITCHING DEVICE CONTROL SYSTEM

Abstract

 The present invention provides an opening/closing unit control system capable of executing an operation for controlling an opening/closing unit in correspondence with an object to be authenticated for use for authentication operation.
The opening/closing unit control system which authenticates an object to be authenticated 14 and outputs a predetermined control command to a shutter unit A in correspondence with a result of the authentication includes a first sensing portion 11a for sensing the object to be authenticated 14 and a second sensing portion 11b for sensing the object to be authenticated 14 at a position different from the position of the first sensing portion 11a. Said predetermined control command is outputted corresponding to a sensing order of the first sensing portion 11a and the second sensing portion 11b.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening/closing unit control system for controlling an opening/closing unit such as a shutter unit including an overhead door, a door, a sliding door including a sliding storm door, a window, a roll screen, a shade, an awning unit, a gate and sliding wall unit, and more particularly to an opening/closing unit control system preferable for controlling the shutter unit.

Background art

[0002] Conventionally, the operation portion for operating opening/closing of the opening/closing unit such as a shutter unit employs, as described in patent document 1, for example, a plurality of operation buttons (stop, open, close and the like) and a switch box equipped with a lid which covers the front face side of the operation buttons such that the lid can be opened/closed and can be locked with a cylinder key.
In the case of such a switch box, if the cylinder key or the lid is destroyed or drilled by a malicious person, the operation button may be operated forcibly.
A system which authenticates an object to be authenticated such as an IC tag using a card type door lock unit described in patent document 2 and the like and outputs a predetermined control command to the opening/closing unit corresponding to its authentication result is preferred.

[0003]  However, a conventional card type door lock unit has constitutional features so as to lock or unlock an electric lock on condition that an object to be authenticated such as an IC tag has been authenticated, or, in other words, to dispatch an output command for locking or unlocking the electric lock if an authentication of an object to be authenticated is made as an input.
On the other hand, an opening/closing unit for opening/closing or stopping the opening/closing body like the shutter unit described in patent document 1 needs to output an operation command corresponding to each of plural kinds of operation inputs through an opening operation button, a closing operation button, a stop operation button or the like.
Thus, even if the card type door lock unit of patent document 2 were employed for the opening/closing unit of the shutter unit or the like, the opening/closing operation or stop operation of the opening/closing body would be carried out by an operation using other operating means after the authentication is achieved by an operation using the object to be authenticated, leading to operational complications.
Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No.10-162678
Patent document 2: JP-A No.2001-55851

Disclosure of the Invention

Problem to be solved by the Invention

[0004] The present invention has been made in views of the circumstances of the above-mentioned prior art and an object of the invention is to provide an opening/closing unit control system capable of executing an operation for controlling the opening/closing unit by means of an object to be authenticated for the authentication operation.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned problem, according to a first aspect, there is provided an opening/closing unit control system which authenticates an object to be authenticated and outputs a predetermined control command to an opening/closing unit corresponding to a result of the authentication, including:

a first sensing portion for sensing the object to be authenticated; and a second sensing portion for sensing the object to be authenticated at a position different from the position of the first sensing portion, wherein said predetermined control command is outputted corresponding to the sensing order of the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion.

[0006] Hereby, a specific configuration of the opening/closing unit control system may be, for example, an electronic circuit having a microcomputer including an I/O unit, a memory unit, a central processing unit and the like.
Said opening/closing unit control system may be of an integrated structure composed of a single unit or a plurality of units each composed of, for example, an operation portion which enables an operation by said object to be authenticated, a control portion for dispatching said control command and the like.

[0007] An object to be authenticated may be any object that can be authenticated by said opening/closing unit control system, where the object to be authenticated includes for example any portable terminal capable of transmitting authentication data such as an IC tag (including an IC card), a magnetic card, a fingerprint, a venous pattern, a barcode, a hologram and a digital watermarking.

[0008] The predetermined control command includes, for example, a command for operating the opening/closing body of the opening/closing unit to close, a command for operating the opening/closing body to open, a command for stopping the opening/closing body, a command for emitting an alarm sound, a command for turning on or blinking an alarm lamp, a command for reversing the opening/closing body, a command for releasing or restoring a self-holding action by means of a pushbutton switch for close operation and/or open operation for operating the opening/closing body, a command for switching over the power source of the opening/closing unit or the control circuit from ON to OFF, a command for changing various settings such as the setting of a limit switch which senses the position of the opening/closing body and setting for opening/closing speed of the opening/closing body, a command for switching over the operation mode of the opening/closing unit and a command for locking or unlocking the opening/closing body.
The control command may be outputted by a kind at a time or by plural kinds at a time.

[0009] In the present invention, a sensing means for an object to be authenticated for authentication may be provided on the first sensing portion and/or the second sensing portion at the same time or may be provided on a sensing portion other than the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion.
That is, one or both of the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion may be a sensing portion for merely sensing the object to be authenticated, such as an infrared ray sensor (including a far infrared ray sensor and a near infrared ray sensor), a phototube sensor, a proximity sensor or the like. For example, they may be a sensing portion for sensing and recognizing the object to be authenticated, like a sensing portion such as an IC tag reader, a barcode reader, a fingerprint authenticating unit.

[0010] One or both of said first sensing portion and said second sensing portion is preferred to be embodied to sense the object to be authenticated without any contact (for example, an infrared ray sensor, a phototube sensor, a proximity sensor, an IC tag reader, a barcode reader or the like), but also the object to be authenticated may be constructed to sense an object without contact (for example, a fingerprint sensor, a limit switch or the like).
Any one or both of said first sensing portion and said second sensing portion may be provided in a singular or plural quantity.

[0011] The first sensing portion and the second sensing portion may be disposed at different positions, for example, in a vertical direction, in the right-left direction or obliquely.
As another example, the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion may be disposed at different positions by arranging in a forward direction or perspective direction.

[0012] As a specific example of the constitutional features in which the predetermined control command is outputted corresponding to the sensing order of the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion", an embodiment of the invention is that when a sensing signal is received in the order of said first sensing portion and said second sensing portion, a predetermined control command is outputted and when the order is reversed, another control signal is outputted.
As another example of the structure, the invention may be embodied to output a predetermined control command if the sensing signal is received in the order of said first sensing portion and said second sensing portion and if the order is reversed, a stop the output of the control command.

[0013] According to a second aspect, said first sensing portion and said second sensing portion are means for sensing an object to be authenticated without any contact.

[0014] According to a third aspect, said first sensing portion and said second sensing portion are arranged corresponding to the opening/closing direction of the opening/closing unit so as to operate the opening/closing body of the opening/closing unit in the moving direction of an object to be authenticated recognized according to a sensing order of the both sensing portions.

[0015] According to a fourth aspect, at least one of said first sensing portion and said second sensing portion is a sensing portion for authenticating an object to be authenticated.

[0016] According to a fifth aspect, on the upper side and on the lower side of one of said first sensing portion and said second sensing portion for authenticating an object to be authenticated are disposed the other sensing portions, respectively, and after said object to be authenticated is authenticated based on sensing by the one sensing portion, if there is sensing signal given by the other sensing portion on the upper side, the opening/closing body of the opening/closing unit will be opened and if a sensing signal is given by the other sensing portion of the lower side, the opening/closing body will be closed.

[0017] According to a sixth aspect, if an object to be authenticated is authenticated during an opening operation or a closing operation of the opening/closing body of said opening/closing unit, the operation of the opening/closing body is stopped.

Effect of the Invention

[0018] Since the present invention has the structure, following operation and effect are exerted.
According to the first aspect, if an object to be authenticated is sensed by and in the order of the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion, a predetermined control command is outputted to the opening/closing unit in correspondence to that sensing order.
That is, the moving direction of the object to be authenticated is recognized according to the arrangement of the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion, and said sensing order. A predetermined control command is outputted in correspondence to that recognized moving direction.
Thus, an operation for controlling the opening/closing unit can be implemented easily by the object to be authenticated for the authentication action.

[0019] Since according to the second aspect, an object to be authenticated is sensed by the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion without any contact, operability upon controlling the opening/closing unit can be further improved.

[0020] Moreover, according to the third aspect, when the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion are made to sense an object to be authenticated, an operator moves the object to be authenticated along both the sensing portions. Consequently, the moving direction of the object to be authenticated is recognized according to the sensing order by the both sensing portions, so that the opening/closing body of the opening/closing unit is operated in that moving direction.
That is, the opening/closing body of the opening/closing unit can be operated in the moving direction of the operator, who makes the object to be authenticated sensed by both the sensing portions. Further, operability upon controlling the opening/closing unit can be further improved.

[0021] According to the fourth aspect, both the operation for authenticating an object to be authenticated and the operation for controlling the opening/closing unit can be executed by a series of actions by the operator to move the object to be authenticated along the both sensing portions.

[0022] According to the fifth aspect, if the direction of the motion succeeding the motion for authenticating an object to be authenticated is upward, the opening/closing body of the opening/closing unit can be opened and if the direction of the motion succeeding a motion for authenticating an object to be authenticated is downward, the opening/closing body can be closed.

[0023] According to the sixth aspect, the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing unit can be stopped by a simple operation of making an object to be authenticated authenticated.

Brief description of the Drawings

[0024] 

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the opening/closing unit control system according to the present invention and a shutter unit which is a control object of said control system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the opening/closing unit control system;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the operation part of the opening/closing unit control system;

FIGS. 4 are side views showing the operation of an object to be authenticated for operating the opening/closing unit, FIG. 4(a) shows an operation for opening the opening/closing body, while FIG. 4 (b) shows an operation for closing the opening/closing body;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the opening/closing unit control system;

FIGS. 6 are side views showing an operation of the object to be authenticated for operating the opening/closing unit in another example of the opening/closing unit control system of the present invention, as FIG. 6(a) shows an operation for opening the opening/closing body and FIG. 6(b) shows an operation for closing the opening/closing body; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing by the opening/closing unit control system.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
An example of the opening/closing unit control system of the embodiment is applied to a shutter unit as an opening/closing unit which is disposed at an opening portion of or inside of a structure such as a house, a building, a warehouse, a factory, an underground mall, a tunnel or vehicle's loading platform in order to open or close the opening portion or shut/release space inside the structure.

[0026] The opening/closing unit control system 1 includes an operation portion 10 disposed on the outdoor side of a shutter unit A and a control portion 20 disposed on the indoor side of the shutter unit A (see FIG. 1) and senses an object to be authenticated 14 approaching from outside by means of a first sensing portion 11a and second sensing portions 11b, 11c (see FIG. 3) of the operation portion 10 so as to output a control command for controlling the shutter unit A from the control portion 20 following the sensing order.

[0027] The shutter unit A as a controlling target of the opening/closing unit control system 1 includes an opening/closing body a1 which implements opening/closing operation by sliding a closing direction end portion, guide rails a2, a2 for guiding both end portions in the width direction of the opening/closing body a1 in its opening/closing direction and a winding unit a3 which winds up or feeds the opening/closing body a1 on the opening direction side.

[0028] The opening/closing body a1 is so constructed that a plurality of so-called slats produced by bending a metal sheet into an elongated substantially rectangular shape are connected such that they are rotatable between said slats adjacent in the vertical direction, while a base sheet member is joined to the bottommost end portion (in other words, front end portion in a closing direction side) of these slats along the width direction (the left-right direction according to FIG. 1) of the opening/closing body.
Each guide rail a2 is a member formed so as to surround the end portions of the opening/closing body a1 in the width direction and disposed in an entire area between a contact position p (for example, floor, ground, frame member or the like) on which the opening/closing body a1 is settled and the winding unit a3.
The winding unit a3 includes a winding shaft (not shown) for winding up or feeding the opening/closing body a1, an electric driving source a31 which rotates said winding shaft in both directions through a drive power transmitting means (not shown) such as a chain or a sprocket and a shutter control panel a32 for controlling the electric driving source a31 and the like.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the operation portion 10 includes the first sensing portion 11a (antenna) and the two second sensing portions 11b and 11c within a rectangular body 10a of an arbitrary shape.
Further, the operation portion 10 contains a microcomputer 11g, an illuminator 11j, a buzzer 11k, an interface 11h and the like as shown in a block diagram of FIG. 2.
The operation portion 10 not only functions as an IC tag reader for receiving and reading authentication data sent from the object to be authenticated 14 which is an IC tag but also senses the object to be authenticated 14 by means of the second sensing portions 11b, 11c.

[0030] The object to be authenticated 14 is a so-called IC tag having a function for sending preliminarily memorized information such as identification code to the first sensing portion 11a (antenna) described later and may be embodied in any structure, such as a card type, others than the card type such as key type, a portable terminal with the IC tag function (for example, portable telephone), any structures having said functions added to or incorporated in any object. In the embodiment, as the object to be authenticated, particularly the convenient card type IC tag (so-called IC card) is used.
The object to be authenticated mounts an IC chip and transmits the authentication data memorized in a memory of said chip to the first sensing portion 11a through electric wave when the object to be authenticated approaches to the first sensing portion 11a (antenna).

[0031] The first sensing portion 11a is a coil-like antenna incorporated substantially in the central portion of the operation part 10 in order to receive electric wave sent from the object to be authenticated 14.
When the first sensing portion 11a receives the authentication data of the object to be authenticated 14, the illuminator 11j (for example, LED) is illuminated by an electric power outputted from the microcomputer 11g and at the same time, an alarm sound is generated by the buzzer 11k.

[0032] According to an example shown in FIG. 3, the illuminator 11j is disposed substantially in the central portion of the coil-like first sensing portion 11a (antenna) so that a position for recognizing the object to be authenticated 14 is easily visible.
In the meantime, the illumination of the illuminator 11j and the alarm sound of the buzzer 11k may be changed corresponding to a result of verification of the authentication data, for example, like lit/blinking, continuous sound/intermittent sound.

[0033] Each of the second sensing portions 11b and 11c may be any sensor as long as it is capable of sensing the approaching object to be authenticated 14 without any contact. According to a preferred example of the embodiment, a reflection type photoelectric sensor, in which beam emitted from a light emitting element (for example, LED and the like) is reflected by the object to be authenticated 14 and its reflection light is captured by a light receiving element (for example, phototransistor and the like), is used (particularly preferably, diffuse reflection type photoelectric sensor).

[0034] The first sensing portion 11a and the second sensing portions 11b and 11c are disposed at each different position and arranged in the opening/closing direction (vertical direction in the indicated example) of the opening/closing body a1 of the shutter unit A.
To explain more in detail, the second sensing portion 11b is disposed on the upper side of the first sensing portion 11a such that its emission capturing surface is exposed.
The other second sensing portion 11c is disposed on the lower side of the first sensing portion 11a such that its emission capturing surface is exposed.

[0035] In the operation portion 10 having the above-described structure, when the object to be authenticated 14 approaches a substantially central portion of the operation portion 10 as shown in FIG. 3, authentication data transmitted from the object to be authenticated 14 is received by the first sensing portion 11a (antenna) and further if the object to be authenticated 14 with approaching condition is moved upward or downward, the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed by the second sensing portion 11b or 11c.

[0036] The microcomputer 11g is an electronic circuit equipped with a CPU, a memory unit and the like and authentication data received from the object to be authenticated 14 (IC tag) by the first sensing portion 11a (antenna) and sensing signals by the second sensing portions 11b and 11c are inputted thereto. These input signals are sent to the control portion 20 through an interface 11h.

[0037] Wires L1 and L1 for communication between the operation part 10 and the control portion 20 described later are composed of two lines to achieve so-called serial communication system as a communication method between the operation part 10 and the control portion 20. Electric power for the microcomputer 11g is supplied from the control portion 20 through two wires L2 and L2.
According to the structure, the wires L1, L1, L2, L2 between the operation part 10 and the control portion 20 are composed of four wires. Thus, if an existing switch box is provided and the switch box is replaced with the operation part 10, the wires of the switch box (usually, four wires including open signal wire, close signal wire, stop signal wire, COM wire) can be used effectively without replacement of those wires.

[0038] The control portion 20 includes a microcomputer 21, an interface 22 for inputting a signal from the operation portion 10 to said microcomputer 21, a registration switch 23 and delete switch 24 for carrying out input and deletion of the authentication data with respect to the microcomputer 21, an operation mode switch 27 capable of switching the operation mode, a display unit 28 (for example, 7-segment LED and the like) which displays the content of an operation by the registration switch 23, the delete switch 24 and the operation mode switch 27, a relay circuit 25 for outputting an output signal from the microcomputer 21 to a shutter control panel a32 as a contact signal and a power source circuit 26 for supplying electric power to the microcomputer 21 and a microcomputer 11g of the operation part 10 (see FIG. 2). Then, the control portion 20 is disposed on the indoor side of the shutter unit A and mounted on a structure wall or the like.

[0039] The microcomputer 21 is an electronic circuit having a CPU, a memory unit and the like and functions as a means for memorizing plural kinds of verification data for verifying with the authentication data of the object to be authenticated 14, or a means for outputting a predetermined control command corresponding to various input signals or the like.

[0040] Each of the registration switch 23, the delete switch 24 and the operation mode switch 27 are disposed appropriately on the surface of the structure of the control portion 20 although a detailed representation is not repeated here and electrically wired so that when each of them is operated, a contact signal is inputted to the microcomputer 21.
In the meantime, the operation mode switch 27 is a switch for use in changing the operation pattern with respect to the operation portion 10 or when an operation from the switch box (not shown) is employed at the same time, and in the embodiment, this may not be disposed.

[0041] The relay circuit 25 is an electric circuit including an open relay 25a, a stop relay 25b and a close relay 25c (see FIG. 4).
The open relay 25a, the stop relay 25b and the close relay 25c send a contact signal for opening the opening/closing body a1 of the shutter unit A, a contact signal for stopping the opening/closing body a1 and a contact signal for closing the opening/closing body a1 corresponding to a command from the microcomputer 21 to the shutter control panel a32 of the shutter unit A respectively.
In the meantime, although the relay circuit 25 may be, for example, an ordinary relay having an electromagnetic coil and a contact point, alternatively the relay circuit 25 may be structured with a semiconductor element (transistor or the like) having a switching function.

[0042] Next, a characteristic processing operation by the microcomputer 21 of the control portion 20 in the opening/closing unit control system 1 will be described in detail based on the flow chart shown in FIG. 5.
First, in step 11, the microcomputer 21 determines whether or not authentication data of the object to be authenticated 14 sensed by the first sensing portion 11a agrees with verification data registered preliminarily in the microcomputer 21 of the control portion 20. In the case of an agreement, the processing is proceeded to step 12 and otherwise, the processing by the step 11 is repeated.

[0043] In step 12, whether or not the opening/closing body a1 is being operated is determined according to a feedback signal inputted to the microcomputer 21 from the shutter control panel a32 of the shutter unit A. If the opening/closing body a1 is being operated, the processing is proceeded to next step 13a and otherwise, the processing is proceeded to step 13b.
In step 13a, a stop command is outputted through the stop relay 25b so as to bring back the processing to the step 11.

[0044] That is, in the above-described steps 11 to 13a, the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed by the first sensing portion 11a and if the opening/closing body a1 is being opened or closed, the operation of the opening/closing body a1 is stopped.

[0045] In step 13b, electric power is supplied to the upper and lower second sensing portions 11b and 11c.
Although according to a preferred example of the embodiment, the supply of electric power to the second sensing portions 11b and 11c is shut down when not in use so as to save electric power, it is permissible to omit the step 13b and step 17b described later and always supply electric power to the second sensing portions 11b and 11c.

[0046] Then, in step 14b, the processing is started after a limited time timer (T) is reset.
In next step 15b and following steps, if the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed by the upper second sensing portion 11b, an open operation command is outputted through the open relay 25a (step 16b) and after the output, the processing is proceeded to next step 17b and if no object to be authenticated 14 is sensed, the processing is proceeded to step 16c.

[0047] In step 16c, whether or not the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed by the lower second sensing portion 11c is determined and if it is sensed, the processing is proceeded to next step 17c and otherwise, the processing is proceeded to step 17d.

[0048] In step 17c, a close operation command is outputted through the close relay 25c.
In next step 17b, the supply of electric power of the upper and lower second sensing portions 11b and 11c is shut down and the processing is returned to the step 11.

[0049] In step 17d, whether or not a count time T by the limited time timer exceeds a predetermined time is determined and if exceeded, the processing is jumped to step 17b and otherwise, the processing is returned to the step 15b.

[0050] That is, according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 5, if the object to be authenticated 14 is brought close to a substantially central portion of the operation portion 10 and moved upward as shown in FIG. 4(a) when the opening/closing body a1 is stopped, the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed and authenticated by the first sensing portion 11a. After the authentication, the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed by the upper second sensing portion 11b and then, the microcomputer 21 outputs an open operation command.

[0051] If the object to be authenticated 14 is brought close to the substantially center of the operation part 10 and moved downward as shown in FIG. 4(b) when the opening/closing body a1 is stopped, the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed and authenticated by the first sensing portion 11a. After the authentication, it is sensed by the lower second sensing portion 11c and outputs a close operation command to the microcomputer 21.

[0052] If the object to be authenticated 14 is merely brought close to the first sensing portion 11a when the opening/closing body a1 is stopped, the object to be authenticated 14 is not sensed by the upper and lower sensing portions 11b and 11c even if a predetermined time elapses after the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed by the first sensing portion 11a. As a result, the microcomputer 21 turns into a standby condition for re-authentication of the object to be authenticated 14 without outputting the open operation command or the close operation command.

[0053] In the opening/closing unit control system 1, both the operation for making the object to be authenticated 14 authenticated and the operation for opening/closing the shutter unit A can be carried out by a series of operations by an operator to move the object to be authenticated 14 along the operation portion 10.
Furthermore, the opening/closing body a1 is operated in the direction in which the object to be authenticated 14 has moved when the object to be authenticated 14 is approaching the operation portion 10. As a result, the operator understands the operation method easily and its operability is excellent.

[0054] Next, another example of the opening/closing unit control system of the present invention will be described. As for the opening/closing unit control system 2 described below, same reference numerals are attached to the substantially same portions as the opening/closing unit control system 1, a detailed description thereof being not repeated.
The opening/closing unit control system 2 shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 has a structure replacing the operation portion 10 in the opening/closing unit control system 1 with an operation portion 10' and changing a program in microcomputer 21.

[0055] The operation portion 10' includes a single first sensing portion 11a (antenna) and a single second sensing portion 11b, incorporated in a structure 10a' of an arbitrary shape, constituting the substantially same component as the operation portion 10.
Then, the first sensing portion 11a is disposed on the lower portion of the structure 10a' and the second sensing portion 11b is disposed on the upper portion of the structure 10a'. That is, the first sensing portion 11a and the second sensing portion 11b are disposed in parallel to the operating direction of the opening/closing body a1 of the shutter unit A.

[0056] Next, a characteristic processing operation by the microcomputer 21 of the control portion 20 in said opening/closing unit control system 2 will be described in detail with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 7.
First, in step 20, the microcomputer 21 starts to supply electric power to the second sensing portion 11b. When the opening/closing unit control system 1 is in use, the second sensing portion 11b is always supplied with electric power.

[0057] Next, in step 21, whether or not authentication data of the object to be authenticated 14 sensed by the first sensing portion 11a agrees with the verification data registered preliminarily in the microcomputer 21 of the control portion 20 is determined and in the case of an agreement, the processing is proceeded to step 22 and otherwise, the processing is proceeded to step 22d.

[0058] In step 22, whether or not the opening/closing body a1 is being operated is determined according to a feedback signal inputted to the microcomputer 21 from the shutter control panel a32 of the shutter unit A. If the opening/closing body a1 is being operated, the processing is proceeded to next step 23a and otherwise, the processing is proceeded to step 23b.
In step 23a, a stop command is outputted to the stop relay 25b and the processing is returned to the step 21.

[0059] In step 23b, the processing is started after the limited time timer (T1) is reset.
In next step 24b, whether or not the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed by the second sensing portion 11b is determined and if it is sensed, the processing is proceeded to next step 25b, and otherwise, the processing is proceeded to step 25c.

[0060] In step 25b, the open operation command is outputted through the open relay 25a and the processing is returned to the step 21.
In step 25c, whether or not a count time T1 by the limited time timer exceeds a predetermined time is determined and if exceeded, the processing is jumped to said step 21 and otherwise, the processing is returned to the step 24b.

[0061] That is, according to the steps 21 to 25b, if the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed by the first sensing portion 11a and the opening/closing body a1 is stopped, when the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed by the second sensing portion 11b also within a predetermined time interval, an open operation command is outputted.

[0062] In step 22d, whether or not the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed by the second sensing portion 11b is determined and if so, the processing is proceeded to next step 23d, and otherwise, the processing is returned to said step 21.
In step 23d, the limited time timer (T2) is reset and the processing is started.

[0063] In next step 24d, whether or not the authentication data of the object to be authenticated 14 sensed by the first sensing portion 11a agrees with verification data registered preliminarily in the microcomputer 21 of the control portion 20 is determined and in the case of an agreement, the processing is proceeded to step 25d, and otherwise, the processing is proceeded to step 25f.

[0064] In step 25d, whether or not the opening/closing body a1 is being operated is determined according to a feedback signal inputted to the microcomputer 21 from the shutter control panel a32 of the shutter unit A and if the opening/closing body a1 is being operated, the processing is proceeded to next step 26d and otherwise, the processing is proceeded to step 26e.

[0065] In step 26d, a stop command is outputted through the stop relay 25b and the processing is returned to the step 21.
In step 26e, a close command is outputted through the close relay 25c and the processing is returned to the step 21.

[0066] In step 25f, whether or not a count time T2 by the limited time timer exceeds a predetermined time is determined and if exceeded, the processing is jumped to the step 21 and otherwise, the processing is returned to the step 24d.

[0067] That is, in the steps 22d to 25f, if the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed by the second sensing portion 11b, if the object to be authenticated 14 is sensed and authenticated by the first sensing portion 11a also within a predetermined time interval after that sensing, and if the opening/closing body a1 is stopped, then a close operation command is outputted.

[0068] In the opening/closing unit control system 2, both an operation for making the object to be authenticated 14 authenticated and an operation for opening/closing the shutter unit A can be carried out by a series of operations by an operator to move the object to be authenticated 14 along the operation part 10, substantially like the opening/closing unit control system 1. Further, since the opening/closing body a1 is operated in the direction in which the object to be authenticated 14 has moved when the object to be authenticated 14 is approaching the operation portion 10, the operator can understand the operation method easily and its operability is excellent.
Additionally, as compared with the opening/closing unit control system 1, the number of the second sensing portions 11b can be reduced whereby part cost can be reduced and productivity can be increased.

[0069] According to the above-described embodiment, a moving direction of the object to be authenticated 14 is recognized by means of the first sensing portion 11a which senses and authenticates the object to be authenticated 14 and the second sensing portion 11b which senses the object to be authenticated 14 so as to operate the opening/closing body a1 in the moving direction. However, as another example, it is permissible to recognize the moving direction of the object to be authenticated 14 by means of plural sensing portions which execute only sensing so as to operate the opening/closing body a1 in the moving direction.

[0070] As further another example, it is also permissible to provide a plurality of the sensing portions for sensing and authenticating the object to be authenticated 14 so as to recogni9ze the moving direction of the object to be authenticated 14 by sensing signals of these plural sensing portions and then to operate the opening/closing body a1 in the moving direction.

Claims

1. An opening/closing unit control system which authenticates an object to be authenticated and outputs a predetermined control command to an opening/closing unit corresponding to a result of the authentication, comprising:

a first sensing portion for sensing the object to be authenticated; and a second sensing portion for sensing the object to be authenticated at a position different from the position of the first sensing portion, wherein the predetermined control command is outputted corresponding to the sensing order of the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion.

2. The opening/closing unit control system according to claim 1, wherein the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion are means for sensing the object to be authenticated without any contact.

3. The opening/closing unit control system according to claim 2, wherein said first sensing portion and said second sensing portion are arranged corresponding to the opening/closing direction of the opening/closing unit so as to operate the opening/closing body of the opening/closing unit in the moving direction of the object to be authenticated grasped according to a sensing order by the both sensing portions.

4. The opening/closing unit control system according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said first sensing portion and said second sensing portion is a sensing portion for authenticating the object to be authenticated.

5. The opening/closing unit control system according to claim 4, wherein, on the upper side of and on the lower side of one of the first sensing portion and the second sensing portion for authenticating, the object to be authenticated are disposed the other sensing portions and after the object to be authenticated is authenticated based on sensing by the one sensing portion, if sensing is executed by the other upper sensing portion, the opening/closing body of the opening/closing unit is opened and if a sensing signal is dispatched by the other lower sensing portion, the opening/closing body is closed.

6. The opening/closing unit control system according to claim 5, wherein if the object to be authenticated is authenticated during the opening operation or closing operation of the opening/closing body in the opening/closing unit, the operation of the opening/closing body is stopped.

7. The opening/closing unit control system according to claim 1, wherein said first sensing portion and said second sensing portion are arranged so as to correspond to the opening/closing direction of the opening/closing unit and the opening/closing body of the opening/closing unit is operated in the moving direction of the object to be authenticated recognized according to the sensing order by the both sensing portions.

8. The opening/closing unit control system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first sensing portion and said second sensing portion is a sensing portion for authenticating the object to be authenticated.

9. The opening/closing unit control system according to claim 1, wherein if the object to be authenticated is authenticated when the opening/closing body of the opening/closing unit is being opened or closed, the operation of the opening/closing body is stopped.

Drawing