Patent ID: 7009168
Filing Date: 2006-03-07
Classification: E05F,E05Y

Abstract:
1. A sensor capable of detecting of one or more objects, the sensor comprising: one or more light-projecting elements; one or more condenser members; and one or more light-receiving elements; at least one of the light-projecting element or elements irradiating at least a portion of a plurality of protected zones with light by way of at least one of the condenser member or members; light reflected from at least a portion of the protected zones being incident on at least one of the light-receiving element or elements by way of at least one of the condenser member or members; at least a portion of the light-projecting element or elements and at least a portion of the light-receiving element or elements being disposed at one or more focus or foci of at least a portion of the condenser member or members; wherein when at least one of the protected zones which is proximate to at least a portion of the light-projecting element or elements and/or at least a portion of the light-receiving element or elements is taken as reference, at least one edge, on at least one side toward at least a portion of the light-projecting element or elements and/or at least a portion of the light-receiving element or elements, of at least one of the protected zones which is located in at least one direction extending laterally from the at least one reference protected zone is formed so as to be more or less collinear with at least one edge, on at least one side toward at least a portion of the light-projecting element or elements and/or at least a portion of the light-receiving element or elements, of the at least one reference protected zone.