Patent ID: 8716667

Claim:
A switching apparatus that switches a state of a predetermined electric circuit by detecting a proximity of an object, the switching apparatus comprising: a first light source configured to emit light of a first wavelength; a second light source configured to emit light of a second wavelength that is different from the first wavelength; a sensor configured to detect reflected light obtained while the lights of the first and second wavelength are reflected; and a control unit configured to determine whether a distance to the object is within a predetermined distance based on whether an intensity of the reflected light is larger than or equal to a predetermined threshold; change a control mode for controlling light emission by at least one of the first and second light source when it is determined that the distance to the object is within the predetermined distance; control at least one of the first and second light source to emit light in accordance with the control mode; determine whether the object is human skin on the basis of the reflected lights; and switch the predetermined electric circuit in either state of a first state or a second state that is different from the first state from the first state to the second state in a case where it is determined that the object is the human skin.