Patent ID: 6838657

Claim:
An optical position detecting device comprising: a light retro-reflector provided outside a predetermined region; at least two optical transceivers, each including an optical scanning unit for angularly scanning light in a plane substantially parallel to the predetermined region and a light receiving unit for receiving reflected light from a portion of said light retro-reflector irradiated with the scanning light; a detector for detecting a position of a light blocking object present in a region optically scanned by said optical scanning units, based on scanning angles of said optical scanning units and results of receiving light by said light receiving units; and a cover for covering said optical transceivers, said optical position detecting device being characterized by further comprising: a measuring unit for measuring a base potential of a light receiving signal in said light receiving unit; a comparing unit for comparing the measured base potential with a predetermined potential; and a judging unit for making a judgment that said cover is dirty when the measured base potential is higher than the predetermined potential.