# US 10,309,670 B2 · Radiation receiving sensor and air conditioner, electronic cooker, and transport device including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,670 B2 - Document ID: US10309670B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/154,950 - Filed: 2016-05-14 - Published: 2016-11-24 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-20 - Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Koichi Kusukame; Nawatt Silawan; Shinichi Shikii; Aki Yoneda; Kazuki Funase; Takahiro Fukunishi; Toshimitsu Koda; Norimasa Ishikawa; Hiroshi Yamanaka; Takanori Sugiyama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309670B2 ## CPC - G01J 5/20: using resistors, thermistors or semiconductors sensitive to radiation, e.g. photoconductive devices - F24F 11/00: Control or safety arrangements - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving - G01J 5/02: Constructional details - G01J 5/025: {Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface} - F24F 2120/00: Control inputs relating to users or occupants - F24F 2120/10: Occupancy - G01J 2005/0077: {Imaging} - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) ## Abstract A radiation receiving sensor includes an infrared receiver including a plurality of infrared receiving devices that receive infrared radiation, a lens that allows infrared radiation to enter the infrared receiver, a rotator that rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about a part of the lens, and a cover member that faces the infrared receiver through the lens and that has translucency. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radiation receiving sensor comprising: an infrared receiver including a plurality of infrared receiving devices that receive infrared radiation; a lens that allows infrared radiation to enter the infrared receiver; a rotator that rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about a part of the lens; and a cover member that faces the infrared receiver through the lens and that has translucency, wherein the lens allows infrared radiation that has passed through the cover member to enter the infrared receiver, wherein the cover member includes a first area having a first infrared transmittance and a second area having a second infrared transmittance, which is lower than the first infrared transmittance, and wherein a minimum value of a distance between a position at which infrared radiation that has entered the second area goes out and a rotation center of the lens is larger than a distance between a position at which infrared radiation that has entered the first area goes out and the rotation center of the lens, and a minimum value of an optical length, in the second area, of infrared radiation that passes through the second area and the rotation center of the lens is larger than an optical length, in the first area, of infrared radiation that passes through the first area and the rotation center of the lens. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The radiation receiving sensor according to claim 1, wherein the part of the lens is a pole of the lens, and wherein the rotator rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about a straight line through the lens as a rotation axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The radiation receiving sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second area and the first area of the cover member are composed of the same material, and wherein the second area of the cover member is thicker than the first area of the cover member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The radiation receiving sensor according to claim 1, wherein the cover member has a flat shape or a curved shape and is a translucent member having a shape whose radius of curvature is larger than a radius of curvature of the lens. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The radiation receiving sensor according to claim 1, wherein the rotator does not rotate the cover member but rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about the rotation center. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The radiation receiving sensor according to claim 1, wherein the rotator rotates the infrared receiver and the lens at a first rotational speed while infrared radiation that has passed through the first area is entering the infrared receiver and at a second rotational speed while infrared radiation that has passed through the second area is entering the infrared receiver, the first rotational speed and the second rotational speed being different from each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The radiation receiving sensor according to claim 6, wherein the second rotational speed is lower than the first rotational speed. ### Claim 8 A radiation receiving sensor comprising: an infrared receiver including a plurality of infrared receiving devices that receive infrared radiation; a lens that allows infrared radiation to enter the infrared receiver; a rotator that rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about a part of the lens; and a cover member that faces the infrared receiver through the lens and that has translucency, wherein the lens allows infrared radiation that has passed through the cover member to enter the infrared receiver, wherein the cover member includes a first area having a first infrared transmittance and a second area having a second infrared transmittance, which is lower than the first infrared transmittance, wherein the first area of the cover member is a first member having the first infrared transmittance, and wherein the second area of the cover member includes the first member and a second member that is arranged on the first member and that absorbs infrared radiation. ### Claim 9 An air conditioner comprising: a radiation receiving sensor including an infrared receiver including a plurality of infrared receiving devices that receive infrared radiation, a lens that allows infrared radiation to enter the infrared receiver, a rotator that rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about a part of the lens, and a cover member that faces the infrared receiver through the lens and that has translucency, wherein the lens allows infrared radiation that has passed through the cover member to enter the infrared receiver, wherein the cover member includes a first area having a first infrared transmittance and a second area having a second infrared transmittance, which is lower than the first infrared transmittance, and wherein a minimum value of a distance between a position at which infrared radiation that has entered the second area goes out and a rotation center of the lens is larger than a distance between a position at which infrared radiation that has entered the first area goes out and the rotation center of the lens, and a minimum value of an optical length, in the second area, of infrared radiation that passes through the second area and the rotation center of the lens is larger than an optical length, in the first area, of infrared radiation that passes through the first area and the rotation center of the lens. ### Claim 10 An air conditioner comprising: a radiation receiving sensor including an infrared receiver including a plurality of infrared receiving devices that receive infrared radiation, a lens that allows infrared radiation to enter the infrared receiver, a rotator that rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about a part of the lens, and a cover member that faces the infrared receiver through the lens and that has translucency, wherein the lens allows infrared radiation that has passed through the cover member to enter the infrared receiver, wherein the cover member includes a first area having a first infrared transmittance and a second area having a second infrared transmittance, which is lower than the first infrared transmittance, wherein the first area of the cover member is a first member having the first infrared transmittance, and wherein the second area of the cover member includes the first member and a second member that is arranged on the first member and that absorbs infrared radiation. ### Claim 11 An electronic cooker comprising: a radiation receiving sensor including an infrared receiver including a plurality of infrared receiving devices that receive infrared radiation, a lens that allows infrared radiation to enter the infrared receiver, a rotator that rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about a part of the lens, and a cover member that faces the infrared receiver through the lens and that has translucency, wherein the lens allows infrared radiation that has passed through the cover member to enter the infrared receiver, wherein the cover member includes a first area having a first infrared transmittance and a second area having a second infrared transmittance, which is lower than the first infrared transmittance, and wherein a minimum value of a distance between a position at which infrared radiation that has entered the second area goes out and a rotation center of the lens is larger than a distance between a position at which infrared radiation that has entered the first area goes out and the rotation center of the lens, and a minimum value of an optical length, in the second area, of infrared radiation that passes through the second area and the rotation center of the lens is larger than an optical length, in the first area, of infrared radiation that passes through the first area and the rotation center of the lens. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic cooker according to claim 11, further comprising: a ceiling; and a platform on which an object that is a cooking target is placed, wherein the radiation receiving sensor is mounted on the ceiling, and wherein a rotation axis used by the rotator is substantially parallel to the ceiling. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electronic cooker according to claim 12, further comprising: a controller that controls an operation of the electronic cooker, wherein, if a temperature of the cooking target identified on the basis of an infrared image obtained from the radiation receiving sensor reaches a certain value, the controller ends the operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The electronic cooker according to claim 12, further comprising: a controller that controls an operation of the electronic cooker, wherein, if it is determined that there are two or more cooking targets on the platform on the basis of an infrared image obtained from the radiation receiving sensor, the controller controls the operation using, among a plurality of operation methods for heating the two or more cooking targets, a first operation method in which power used for heating is smallest. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The electronic cooker according to claim 12, further comprising: a controller that controls an operation of the electronic cooker; and a radiator that emits infrared radiation to the cooking target, wherein the controller controls the radiator such that the radiator emits infrared radiation to a position of the cooking target identified on the basis of an infrared image obtained from the radiation receiving sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electronic cooker according to claim 15, wherein, if a rate of increase in a temperature of the cooking target identified on the basis of an infrared image obtained from the radiation receiving sensor is equal to or lower than a certain value, the controller controls the radiator such that the radiator emits infrared radiation to the position of the cooking target. ### Claim 17 An electronic cooker comprising: a radiation receiving sensor including an infrared receiver including a plurality of infrared receiving devices that receive infrared radiation, a lens that allows infrared radiation to enter the infrared receiver, a rotator that rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about a part of the lens, and a cover member that faces the infrared receiver through the lens and that has translucency, wherein the lens allows infrared radiation that has passed through the cover member to enter the infrared receiver, wherein the cover member includes a first area having a first infrared transmittance and a second area having a second infrared transmittance, which is lower than the first infrared transmittance, wherein the first area of the cover member is a first member having the first infrared transmittance, and wherein the second area of the cover member includes the first member and a second member that is arranged on the first member and that absorbs infrared radiation. ### Claim 18 A transport device comprising: a radiation receiving sensor including an infrared receiver including a plurality of infrared receiving devices that receive infrared radiation, a lens that allows infrared radiation to enter the infrared receiver, a rotator that rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about a part of the lens, and a cover member that faces the infrared receiver through the lens and that has translucency, wherein the lens allows infrared radiation that has passed through the cover member to enter the infrared receiver, wherein the cover member includes a first area having a first infrared transmittance and a second area having a second infrared transmittance, which is lower than the first infrared transmittance, and wherein a minimum value of a distance between a position at which infrared radiation that has entered the second area goes out and a rotation center of the lens is larger than a distance between a position at which infrared radiation that has entered the first area goes out and the rotation center of the lens, and a minimum value of an optical length, in the second area, of infrared radiation that passes through the second area and the rotation center of the lens is larger than an optical length, in the first area, of infrared radiation that passes through the first area and the rotation center of the lens. ### Claim 19 A transport device comprising: a radiation receiving sensor including an infrared receiver including a plurality of infrared receiving devices that receive infrared radiation, a lens that allows infrared radiation to enter the infrared receiver, a rotator that rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about a part of the lens, and a cover member that faces the infrared receiver through the lens and that has translucency, wherein the lens allows infrared radiation that has passed through the cover member to enter the infrared receiver, wherein the cover member includes a first area having a first infrared transmittance and a second area having a second infrared transmittance, which is lower than the first infrared transmittance, wherein the first area of the cover member is a first member having the first infrared transmittance, and wherein the second area of the cover member includes the first member and a second member that is arranged on the first member and that absorbs infrared radiation.