Sensor for use with automatic door

Abstract

A detecting unit (14) forms a plurality of detection spots arranged two-dimensionally on a floor surface near a door panel (12). Each detection spot is capable of detecting a human or an object by infrared light independently from other detection spots. Region distinguishing means (30) distinguishes a region formed by plural ones of the said detection spots that have detected the human or object. Person's movement judging means (44) judges the direction in which the distinguished region moves. A signal which causes a door panel (12) to be opened is supplied to a door controller (34) only when the direction of movement of the distinguished region is the direction toward the door panel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.