Contribute to the prevention and control of the epidemic and meet the unwilling need to touch in public spaces

Pilot introduction of the air input solution AirInput™ used in the elevator operation panel and interior lighting switch of Recruit's new office building

• Alps Alpine Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 6770, representative director: Nyhiro Kuriyama, headquarters: Tokyo, hereinafter referred to as "Alps Alpine") piloted the introduction of a non-touch operation air input solution using an original high-sensitivity electrostatic capacitance sensor AirInput™ is used for elevator operation panels and lighting switches in the new office building of Recruit Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President: Kitamura Yoshihiro, hereinafter referred to as "Recruit"). This introduction was completed by us and Cosmos More Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President: Toshio Edahiro, hereinafter referred to as "Cosmos More"), which is engaged in the facility management business. The introduction of this pilot program can accumulate practical experience and knowledge on site, which will accelerate the productization of AirInput™ in a broad market. To meet the public space's unwillingness to touch due to the risk of infectious diseases such as the new crown virus, and strive to contribute to the new normal society.
  
  
• In the input operations of public spaces such as elevator switches, toilet flushing switches, and tram ticket vending machines, direct touch operations are performed due to reasons such as [I don`t know who has touched it", [operating parts are not clean", [own hands are dirty", etc. Scenes with conflicts abound. With the recent spread of the new crown epidemic around the world, this sense of resistance has become stronger than before. Although epidemic prevention and control measures such as alcohol disinfection have been adopted in public facilities, the new normal society has put forward higher requirements for epidemic prevention and control in public spaces.
  
  
• Alps Alpine has been committed to the development of air-tight input devices using original high-sensitivity electrostatic capacitance sensors since 2008. In January 2020, at the "CES2020" held in Las Vegas, the world`s largest electronic equipment trade fair, various types of applications that need to be fully considered for hygiene, such as medical and nursing sites, and public transportation, were specifically proposed. Air input solutions for live scenarios※1. Last year, with the spread of the new crown epidemic, in order to realize the commercialization of the solution as soon as possible, we accelerated market research, and also applied for the AirInput™ trademark for this type of product series that uses high-sensitivity electrostatic capacitance sensors to achieve air input.
  
  
• Last summer, we developed a prototype of the elevator with air input. In the process of providing the solution, the operability and completeness of the prototype as a solution were highly praised by Recruit. This time, it happened that the company had to renovate its base to reflect the concept of a new era office building, so it was opened for use in April. Our company`s AirInput™ Panel and AirInput™ Switch have been piloted in the new office building in Kudanshita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and the project has now been put into use.
  
  
• AirInput™ Panel is used for the lighting operation switch in the building, and it can switch the lighting ON/OFF in a non-contact type. When the finger is close to the floor area icon about 3cm where you want to perform lighting operations, a circle will appear to indicate that you have selected. When the circle makes a full circle, you can perform the lighting ON/OFF operation. If you leave your finger before the circle completes a full circle, you can cancel the confirmation operation to prevent misoperation.
  
  
• AirInput™ Switch is used on the elevator operation panel. Place your finger close to the number about 4cm where you want to go to the floor. A faint bright light will appear around the number to prompt you to select it. Continue to bring your finger closer to about 2cm, the operation will be confirmed and the white light will continue to light up. The lights will go out automatically after reaching the selected floor. The waiting hall outside the elevator is also equipped with the same product with the up and down arrow icons, so that a series of input operations required for moving in the elevator can be performed without contact. The product launched this time realizes the non-contact of the old elevator installed thirty years ago. Both products include functions such as icon actions based on the distance of the finger and determining the waiting time of the operation, realizing real and comfortable operation even in a non-contact type. In addition, AirInput™ Switch can also be touched.
  
  
• In addition, AirInput™ Switch adopts our company's unique decoration printing technology, and the elegant bright black interprets the high-level sense of the elevator. This technology uses a unique fusion thermal transfer printing machine. The film solid ink of about 1μm is colored by hot fusion, and multi-layer ink stack printing is performed. It can be reproduced realistically on low-cost and easy-to-mold materials such as resins. The appearance and touch of wood, metal, etc. that are difficult to perform complex molding. By using the special ink developed by our company, the invisible icon function of illuminating the icon from the back is realized. It can form a circle of light when the finger approaches and confirms the operation. In particular, the printing machine uses an on-demand printing machine that does not require plate making, and printing can be started quickly after the printing data is completed, and the color change is also very convenient, so it can quickly and flexibly respond to customer requirements.

• AirInput™ Switch
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