Grating with distance measurement

Abstract

A grating for determining a distance between a transmitter bar and a receiver bar, having a transmitter bar having one or more transmitter elements that emit a beam having an intensity; a receiver bar, the receiver bar having one or more receiver elements, the receiver elements receiving the beams of the assigned transmitter elements; a control device for controlling the transmitter elements and / or the receiver elements and for evaluating the receiver elements, the transmitter elements and the receiver elements being in each case, or at least one of the transmitter elements and / or at least one of the receiver elements being in each case, a plurality of qualified transmitter elements designed as qualified transmitter elements and receiver elements wherein the qualified transmitter element or the plurality of qualified transmitter elements are designed to emit different intensities, and / or the eligible receiver element or the plurality of eligible receiver elements are designed to use different amplification factors and to output intensity values of the received and amplified beam, and the control device is designed to control different combinations of the intensity and the amplification factors of the eligible transmitter elements and / or receiver elements, and ascertaining a distance value as a function of the sum of the resulting intensity values of the controlled combinations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a light barrier for object recognition. Background Art

[0002] From the prior art, light barriers are known, which have transmitter strips and receiver strips and form a light grid between them for object recognition. In particular, one or two slats of the light barrier can be fixed to one or more sliding doors of the elevator car in order to detect the passage of objects through the open door area. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a light barrier that can achieve more differentiated monitoring at low cost.

[0004] This object is achieved on the basis of a grating of the aforementioned type by a grating according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are given in the further dependent claims.

[0005] The light barrier according to the present invention is a light barrier for determining the distance between a transmitter strip and a receiver strip, comprising: a transmitter strip having one or more transmitter elements, which emit a beam having a certain intensity; a receiver strip having one or more receiver elements, which receive the beam of the assigned transmitter element; a control device, which is used to control the transmitter elements and / or the receiver elements and to evaluate the receiver elements, wherein the transmitter elements and the receiver elements, respectively, or at least one of the transmitter elements and / or at least one of the receiver elements, respectively, are designed as qualified transmitter elements and receiver elements, wherein this qualified transmitter element or these qualified transmitter elements are designed to emit different intensities, and / or this qualified receiver element or these qualified receiver elements are designed to use different amplification factors and output intensity values ​​of the received and amplified beam, and the control device is designed to control different combinations of the intensities and amplification factors of the qualified transmitter elements and / or the receiver elements, and to determine the distance value based on the sum of the intensity values ​​generated by the controlled combinations.

[0006] This has the advantage that the distance between the transmitter and receiver strips can be determined. At the same time, however, dynamic processes can also be tracked and analyzed very well. The grid also does not sacrifice any safety requirements.

[0007] Preferably, the light grid, in particular the transmitter strips and the receiver strips, also has at least one or more further transmitter elements and receiver elements, which are each designed as a simple transmitter element and simple receiver element and are each designed as a light barrier and preferably do not contribute to the combination and / or no distance value is derived from them and / or they are used for object detection and / or their simple transmitter elements emit at least one intensity like qualified transmitter elements and their receiver elements have at least one amplification factor like qualified receiver elements.

[0008] This has the advantage that the light barrier can be used for object detection. This can result in the advantage that not all transmitter elements and receiver elements have to be designed to be qualified, thereby reducing the complexity of the light barrier and saving costs. However, this embodiment of the invention also achieves a compromise between accurate object detection and cost advantages, because not all transmitter elements or receiver elements have to be equipped with the same functions, but individual elements can also be equipped with fewer functions at a low cost.

[0009] Preferably, the control device is designed to control the combinations one after the other in a sequence, and in particular the sequence is repeated cyclically, and in particular the sum of the controlled combinations of the sequence is determined, and in particular a distance value is determined for each sequence, and / or all different combinations of intensities and amplification factors of eligible transmitter elements and / or receiver elements are controlled, but in particular for these combinations the highest intensity of the eligible transmitter elements is not used, and / or the following intensities and amplification factors of eligible transmitter elements and receiver elements are used, said intensity levels and amplification factors corresponding to the intensities and amplification factors of simple (non-qualified) transmitter elements and / or receiver elements.

[0010] This has the advantage that a distance value appears after a fixed period of time, the distance value is repeatedly determined quasi-continuously and appears dynamically in a chronological order. This has the advantage that the distance value can be calculated simply and quickly. This can result in the advantage that a maximum resolution or accuracy of the distance value is achieved. This can have the advantage that the number of transmitter elements and receiver elements required for object recognition does not have to be increased by qualified transmitter elements and receiver elements.

[0011] Preferably, one or more qualified transmitter elements are designed to respectively individually emit a plurality of different intensities and / or to emit intensities different from one another and / or to respectively emit the same intensity, which is in particular the highest intensity and in particular corresponds to the intensity of the ineligible transmitter element.

[0012] This can have the following advantages: For different distance ranges, optimized intensities are available, the resolution of the distance values ​​is increased, and the resolution of the distance values ​​is uniformly constant over the entire distance range. This has the advantage that qualified transmitter elements can also be used for object recognition.

[0013] Preferably, one or more qualified receiver elements are designed to individually use a plurality of different amplification factors, and / or to use the same different amplification factors, and / or to respectively use the same amplification factor, which is in particular the highest and in particular corresponds to the amplification factor of an unqualified, i.e. simple, receiver element.

[0014] This can have the following advantages: For different distance ranges, optimized amplification factors are available, the resolution of the distance values ​​is increased, and the resolution of the distance values ​​is uniformly constant over the entire distance range. This has the advantage that qualified receiver elements can also be used for object recognition.

[0015] The light barrier preferably has three qualified transmitter elements and receiver elements in each case and, in addition, has further simple transmitter elements and receiver elements which do not contribute to the combination and / or from which no distance value can be determined. Preferably, one or more qualified transmitter elements are designed to respectively emit three intensities, wherein one intensity is identical to the intensity of an unqualified, i.e. simple, transmitter element provided for object recognition, and wherein two intensities are lower than this identical intensity and are different from all other intensities. Preferably, one or more qualified receiver elements are designed to respectively use the same two different amplification factors, wherein the higher amplification factor corresponds to the amplification factor of an unqualified, i.e. simple, receiver element provided for object recognition. Preferably, the control device is designed so that twelve combinations are formed by three qualified transmitter elements and receiver elements, a total of two different lower intensities of the qualified transmitter elements and the same two different amplification factors of the receiver elements, respectively. Preferably, the control device is designed to use intensities and amplification factors of qualified transmitter and receiver elements for object recognition which intensity levels and amplification factors correspond to the intensities and amplification factors of unqualified, ie simple, transmitter and / or receiver elements.

[0016] This has the advantage of providing a very fine resolution for the distance values.

[0017] Preferably, the light barrier has a transmitting device which is designed to transmit the distance value wirelessly.

[0018] This has the advantage that the behavior of the car door can be transmitted and evaluated without having to intervene in the elevator's control and electronics.

[0019] Further features of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0020] The advantages mentioned in each case can also be achieved for combinations of features in connection with which these advantages have not been mentioned. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. The same reference numerals in the various figures denote corresponding elements.

[0022] Figure 1 The grating is shown;

[0023] Figure 2a shows the open double sliding doors of an elevator car with light barriers;

[0024] Figure 2b It shows that Figure 2a The half-open double sliding doors;

[0025] Figure 2c It shows that Figure 2a The closed double sliding doors;

[0026] Figure 3 A measurement graph is shown;

[0027] Figure 4 All measurement graphs are shown;

[0028] Figure 5 A distance value graph is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Figure 1 A light barrier 20 according to the invention is shown with an emitter bar 21 and a receiver bar 22. The emitter bar 21 has three qualified emitter elements 31 and further unqualified emitter elements 33, onto which IR radiation can be emitted with a certain intensity. The receiver bar 22 has three qualified receiver elements 32 and further unqualified receiver elements 34. The emitter bar and the receiver bar are each arranged vertically and parallel to each other and opposite each other at the same height. Each qualified emitter element 31 is assigned a qualified receiver element 32 at the same height, and these receiver elements together form a horizontal emission light beam 30. The light barrier 20 also has a control device 35.

[0030] Figures 2a to 2c The double sliding door 10 of the elevator car is shown. Figure 1 The light barrier 20. The transmitter strip 31 is fixed to one door leaf of the double sliding door, and the receiver strip 32 is fixed to the opposite door leaf of the double sliding door. The rest of the arrangement is as follows Figure 1As shown. The transmitter bar 31 and the receiver bar move with the double sliding door and remain arranged parallel to each other and at the same height, so that the light beam remains horizontal and is assigned to the corresponding qualified transmitter elements and receiver elements. When the door is closed, they decrease their distance with the door, and when the door is opened, they increase their distance with the door. The distance between the transmitter bar and the receiver bar is equal to the distance between the two door leaves of the double sliding door, except for a constant factor. Figure 2a The opened door is shown. Figure 2b The semi-closed door is shown. Figure 2c The closed door is shown.

[0031] The unqualified transmitter elements emit at intensity Tx:High, and the unqualified receiver elements have two amplification factors Rx:High and Rx:Low. Rx:Low is lower than Rx:High. These amplification factors are used simultaneously and evaluated separately.

[0032] The first qualified transmitter element T1 can emit intensities T1:Lowl, T1:Mid1 or T1:High, the second qualified transmitter element T2 can emit intensities T2:Low2, T2:Mid2 or T3:High, and the third qualified transmitter element T3 can emit intensities T3:Low3, T3:Mid3 or T3:High. Intensities Tx:High, T1:High, T2:High and T3:High are the same size. All other intensities are lower. The order of magnitude of the intensities is in ascending order: T1:Lowl < T2:Low2 < T3:Low3 < Mid1 < Mid2 < Mid3 < Tx:High. The three qualified receiver elements R1, R2, R3 can each use the amplification factor Rx:Low or Rx:High.

[0033] The control device controls the unqualified transmitter elements and receiver elements, using Rx:High for distances over 1m and Rx:Low for distances below 1m, so that reflections can be avoided.

[0034] The control device controls a series of combinations of different intensities and amplification factors and evaluates them to obtain the distance value. The highest intensity Tx:High is not used for this purpose. The combinations are controlled and evaluated separately. The combinations are: Tl:Lowl+Rl:Low, Tl:Midl+Rl:Low, Tl:Lowl+Rl:High, Tl:Midl+Rl:High, T2:Low2+R2:Low, T2:Mid2+R2:Low, T2:Low2+R2:High, T2:Mid1+R2:High, T3:Low3+R3:Low, T3:Mid3+R3:Low, T3:Low3+R3:High, T3:Mid1+R2:High.

[0035] That's 12 combinations.

[0036] Figure 3 4 is a graph 40 of intensity versus distance and shows a measurement curve for a combination. The X-axis 41 shows the distance from the transmitter bar to the receiver bar. Point 42 shows the minimum distance that can be evaluated and point 43 shows the maximum distance that can be evaluated. The Y-axis 44 shows the intensity value output by the qualified receiver element for a particular combination.

[0037] The measurement curve 51 shows by way of example a combination of a medium strength of a qualified transmitter element and a medium amplification factor of a qualified receiver element. The measurement curve 51 shows a very steep trend at medium distances, is saturated at shorter distances, and has no signal at longer distances. Therefore, the measurement curve shows only a small distance range with good resolution.

[0038] Figure 4 is based on Figure 3 40 and shows the superposition of all twelve measurement curves 52 for the twelve combinations.

[0039] The various intensities and amplification factors Rx:Low are selected such that an approximately uniform sequence of steep curves of the measurement curve is achieved over this distance.

[0040] Figure 5 A graph showing the total intensity values ​​for all twelve combinations is shown. The x-axis is Figure 3 The Y axis shows Figure 4 The sum of the intensity values ​​of all twelve combinations in 71. The sum shows an essentially linear trend over the entire distance.

[0041] The control device adds the measured and amplified intensity values ​​of the twelve combinations of the sequence and outputs a distance value based on the sum. The control device periodically repeats the sequence and periodically outputs the distance value.

[0042] By means of the light barrier according to the invention, the opening movement of the elevator car door can be measured. Likewise, the distance to the movable boundary of the passage to be monitored by the light curtain can be measured by the light curtain itself.

[0043] The light barrier according to the invention can have a transmitter device which transmits the distance value wirelessly, in particular to a network cloud. The data can thus also be used for evaluation, or stored for a longer period of time in order to be able to provide information about the process like a black box. In particular, this allows the elevator doors to be monitored independently of the elevator control.

[0044] List of Reference Numerals

[0045] 10Car door

[0046] 20 Grating

[0047] 21 launcher bars

[0048] 22 Receiver Strips

[0049] 30 beams

[0050] 31 Qualified transmitter elements

[0051] 32 qualified receiver elements

[0052] 33 Simple Transmitter Elements

[0053] 34 Simple Receiver Elements

[0054] 35 Control Device

[0055] 40Intensity curves related to distance

[0056] 41X axis: distance between transmitter bar and receiver bar

[0057] 42Minimum distance

[0058] 43 Maximum distance

[0059] 44Y axis: received and amplified intensity

[0060] 45 Undetected

[0061] 46 Saturation

[0062] 51 Measurement curve of intensity and amplification factor

[0063] 5212 measurement curves consisting of 6 intensities and 2 magnification factors

[0064] 60 Graph of the sum of the 12 received measurement curves

[0065] 64Y axis: sum of the magnified intensities

[0066] 71 Sum of 12 measurement curves of 6 intensities and 2 amplification factors.

Claims

1. A grating, - used to determine the distance between the transmitter bar and the receiver bar; The grating has: - an emitter strip with one or more emitter elements, - the transmitter element emits a beam having a certain intensity; - a receiver strip with one or more receiver elements, - the receiver element receives the beam of the assigned transmitter element; as well as - control devices, - for controlling said transmitter element and / or said receiver element, and - for evaluating said receiver element; It is characterized in that The transmitter elements and the receiver elements, respectively, or at least one of the transmitter elements and / or at least one of the receiver elements, respectively, are designed as qualified transmitter elements and receiver elements, wherein, - the eligible transmitter element or elements are designed to emit different intensities, and / or the qualified receiver element or the qualified receiver elements are designed to use different amplification factors and to output intensity values ​​of the received and amplified beam, and - the control device is designed to: - controlling different combinations of strength and amplification factor of said qualified transmitter elements and / or receiver elements, - and determining the distance value as a function of the sum of the resulting intensity values ​​of the controlled combination.

2. The grating according to claim 1, characterized in that - the light grid, in particular the transmitter and receiver strips - also having at least one or more further transmitter elements and receiver elements, - the one or more further transmitter elements and receiver elements are designed as simple transmitter elements and simple receiver elements, respectively, - and the one or more further transmitter elements and receiver elements are each designed as a light barrier, - and the one or more further transmitter elements and receiver elements preferably do not contribute to the combination and / or the distance value cannot be ascertained therefrom, - and / or the one or more further transmitter elements and receiver elements are used for object detection, - and / or a simple transmitter element of the one or more further transmitter and receiver elements transmits at least one intensity like the qualified transmitter element and a receiver element of the further transmitter and receiver elements has at least one amplification factor like the qualified receiver element.

3. The grating according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the control device is designed to: - controlling said combination in sequence, - and in particular said sequence is repeated periodically, - and in particular the sum of the controlled combinations of the sequence is determined, - and in particular for each sequence a distance value is determined, - and / or controlling all different combinations of strength and amplification factors of said eligible transmitter elements and / or receiver elements, - however, in particular for said combination the highest strength of said eligible transmitter element is not used, - and / or using the strengths and amplification factors of the qualified transmitter elements and receiver elements for object recognition, said strength levels and amplification factors corresponding to the strengths and amplification factors of the unqualified transmitter elements and / or receiver elements.

4. The grating according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - one or more eligible transmitter elements are designed to, -Emit multiple different intensities separately, - and / or emit different intensities from each other, - and / or emit the same intensity respectively, - the intensity is in particular the highest intensity, - and corresponds in particular to the intensity of the unqualified transmitter elements.

5. The grating according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - One or more qualified receiver elements are designed to, - using a plurality of different magnification factors separately, - and / or using different magnification factors, - and / or respectively using the same magnification factor, - the amplification factor is especially the highest, - and corresponds in particular to the amplification factor of a simple receiver element.

6. The grating according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that - The grating - respectively have three qualified transmitter elements and receiver elements, and - further simple transmitter elements and receiver elements are also present, which do not contribute to the combination and / or from which the distance value cannot be determined, - the one or more eligible transmitter elements are designed to, -Emit three intensities respectively, - one of which has an intensity which is identical to the intensity of a simple transmitter element which is provided for object recognition, - and two of them are lower than this same intensity and are respectively different from all the other intensities, and - the one or more qualified receiver elements are designed to, -Use the same two different magnification factors respectively, wherein the higher amplification factor corresponds to the amplification factor of a simple receiver element provided for object recognition, and - the control device is designed to: - makes twelve combinations of - three qualified transmitter elements and receiver elements, - A total of two different lower intensities of the eligible transmitter elements and - the receiver elements are formed by two different amplification factors, respectively, and - using the strengths and amplification factors of the qualified transmitter and receiver elements for object recognition, said strength levels and amplification factors corresponding to the strengths and amplification factors of simple transmitter and / or receiver elements.

7. The grating according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The light barrier has a transmitting device, which is designed to: - wirelessly transmitting said distance value.

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