Method and system for monitoring a secure area
By using a monitoring system that combines cameras and sensors in a secure area, images are recorded and assessed only after an object has entered the area. This solves the problem of low efficiency in identifying and responding to potential hazards in existing technologies, and achieves rapid and effective security protection.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202480022379.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-03-28
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-22
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-23
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies struggle to efficiently identify and respond quickly to potential hazards when monitoring secure areas, especially machine tool areas, leading to delays in safety protection or wasted resources.
By combining cameras and other sensors with a computer system, the system first confirms that an object has entered the safe area through the sensors, and then the camera records and evaluates the image. Image processing is performed only when necessary, and artificial intelligence is used to accelerate the evaluation and automatically release the safe area.
It improves the response speed and resource utilization efficiency of the secure area, reduces unnecessary image processing burden, and ensures fast and effective protection of the secure area.
Smart Images
Figure CN121399412A_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for monitoring a safety area.
[0002] The present invention also relates to a system for monitoring a safety area. BACKGROUND
[0003] DE 10 2009 36641 A1 describes a safety device for securing a room area which can only be accessed via a secure access lock.
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system which further improve the state of the art. SUMMARY
[0005] This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and a system according to claim 14.
[0006] The present invention comprises a method for monitoring a safety area, in particular a safety area of a machine tool, wherein the safety area has at least one access area and can only be accessed via the access area, wherein the access area is monitored by at least a camera and a further sensor, wherein the camera and the further sensor are connected to a computer system, wherein the computer system monitors by means of the further sensor whether an object enters the safety area, wherein at least one image of the access area is taken by the camera when the computer system recognizes by means of the further sensor that an object enters the safety area, wherein the image recorded by the camera is evaluated by the computer system only after it has been confirmed by means of the further sensor that the object has entered the safety area.
[0007] Thus, it is first confirmed by the further sensor that an object enters the safety area. The image from the camera is then evaluated only. This evaluation of the image requires complex computing operations. The efficiency of the method is improved by the fact that the image is evaluated only when necessary, i.e. when the further sensor has confirmed that the object has entered the safety area.
[0008] In particular, the machine tool can be a laser cutting machine, a laser welding machine, a punching machine or a bending machine. The laser and the components in the machine tool which move with force can pose a danger which can endanger a person or an object in the safety area. On the other hand, an object in the safety area can pose a danger to the machine tool which is usually complex and thus valuable.
[0009] Preferably, the safety area is secured when it has been confirmed by means of the further sensor that the object has entered the safety area. Securing the safety area means switching off the hazard sources in the safety area. For example, in the case of a safety area of a machine tool, the machine tool is brought into a safe operating state, for example by stopping the machine tool. By securing the safety area when it has been confirmed by means of the further sensor that the object has entered the safety area, the safety area is secured particularly quickly. The system does not wait until the image recorded by the camera has been evaluated.
[0010] Preferably, the camera repeatedly records images, in particular at regular intervals, in particular in the form of a video. By recording a plurality of images, a chronological process of the conditions in the access area can be reproduced.
[0011] Preferably, the images recorded by the camera are stored in a memory, in particular a ring memory, for at least one second, preferably for 2 seconds, particularly preferably for 5 seconds. By storing the images, it is possible to reproduce and / or verify the entry of the object into the safety area in the images as soon as it has been confirmed by the further sensor that the object has entered the safety area.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the camera continuously records images, in particular a video. By storing the images over a longer period of time and in particular by using a ring memory, it is also possible to determine the conditions in the access area before the entry of the object in the images.
[0013] In an alternative embodiment, the camera only starts recording one or more images after it has been confirmed by means of the further sensor that the object has entered the safety area. By the camera only recording images when required, energy can be saved. Preferably, the camera starts recording within one second, particularly preferably within half a second, after it has been confirmed by means of the further sensor that the object has entered the safety area.
[0014] Preferably, the camera records images uninterruptedly at least after it has been confirmed by means of the further sensor that the object has entered the safety area. By the uninterrupted recording, it is made possible to reproduce the conditions in the safety area after the object has entered.
[0015] Preferably, the computer system automatically evaluates one or more images recorded by the camera, preferably by means of artificial intelligence, and automatically releases the safety area if the evaluation comes to the conclusion that the safety area is safe. As a result of the automated evaluation, the safety area is released again very quickly. For example, the machine tool can resume work very quickly. The automated evaluation is particularly advantageous in the case of an evaluation of the images which confirms that the object has triggered the further sensor but immediately left the safety area again.
[0016] Preferably, the computer system checks a plurality of consecutive images for at least one moving object. By checking the images for moving objects, the evaluation of the images can be accelerated, since only moving objects can enter the safety area.
[0017] It is particularly preferred that the computer system determines the direction of movement of the moving object, in particular whether the direction of movement of the moving object is directed into the safety area or out of the safety area. By determining the direction of movement, the danger posed by the object can be better assessed. In general, an object moving into the safety area poses a greater danger than an object moving out of the safety area. In particular, the computer system can determine that the object first moves into the safety area and then moves out of the safety area again. In this case, the danger is only temporary and the safety area can be released again.
[0018] Preferably, the computer system outputs at least one image for releasing the safety area by an operator and optionally outputs a warning signal to the operator. The operator can use the image to assess the situation in the danger zone and release the safety area if appropriate. If there is a persistent danger, the operator can initiate countermeasures. The warning signal informs the operator that an object has entered the safety area by means of the further sensor and that the operator should assess the image. The warning signal can be visual (e.g. a flashing light), acoustic (e.g. a warning tone) and / or haptic (e.g. a vibration alarm from a mobile device carried by the operator).
[0019] It is particularly preferred that the computer system outputs at least one image, in particular a video, recorded by the camera shortly after the object has entered the safety area by means of the further sensor to the operator and outputs at least one further image, in particular a current video transmission, representing the current situation. The operator can use these two outputs to assess both the situation at the time when the object has entered the safety area by means of the further sensor and the current situation. By comparing the image and the video, the situation can be assessed particularly well.
[0020] Preferably, the safety area has a plurality of access areas, wherein each access area is monitored by the computer system with at least one camera and at least one further sensor. By monitoring all access areas, equal protection of the safety area is ensured.
[0021] The further sensor is preferably a light barrier, a contact sensor, an ultrasonic sensor or a radar sensor. The output of these types of sensors is particularly easy and fast to evaluate. It is thus possible to quickly recognize that an object has entered the safety area. The safety area can thus be secured quickly.
[0022] The following description of preferred embodiments serves to explain the application in more detail with reference to the drawings.
[0023] The application also comprises a system according to claim 15. According to the application, a system is provided, comprising a safety area, in particular a safety area of a machine tool, a camera, a further sensor and a computer system, wherein the safety area has at least one access area and can only be accessed via the access area, wherein the camera and the further sensor are arranged and configured to monitor the access area, wherein the camera and the further sensor are connected with the computer system, wherein the computer system is arranged and configured to monitor by means of the further sensor whether an object enters the safety area, wherein the camera is arranged and configured to take at least one image of the access area when the computer system recognizes by means of the further sensor that an object is entering the safety area, wherein the computer system is arranged and configured to evaluate the image recorded by the camera only after it has been confirmed by means of the further sensor that the object has entered the safety area. In other words, the system is arranged and configured to carry out the method according to the application.
[0024] It is particularly preferred that the system is arranged and configured to carry out the method according to the application according to the preferred embodiments as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0025] In the drawings: Figure 1 A system comprising a safety area with an access area is shown; Figure 2 A system comprising a safety area with two access areas is shown; and Figure 3 An exemplary method according to the application is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] In all exemplary embodiments, elements that are identical or have equivalent functions are denoted by the same reference signs.
[0027] Figure 1 A system comprising a safety area 1 is shown. A machine tool 2 is located within the safety area 1. The safety area 1 has an access area 3. The safety area 1 can only be accessed via this access area 3. In this example, the safety area 1 is additionally protected by a fence, apart from the access area 3. The access area 3 is monitored by a camera 4 and a further sensor 5, in this case a light barrier. The camera 4 and the further sensor 5 are connected 6 with a computer system.
[0028] An object 7, in this case a ball, moving through the access area 3 is identified by the further sensor 5. In this way, the computer system 6 identifies by means of the further sensor 5 that the object 7 has entered the safety area 1 and subsequently secures the safety area 1. To this end, the computer system 6 is connected with the machine tool 2 and the computer system 6 brings the machine tool 2 to a standstill.
[0029] The camera 4 generates images 8 at regular intervals. These images 8 are stored in the memory 9 in the form of a video stream. The memory 9 serves as a ring memory. Serving as a ring memory means that a video stream of fixed length, in this case ten seconds, is continuously stored. The newly received images 8 or parts of the video stream overwrite the oldest images 8 or parts of the video stream in the memory 9.
[0030] After the computer system 6 has confirmed by means of the further sensor 5 that the object 7 has entered the safety area 1, the computer system 6 evaluates the images 8 generated by the camera 4 and stored in the memory 9. To this end, algorithms for image processing are provided in the computer system 6. The algorithms can be used, for example, to determine the direction of movement 10 of the object 7. The algorithms can also be used, for example, to determine the type of object. The algorithms can contain artificial intelligence, for example in the form of neural networks. If the computer system 6 identifies that there is no danger in the safety area 1, the computer system 6 releases the safety area 1 and starts the machine tool 2.
[0031] If the computer system 6 identifies a potential danger in the safety area 1 or if the computer system 6 cannot unambiguously evaluate the situation, the computer system 6 displays the images 8 to the operator 11. In order to alert the operator 11 to a potential danger in the safety area 1, the computer system 6 can output a warning signal 12, in this case a flashing light. The operator 11 can then evaluate the images 8 and release the safety area 1 or initiate measures to eliminate the danger.
[0032] Figure 2 A system with a safety area 1 and two access areas 3 is shown. Each access area 3 is monitored by a camera 4 and a further sensor 5. The camera 4 and the further sensor 5 are each connected with a computer system 6. Objects are not shown in this example. It is understood that the same things happen when an object enters the safety area 1, regardless of which access area 3 the object enters the safety area 1 through. Figure 1 The same things are described as with regard to
[0033] Figure 3An exemplary method according to the application is shown. In a first step 110, the computer system 6 monitors using the further sensor 5 whether an object 7 enters the safety area 1. As soon as the object 7 is identified with the further sensor 5 in a second step 120, the safety area 1 is secured in a third step 130. To this end, the computer system 6 stops the machine tool 2. In a fourth step 140, one or more images 8 of the camera 4 are processed by the computer system 6 at the time of detection of the object 7, preferably after this time. In this example, the camera 4 generates images 8 at regular intervals, which are stored in a memory 9 and can be loaded by the computer system 6 from the memory. If the computer system 6 identifies that there is no danger in the safety area 1, the computer system 6 releases the safety area 1 in a fifth step 150. If the computer system 6 identifies a danger in the safety area 1 or cannot assess the situation unambiguously, the operator 11 is informed by the computer system 6 in a sixth step 160.
[0034] List of reference signs 1 safety area 2 machine tool 3 access area 4 camera 5 sensor 6 computer system 7 object 8 image 9 memory 10 movement direction 11 operator 12 warning signal 100 method 110 first step 120 second step 130 third step 140 fourth step 150 fifth step 160 sixth step
Claims
1. A method for monitoring a safety area (1), in particular of a machine tool (2), wherein The secure area (1) has at least one access area (3) and can only be accessed via the access area (3), wherein the access area (3) is monitored at least by means of a camera (4) and a further sensor (5), wherein the camera (4) and the further sensor (5) are connected to a computer system (6), wherein the computer system (6) monitors, by means of the further sensor (5), whether an object (7) enters the secure area (1), wherein, when the computer system (6) identifies, by means of the further sensor (5), that an object (7) enters the secure area (1), the camera (4) takes at least one image (8) of the access area (3), characterized in that the image (8) recorded by the camera (4) is evaluated by the computer system (6) only after it has been confirmed by means of the further sensor (5) that an object (7) has entered the secure area (1).
2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The secure area (1) is secured when it has been confirmed by means of the further sensor (5) that an object (7) has entered the secure area (1).
3. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The camera (4) repeatedly records images (8), in particular at regular intervals, in particular in the form of a video.
4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The images (8) recorded by the camera (4) are stored in a memory (9), in particular a ring memory, for at least one second, preferably 2 seconds, particularly preferably 5 seconds.
5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The camera (4) records images (8) continuously, in particular at regular intervals, in particular in the form of a video.
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The camera (4) starts recording one or more images (8) only after it has been confirmed by means of the further sensor (5) that an object (7) has entered the secure area (1).
7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The camera (4) records images (8) uninterruptedly at least after it has been confirmed by means of the further sensor (5) that an object (7) has entered the secure area (1).
8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The computer system (6) automatically evaluates one or more images (8) recorded by the camera (4), preferably by means of artificial intelligence, and automatically releases the secure area (1) if the evaluation results in that the secure area (1) is safe.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The computer system (6) checks a plurality of consecutive images (8) for at least one moving object (7).
10. The method of claim 9, wherein, The computer system (6) determines a movement direction (10) of the moving object (7), in particular whether the movement direction of the moving object (7) is directed into the secure area (1) or out of the secure area (1).
11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The computer system (6) outputs at least one image (8) for releasing the secure area (1) by an operator (11) and optionally outputs a warning signal (12) to the operator (11).
12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The computer system (6) outputs at least one image (8), in particular a video, recorded by the camera (4) shortly after an object (7) has been confirmed by means of the further sensor (5) to have entered the safety area (1) to the operator (11), and outputs at least one further image (8), in particular a current video transmission, representing the current situation.
13. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The safety area (1) has a plurality of access areas (3), wherein each access area (3) is monitored by the computer system (6) using at least one camera (4) and at least one further sensor (5).
14. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The further sensor (5) is a light barrier, a contact sensor, an ultrasonic sensor or a radar sensor.
15. A system, comprising a safety area (1), in particular of a machine tool (2), a camera (4), a further sensor (5) and a computer system (6), wherein, The safety area (1) has at least one access area (3) and can only be accessed via the access area (3), wherein the camera (4) and the further sensor (5) are arranged and configured to monitor the access area (3), wherein the camera (4) and the further sensor (5) are connected to the computer system (6), wherein the computer system (6) is arranged and configured to monitor, by means of the further sensor (5), whether an object (7) enters the safety area (1), wherein the camera (4) is arranged and configured to take at least one image (8) of the access area (3) when the computer system (6) identifies, by means of the further sensor (5), that an object (7) enters the safety area (1), characterized in that the computer system (6) is arranged and configured to evaluate the images (8) recorded by the camera (4) only after an object (7) has been confirmed by means of the further sensor (5) to have entered the safety area (1).
16. The system of claim 15, wherein, The system (1) is arranged and configured to carry out the method according to the application according to any one of claims 1 to 14. The system (1) is arranged and configured to carry out the method according to the application according to any one of claims 1 to 14.