Acoustic adjustment aid

Abstract

Adjustment device (1) for adjusting a holder for an optical sensor, comprising a data acquisition unit (2), a data processing unit (3) and at least one movable adjustment aid (4) which generates an acoustic signal (6) upon movement, in particular upon rotation about a rotation axis (5), such that the data acquisition unit (2) detects the acoustic signal (6) and forwards it to the data processing unit (3) in order to offer a user an instruction for moving the adjustment aid (4), wherein the instruction is designed in particular as a graphic representation and / or as an instruction that is acoustically perceptible to the user.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of optical sensor adjustment. To ensure that no erroneous object detection occurs during operation of the optical sensor, the optical sensor must be adjusted to its mounting position.

[0002] To perform such an adjustment, adjustment aids are provided, allowing suitable adjustment movements to be performed. An example of an adjustment aid is a screw whose actuation, i.e., its rotational movement, results in an adjustment of the sensor. The rotational movement of the screw can occur against a spring force, which can be designed as a tension or compression spring. The resulting preload impedes the rotational movement of the screw, which allows the user to adjust the positioning movement of the sensor more precisely, because, for example, simply "overtightening" a favorable position is more difficult.

[0003] DE 20 2013 011 015 U1 describes such an adjustment arrangement with an adjustment screw for a camera module. An optics carrier and a receiver carrier are pressed apart using a clamping device. This allows for quick and easy adjustment by changing the distance between the optics carrier and the receiver carrier. An optimal adjustment position could be determined, for example, by a maximum intensity on the receiver carrier. To find the maximum intensity, one could observe the rise and fall of a received signal while turning the adjustment screw and then adjust to the observed maximum intensity by turning the screw.

[0004] The solution proposed in DE202013011015U1 has the disadvantage that a person skilled in the art can only find the optimal adjustment position by rotating the adjustment screw, and the accuracy of determining the optimal adjustment position thus depends on the intensity profile, in particular on the intensity profile in the area around the maximum intensity. For example, if the area of ​​maximum intensity resembles a plateau, i.e., the intensity changes only slightly when the screw is rotated, it is difficult for a person skilled in the art to determine where, for example, the center of the plateau is located, even though the center of the plateau would correspond to the optimal adjustment position in such a case.

[0005] EP 4 016 009 B1 discloses an optical sensor comprising an adjustment means and an elastic element made of a material with adhesive properties. The restoring forces exerted by the elastic element maintain a stable adjustment position over the long term, eliminating the need for separate fixation of the adjusted position of the sensor, for example, due to loosening of the adjustment means. EP 4016009 B1 thus teaches the skilled person the use of an elastic element with adhesive properties for adjusting the sensor.

[0006] The solution proposed in EP4016009B1 has the disadvantage that it does not assist the expert in finding the optimal adjustment position of the sensor during the actual adjustment process. EP4016009B1 is limited to the reproducibility of the adjustment, which, however, requires finding the optimal adjustment position.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the invention to simplify the adjustment process as such.

[0008] The object is achieved by the adjustment device according to claim 1. Further embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] The adjustment device according to the invention for adjusting a holder for an optical sensor has a data acquisition unit, a data processing unit and at least one movable adjustment aid, wherein the movable adjustment aid generates an acoustic signal upon movement, in particular upon rotation about a rotation axis, so that the data acquisition unit detects the acoustic signal and forwards it to the data processing unit in order to offer a user an instruction to move the adjustment aid, wherein in particular the instruction is designed as a graphic representation and / or as an instruction that is acoustically perceptible to the user.

[0010] In the present case, an adjustment aid is understood to mean, for example, an adjustment screw which, at least in section, comprises a structured surface in addition to a thread, whereby a thread is also to be regarded as a structured surface. By moving the adjustment aid, the holder of the sensor is aligned, i.e. adjusted, by the adjustment device in order to set up, for example, a predetermined intensity profile on a receiver of the optical sensor by adjusting the sensor holder. The adjustment can be carried out in a first X-direction of the adjustment device by means of a first adjustment aid and in a second Y-direction of the adjustment device by means of a second adjustment aid. The adjustment device therefore has at least one adjustment aid.

[0011] In this case, a movement is understood to mean, for example, a rotating movement or a sliding movement.

[0012] An acoustic signal, in this context, is understood to be an acoustic wave that propagates through a medium, such as air and / or a solid. The adjustment device represents a solid in this sense. The acoustic signal can propagate through different media simultaneously and is therefore not limited to propagation through a single medium.

[0013] The acoustic signal is recorded by the data acquisition unit. The data acquisition unit thus has a sensor that detects the acoustic signal and converts it into a preferably electrical signal to transmit it, particularly wirelessly, to the data processing unit. For this purpose, the data acquisition unit has an interface suitable for data exchange with the data processing unit.

[0014] The data processing unit can comprise a computing unit and a memory unit, in particular, it can be embodied as a mobile phone. The data processing unit can comprise a display for presenting the instructions to a user. For this purpose, application software can be configured as an application on the mobile phone to graphically display at least adjustment instructions to the user on the mobile phone display.

[0015] For this purpose, the data processing unit can be connected to the data acquisition unit via an interface, in particular via a Bluetooth interface, in order to receive the electrical signal of the data acquisition unit.

[0016] The data processing unit is preferably configured to receive a measured value from the sensor and, in particular, to additionally display it. A measured value is the value of the sensor to be adjusted to which the sensor is to be aligned or optimally positioned. For example, the intensity of a measured value from the sensor, which should have the highest possible intensity when measured by the sensor. The data processing unit is further configured to display the course of the measured value during the adjustment so that the user of the adjustment device immediately recognizes the effect of the alignment on the measured value. Likewise, the data processing unit can preferably be configured to automatically recognize and store maximum and minimum measured values ​​during the alignment. In particular, the instructions can be issued to the user based on the automatically recognized and stored measured values.

[0017] Instructions in this case include specifying a direction of movement, a direction of rotation, an angle of rotation, and a number of revolutions. The instructions can be represented as graphic symbols or curves.

[0018] In this case, detectable means, for example, electronically processable, displayable on a screen or, in principle, graphically representable.

[0019] The advantage of the adjustment device according to the invention is that no electronics or cables have to be attached to the adjustment device as such, as would be necessary, for example, when using a rotary encoder to make the exact position of the adjustment aid accessible to a user when the adjustment aid is moved, so that the user knows, for example, by how many revolutions he has already moved or rotated the adjustment aid in an adjustment direction during an adjustment process.

[0020] The invention further has the advantage that, when adjusting the optical sensor with the adjustment device, a rotation of the adjustment aid is easily scalable by the acoustic signal, which is why the adjustment process as such is facilitated, e.g., can be carried out more quickly, by means of the claimed adjustment instructions by the data processing unit.

[0021] In one embodiment of the adjustment device, the data acquisition unit comprises an acoustic sensor, e.g. an acoustic transducer, which detects the acoustic signal which propagates via the adjustment device essentially as structure-borne sound.

[0022] The acoustic sensor of the data acquisition unit converts the acoustic signal into an electrical signal.

[0023] This allows the acoustic sensor to advantageously detect the acoustic signal at any location on the adjustment device, i.e., the acoustic sensor can be mounted at any location on the adjustment device, as long as the acoustic signal reaches that location. The acoustic sensor can be mounted, in particular, on the outer wall of a housing in which the adjustment device is located. Furthermore, the acoustic sensor can be positioned separated from the other components of the data acquisition unit by a cable.

[0024] In one embodiment of the adjustment device, the adjustment aid is mounted in the adjustment device so as to be movable, in particular rotatable, in particular about a rotation axis in a first and a second adjustment direction.

[0025] The feature relates in particular to an embodiment of the adjustment aid as an adjustment screw. An adjustment screw can be moved, i.e., rotated, in a first and opposite second direction of rotation, which corresponds to a different adjustment direction. A movement in the sense of displacement in a first and second direction is also possible.

[0026] In one embodiment of the adjustment device, the acoustic signal during movement, in particular during rotation, of the adjustment aid in a first adjustment direction of the adjustment aid differs from the acoustic signal during movement, in particular during rotation, of the adjustment aid in a second adjustment direction of the adjustment aid.

[0027] This allows the user to easily distinguish between different adjustment directions. This allows the user to easily distinguish an adjustment direction from the acoustic signal in the instruction to the user, and the data processing unit can then specify the adjustment direction accordingly in the form of an instruction.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment of the adjustment device, the adjustment aid has a surface that is structured at least in sections.

[0029] In the present case, a structured surface is understood to be a surface which has a pattern which includes visible and / or noticeable unevenness as elements. The unevenness can preferably be formed periodically, i.e. as a periodic pattern, for example by periodic elevations which rise from the unstructured surface as first elements and / or by periodic depressions as second elements which deepen from the unstructured surface compared to the unstructured surface. The surface can for example have grooves running parallel and / or transversely to the axis of rotation so that the sensing area of ​​the second end section of the boom jumps from one groove to the next during rotation. The elements can be formed complementary to one another. For example as a pyramid-shaped elevation and a complementary pyramid-shaped depression.

[0030] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the adjustment device has at least one boom with a first and a second end section, wherein the spatial position of the second end section is movably mounted relative to the spatial position of the first end section, characterized in that the second end section of the boom has a sensing region which is designed to releasably engage in the adjustment aid, in particular the structured surface of the adjustment aid, so that the adjustment aid, in particular the structured surface of the adjustment aid, modulates the spatial position of the second end section relative to the spatial position of the first end section when the adjustment aid is moved, in particular when the adjustment aid is rotated, in particular periodically, and the acoustic signal results from the modulation.

[0031] In this context, a cantilever is understood to be an elongated, particularly rectangular, component having a first and a second end section. The cantilever can be designed, for example, as a rectangular metal tongue. The cantilever is preferably made of a material with a spring effect, so that when the cantilever is modulated in its spatial position, i.e., moved or deflected, by turning the adjusting screw, it tends to return to its original, undeflected, or neutral position.

[0032] The first end section of the cantilever is fastened in the adjustment device, e.g., mechanically mounted to an adjustment plate of the adjustment device. Starting from the first end section, the cantilever extends in the direction of the adjustment aid, such that the sensing area of ​​the second end section of the cantilever releasably engages in the structured surface of the adjustment aid. The sensing area has a structure suitable for releasably engaging in the structured surface, which structure can, for example, be provided by an individual element of the structured surface. If the structured surface comprises, for example, depressions and elevations as individual elements, the structure of the sensing area can be designed such that it at least partially fits into these elevations and depressions.

[0033] Releasable engagement means that the sensing area of ​​the second end section of the adjustment aid movably rests on the structured surface and / or at least partially rests on it and / or partially touches it, so that a contact area that is at least partially flat is formed between the structured surface and the sensing area. For example, elevations and / or depressions in the structured surface modulate the spatial position of the second section with respect to the spatial position of the first end section of the cantilever when the adjustment aid is rotated about the rotation axis.

[0034] In the present case, modulation is understood to mean a spatial deflection, in particular an up and down movement, of the second end section with respect to the first end section, wherein the deflection, in particular the up and down movement, generates a detectable acoustic signal.

[0035] The cantilever can advantageously generate the acoustic signal, allowing rotation of the adjustment aid to be scaled by the acoustic signal. For example, a "click" sound occurs when the sensing area is moved back and forth across the structured surface during rotation of the adjustment aid. For example, when the sensing area of ​​the second end section is pulled out of a first depression in the structured surface, over a protrusion, and hops, jumps, or snaps into an adjacent second depression.By determining the number of clicks between a first and a second intensity minima of the sensor signal during adjustment, the data processing unit can instruct the operator of the adjustment aid on a display to turn the adjustment aid back by half the number of clicks determined, which then corresponds to the midpoint between the two intensity minima, and thus the presumed intensity maxima, so that this can be determined quickly and easily. This enables easy adjustment of the sensor mount, especially in the case of plateau-shaped, broad intensity maxima.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment of the adjustment device, the boom is pre-tensioned, in particular in the direction of the structured surface, so that the sensing area presses on the adjustment aid, in particular on the structured surface of the adjustment aid.

[0037] The acoustic signal can be easily amplified mechanically by pre-tensioning. The mechanical contact pressure exerted by the cantilever, for example, on the structured surface increases the speed at which the sensing area impacts, at least in sections, elements of the structured surface when the alignment aid is rotated, which is why the resulting acoustic wave has a higher intensity.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment of the adjustment device, the sensing area is wedge-shaped, in particular pyramid-shaped.

[0039] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the adjustment device, the structured surface is designed as a knurl, in particular as a straight knurl, oblique knurl or cross knurl, in particular as an asymmetrical knurl, so that the first or the second adjustment direction of the adjustment aid can be derived from the acoustic signal.

[0040] Knurling refers to circumferential shape deviations created by knurling, which are embossed into a rotating body, particularly a metal one. Knurling can make a workpiece more grippy and thus prevent slipping. This can improve the grip of the adjustment aid and implement the acoustic signal generation.

[0041] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the adjustment device, the adjustment aid is screw-shaped and has a thread along a rotation axis.

[0042] Further preferred embodiments of the adjustment device according to the invention will become apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the figures and their description. Identical components are identified by essentially the same reference numerals unless otherwise stated or apparent from the context. Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an adjustment device described in the prior art. Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of an intensity profile which is to be recorded by the adjustment process to find the optimal adjustment position. Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the adjustment device according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the adjustment device according to the invention with a screw-shaped adjustment aid.

[0043] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an adjustment device 1 described in the prior art, comprising an adjustment plate 17, a fastening element 18, two adjustment aids 4 designed as adjustment screws, and a further adjustment plate (not shown), which is tiltably connected to the first adjustment plate 17 by the fastening element 18 and is tilted by rotating the adjustment screws 4. Due to the L-shaped arrangement of the fastening element 18 and the two adjustment screws 4, rotating the adjustment screw 4 mounted above the fastening element 18 causes the further adjustment plate to rotate about the X-axis and thus shift the signal in the Y-direction. Rotating the adjustment screw 4 mounted to the right of the fastening element 18 causes the further adjustment plate to rotate about the Y-axis and thus shift the signal in the Y-direction.

[0044] The signal strength of an optical sensor (not shown) attached to the adjustment plate 17 can thus be adjusted, ie aligned in space, by turning the adjustment screws 4.

[0045] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of an intensity profile 19, which is plateau-shaped in an X-spatial direction and which, by aligning the sensor holder, should lead to a maximum intensity I_max on the sensor. In other words, the sensor should be aligned so that the sensor detects the intensity corresponding to position D in the intensity profile 19 of the Fig. 2 marked intensity maxima I_max recorded.

[0046] The alignment of the sensor position using the adjustment device 1 begins at the Fig. 2. At position A, the sensor holder is aligned such that the sensor measures the intensity I_A shown at position A. In one embodiment, this intensity can be displayed on the display 20 of the data processing unit 3.

[0047] In a first step, the holder of the optical sensor is moved by moving the alignment aid 4 in a first adjustment direction 8 (X-direction) until the intensity received by the sensor corresponds to the intensity I_min measured at position B. In other words, until a significant drop in intensity from the intensity measured at point A is registered at the sensor. At this position, the user could receive an instruction from the data processing unit 3 to stop the alignment and change the direction of movement when moving the alignment aid 4. In one embodiment, the progression of the intensity from A to B can be displayed on the display 20 of the data processing unit 3.

[0048] In a second step, the user would then reverse the direction of movement from the first adjustment direction 8 to the second adjustment direction 9, so that the intensity I_min detected by the sensor initially increases starting from B and then decreases again towards position C to the value I_min. This means that when position C is reached, the data processing unit 3 gives the instruction to stop the adjustment process by detecting that the intensity I_min at position C corresponds to the intensity at position B. In one embodiment, the progression of the intensity from B to C can be shown on the display 20 of the data processing unit 3.

[0049] In a third step, the data processing unit 3 now instructs the user to change the direction of movement of the adjustment aid 4, starting from position C, back to the first adjustment direction 8. In doing so, the data processing unit 3 additionally specifies to the user how far, starting from C, the adjustment aid 4 should be moved so that position D is reached. For example, by the data processing unit 3 calculating half the distance between positions B and C. In one embodiment, the intensity progression from C to D can be displayed on the display 20 of the data processing unit 3.

[0050] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the adjustment device 1 according to the invention. The adjustment aid 4 is mounted rotatably in a first 8 and second 9 adjustment direction about a rotation axis 5 in Fig. 3. When the adjustment aid 4 is rotated, acoustic signals 6 are generated which are detected by the acoustic sensor 7 of the data acquisition unit 2 and converted into electrical signals. The electrical signals are forwarded to the interface 16 of the data acquisition unit 2. The acoustic sensor 7 of the data acquisition unit 2 can be designed as a spatially separate component and can therefore be arranged spatially away from the interface 16, which is indicated by the dashed lines of the data acquisition unit 2. The interface 16 is electrically connected to the acoustic sensor 7, e.g. by an electrical line. The electrical signals are forwarded to the data processing unit 3 via the interface 16, which in its simplest embodiment can also be implemented as an electrical line, i.e. a cable, or alternatively can also be implemented via a Bluetooth interface.The data processing unit 3 accordingly has an interface suitable for communication with the data acquisition unit 2 (not shown). The data processing unit 3 further has a display 20 for displaying instructions and other data, such as measured values, which originate at least from the sensor to be aligned. For this purpose, the data processing unit 3 is configured to receive data, e.g., measured values, from the sensor to be adjusted. The data processing unit 3 has, in the form shown in . Fig. The embodiment shown in Figure 3 therefore includes a storage unit 21 and a computing unit 22 so that data can be processed. The data processing unit 3 can be implemented as an application on a mobile phone.

[0051] Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of the adjustment device 1 according to the invention. Fig. The adjustment aid 4 shown in Figure 4 has a thread 15 and a structured surface 10, which is formed by grooves in the direction of the rotation axis 5. The second end section 13 of the arm 11, which is designed as a sensing area 14, engages in these grooves. A rotation of the adjustment aid 4 in the first 8 or second 9 adjustment direction causes the sensing area 14 of the second end section 13 of the arm 11 to be pushed up and / or down through the grooves, which is achieved by the two Fig. 4. Because the first end section 12 of the boom 11 is clamped (not shown), the grooves push the second end section 13 up and down, so that the sensing area 14 jumps into the continuous grooves of the adjustment aid 4. This, in particular periodic movement, generates an acoustic signal 6, which is Fig. 4 is received by the acoustic sensor 7. In the Fig.In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the acoustic signal 6 propagates as structure-borne sound in the boom 11. The acoustic sensor 7 is designed as a sound transducer for receiving and converting the structure-borne sound. The acoustic sensor can generally comprise acoustic filters in order to filter out interfering noise signals. The acoustic sensor is arranged structurally separate from the interface 16 via a cable, which is indicated by the dashed line of the data acquisition unit 2. Alternatively or additionally, the interface 16 can also generally comprise acoustic filters in the form of active and / or passive electrical components. The interface 16 forwards the electrical signals from the data acquisition unit 2 to the data processing unit 3. This can be done via an electrical line or wirelessly, e.g. via a Bluetooth interface. The data processing unit 3 preferably has a display 20. List of reference symbols 1 adjustment device 2 Data acquisition unit 3 Data processing unit 4 Adjustment aid 5 axis of rotation 6 Acoustic signal 7 Acoustic sensor 8 First adjustment direction 9 Second adjustment direction 10 Structured surface 11 booms 12 First final section 13 Second final section 14 Touch range 15 threads 16 Interface 17 Adjustment plate 18 Fastening element 19 Intensity profile 20 displays 21 storage unit 22 computing unit QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2013 011 015 U1 [0003, 0004] EP 4 016 009 B1 [0005, 0006]

Claims

[1] Adjustment device (1) for adjusting a holder for an optical sensor, comprising a data acquisition unit (2), a data processing unit (3) and at least one movable adjustment aid (4) which generates an acoustic signal (6) upon movement, in particular upon rotation about an axis of rotation (5), so that the data acquisition unit (2) detects the acoustic signal (6) and forwards it to the data processing unit (3) in order to offer a user an instruction for moving the adjustment aid (4), wherein in particular the instruction is designed as a graphic representation and / or as an instruction that is acoustically perceptible to the user. [2] Adjustment device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the data acquisition unit (2) comprises an acoustic sensor (7) and the acoustic signal (6) propagates via the adjustment device (1), in particular as structure-borne sound. [3] Adjustment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the adjustment aid (4) is mounted in the adjustment device (1) so as to be movable, in particular rotatable, in particular about a rotation axis (5), in a first (8) and a second (9) adjustment direction. [4] Adjustment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the acoustic signal (6) upon movement, in particular upon rotation, of the adjustment aid (4) in a first adjustment direction (8) of the adjustment aid (4) differs from the acoustic signal (6) upon movement, in particular upon rotation, of the adjustment aid (4) in a second adjustment direction (9) of the adjustment aid (4). [5] Adjustment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the adjustment aid (4) has a surface (10) which is structured at least in sections. [6] Adjustment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 5, further comprising at least one boom (11) with a first (12) and a second (13) end section, wherein the spatial position of the second end section (13) is movably mounted relative to the spatial position of the first (12) end section, characterized by in that the second end section (13) of the boom (11) has a sensing area (14) which is designed to releasably engage in the adjustment aid (4), in particular the structured surface (10) of the adjustment aid (4), so that the adjustment aid (4), in particular the structured surface (10) of the adjustment aid (4), modulates the spatial position of the second end section (13) to the spatial position of the first end section (12) when the adjustment aid (4) moves, in particular when the adjustment aid (4) rotates, in particular periodically, and the acoustic signal (6) results from the modulation. [7] Adjustment device (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that the boom (11) is pre-tensioned, in particular in the direction of the structured surface (10), so that the sensing area (14) presses on the adjustment aid (4), in particular on the structured surface (10) of the adjustment aid (4). [8] Adjustment device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized by that the sensing area (14) is wedge-shaped, in particular pyramid-shaped. [9] Adjustment device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized by that the structured surface (10) is designed as a knurl, in particular as a straight knurl, oblique knurl or cross knurl, in particular as an asymmetrical knurl, so that the first (8) or the second (9) adjustment direction of the adjustment aid (4) can be derived from the acoustic signal (6). [10] Adjustment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the adjustment aid (4) is screw-shaped and has a thread (15) along a rotation axis (5).

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