Sensor device for visual identification in automation systems

Abstract

Sensor device comprising: • a housing; • a standardized communication interface; • a light generating module comprising at least one light source; and • a control circuit connected to the standardized data communication interface and the light generating module, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a command via the standardized communication interface and, in response to the command, to cause the light generating module to emit light.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to sensors and, in particular, to a sensor device comprising a housing, a standardized communication interface, a light-generating module with at least one light source, and a control circuit. The present invention also relates to a system comprising a central control unit and a sensor device according to the invention. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Numerous sensors are deployed in various industrial and automation environments to monitor different parameters. Identifying and locating specific sensors within these complex networks can be challenging, especially when sensors have a standardized appearance. Existing sensor identification solutions often require manually tracing cables or relying on network diagrams, which can be time-consuming and inefficient.

[0003] A known solution currently involves outputting an optical signal to a control unit (e.g., an IO-Link master or fieldbus control unit). However, the visual identification of one or more sensor devices in a complex system is currently only possible with considerable effort.

[0004] To make matters worse, moving machine parts are increasingly exposed to bright lighting for safety reasons (occupational safety) to ensure clear visibility of hazards, even if safety devices mechanically prevent direct access during machine movement. Although this lighting is important in maintenance mode, the active lighting (usually white) makes it difficult to clearly see and recognize status lights, as it overshadows other colors.

[0005] If the view of the sensor is severely restricted by environmental influences such as dust, strong white lighting is not helpful.

[0006] Furthermore, many sensors today are equipped with a power-on indicator light (typically green). A red indicator light is sometimes added to indicate a problem with the sensor. However, this can result in a color mix that no longer clearly indicates the red error condition, but instead creates a yellowish hue due to the proximity of the two colors in the spectrum.

[0007] The problem to be solved is therefore to provide an improved system for identifying and localizing sensors in complex networks in an efficient manner. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The above object is achieved by a sensor device with a housing, which comprises a standardized communication interface, a light-generating module with at least one light source, and a control circuit connected to the standardized communication interface and the light-generating module. The control circuit is configured to receive a command via the standardized communication interface and, in response to the command, cause the light-generating module to emit light. This allows the physical position of the sensor device to be easily identified and localized in complex networks. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The sensor device according to the invention comprises a housing. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light-generating module is located within the housing and comprises at least one light source that can emit visible and / or non-visible light.

[0010] The housing is designed so that the emitted light is visible outside the housing. This can be achieved, for example, by having defined recesses for the light source(s) and / or by making the housing transparent and / or translucent in the area where the light source(s) are positioned. Furthermore, integrated light guides can also be used in the housing.

[0011] The light generation module comprises at least one light source, but can also comprise two or more light sources depending on the application.

[0012] The light source is designed to emit visible or non-visible light or a combination of visible and non-visible light.

[0013] The term "visible light" in the context of this application refers to the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is perceptible to the human eye. It encompasses wavelengths in the range from approximately 380 nm to 750 nm. Within this range, light is perceived by the human eye in various colors, ranging from violet (at shorter wavelengths) to red (at longer wavelengths). White light is created by the additive mixing of certain individual wavelengths (e.g., 450 nm (blue) + 575 nm (yellow)) or the uniform mixing of all wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum in the visible range. Blue light is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that encompasses wavelengths in the range from approximately 400 to 490 nm.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one light source of the light-generating module emits light in a wavelength range from 380 nm to 750 nm, i.e., in the visible range. It is particularly preferred that the light source emits blue light (approximately 400 nm to 490 nm) or white light. Emitting blue or white light enables simplified localization of the sensor device, since white or blue light differs from the colors of the already conventional status lights of the sensor device (red or green).

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one light source of the light generation module emits light that is not visible to the human eye.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the non-visible light comprises UV light. Ultraviolet radiation (also called UV light) is electromagnetic radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum with shorter wavelengths than the light visible to humans. UV light comprises wavelengths in the range from 100 to 380 nm. The use of UV light has the technical advantage that the UV light emitted by the sensor device can be made visible to the human eye using special glasses. This allows, for example, disruptive light sources that are perceptible to the human eye to be easily and effectively blocked out.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one light source is selected from the group consisting of a light-emitting diode (LED), a laser light source, such as a laser diode, and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED).

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one light source is an RGB LED or a correspondingly monochrome single LED or a UV LED, depending on whether visible light or UV light is to be emitted. Depending on the application, the light generation module can comprise a monochrome single LED or an RGB LED and a UV LED as the light source. Thus, a suitable light source for locating the sensor device can be controlled, adapted to the lighting conditions and environmental influences.

[0019] The sensor device further comprises a standardized communication interface. The standardized communication interface receives a command from a higher-level control unit and forwards this command to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to cause the light-generating module to emit light in response to the received command. The control circuit is connected to the standardized communication interface and the light-generating module.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the standardized communication interface can be a standardized bus interface or a point-to-point interface. This ensures the compatibility of the sensor device with a variety of industrial communication protocols.

[0021] When the communication interface is designed as a standardized bus interface, the data communication interface receives the command in the form of a bus protocol. Examples include fieldbus, CAN bus, Modbus, Profibus, Ethernet / IP, or single-pair Ethernet (SPE).

[0022] In a further embodiment of the invention, the standardized communication interface of the sensor device can be a so-called point-to-point interface, in particular an IO-Link interface.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor device may further comprise an integrated light sensor configured to measure an ambient light level. In this case, control circuitry is configured to automatically select a light source emitting visible light when the measured ambient light level is below a predetermined threshold and automatically select a light source emitting non-visible light when the measured ambient light level is above the predetermined threshold. A technical advantage is that this enables automatic adjustment of the emitted lights based on the ambient conditions, ensuring optimal visibility of the sensor device and reducing power consumption.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the light-generating module is configured such that the light source constantly emits light. This is particularly advantageous when the at least one light source emits non-visible light, in particular UV light.

[0025] The light generating module may also be further configured such that the light source emits light for a predefined time interval, for example 10 seconds to 120 seconds, or such that the light source emits light until the control circuit receives the command to switch off.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light-generating module is configured such that the light source emits light in a predefined flashing pattern. This enables a clear and easily recognizable signal for identifying the sensor device. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flashing pattern is defined by a frequency between 0.4 and 3 Hz, preferably between 0.8 and 1.5 Hz. The duty cycle (switch-on time to period duration) can be varied within a wide range, for example, within a range of 10 to 90%.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light-generating module is configured so that the light source can emit light at different brightness levels or intensity levels. This allows for the generation of flashing patterns with different brightness levels, thus enabling easy identification of the sensor device.

[0028] The sensor device according to the invention can be a proximity switch or any other electronic sensor. Other sensor types include the following: inductive sensor, capacitive sensor, pressure sensor, gas sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, ultrasonic sensor, vibration detection sensor, magnetic sensor, position sensor, acceleration sensor, vibration sensor, or light sensor.

[0029] A further aspect of the present invention is also a system comprising a central control unit and at least one sensor device according to the invention. The standardized communication interface is connected to the central control unit, and the central control unit is configured to send commands to the sensor device to activate the light generation module.

Claims

[1] Sensor device comprising: • a housing; • a standardized communication interface; • a light generating module comprising at least one light source; and • a control circuit connected to the standardized data communication interface and the light generating module, the control circuit being configured to receive a command via the standardized communication interface and, in response to the command, to cause the light generating module to emit light. [2] Sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the light generating module is located within the housing and comprises at least one light source emitting visible and / or non-visible light. [3] The sensor device of claim 2, wherein the non-visible light comprises UV light. [4] The sensor device according to claim 2, wherein the visible light comprises white light or blue light. [5] Sensor device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light source is selected from the group consisting of a light-emitting diode (LED), a laser light source and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED). [6] Sensor device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one light source comprises an RGB LED, a monochrome single LED or a UV LED or the combination. [7] Sensor device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the standardized communication interface comprises a standardized bus interface or a point-to-point interface. [8] Sensor device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: • an integrated light sensor configured to measure an ambient light level; and wherein the control circuit is further configured to automatically select a light source that emits visible light when the measured ambient light level is below a predetermined threshold and automatically select a light source that emits non-visible light when the measured ambient light level is above the predetermined threshold. [9] Sensor device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light generating module is configured to emit light in a predefined flashing pattern, wherein the flashing pattern is defined in particular by a frequency between 0.4 and 3 Hz, preferably between 0.8 and 1.5 Hz. [10] System comprising: • a central control unit; and • at least one sensor device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor device is connected to the central control unit via the standardized communication interface, wherein the central control unit is configured to send commands to the sensor device to activate the light generation module.