Access Monitoring with Adaptive Protective Field Recess

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing monitoring facilities with security sensors can inadvertently shut down systems when transport goods are detected, leading to unnecessary system stoppages and potential safety hazards if people or critical objects are not properly monitored alongside the goods.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of distance sensors to determine the position and width of transport goods, allowing the adjustment of protective fields to create a recess that accommodates the goods, thereby preventing unnecessary system shutdowns and ensuring continuous monitoring of the access area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If muting sensors are used to allow transported goods to pass through the protective field without triggering safety shutdowns, then system downtime is reduced, but the entire safety sensor is bypassed eliminating monitoring function and creating dangerous situations where people can enter the danger zone unnoticed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem operational continuityVSAvoidsafety monitoring capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective field is segmented into multiple zones: a first protective field that allows goods to pass through during muting operation, and a second protective field that continues to monitor for safety-critical objects. This segmentation enables selective muting of only the portion of the protective field needed for goods passage while maintaining monitoring in other areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the protective field are assigned different functional qualities: the first protective field region has muting capability applied to it during goods transport, while the second protective field region maintains full safety monitoring functionality. This local differentiation allows goods to pass through specific areas without triggering shutdowns while other areas continue to provide safety monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the safety sensor monitors the entire access area continuously, then safety is maximized, but transported goods trigger unnecessary safety shutdowns when passing through

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety monitoring accuracyVSAvoidsystem operational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the protective field configuration based on detected object type. During normal operation, the full protective field is active for safety monitoring. When transported goods are detected, the system dynamically creates a muting operation that modifies the first protective field to allow goods passage while maintaining the second protective field for continued safety monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the protective field based on the detected object. When transported goods are identified, the sensitivity or activation threshold parameters of the first protective field are adjusted to prevent false shutdowns, while the second protective field maintains its original safety-critical parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables transport goods to pass through the monitoring area without triggering safety functions, while maintaining comprehensive surveillance to prevent unauthorized access by people or critical objects, thus enhancing the safety and operational efficiency of the monitoring facility.

Implementation Method 1

the safety sensor monitors a protective field that extends across the entire access area... the safety sensor detects an object, especially a person, in the protective field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight barrier detection: Light

Implementation Method 2

an array of distance sensors, by means of which the position and width of a transport item that can be fed into the system via the access can be detected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection detection: Light

Data Source

PatentEP4151899B1Monitoring device
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 LEUZE ELECTRONIC GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4151899B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4151899B1 patent drawingFigure 3a
  • EP4151899B1 patent drawingFigure 3b~3c

AI summary

The invention relates to a monitoring device (100) for securing access to a system (200) with an arrangement of safety sensors (1), each configured to detect objects (5) within a protective field (17), wherein a safety function is triggered when an object (5) is detected in at least one protective field (17). Furthermore, the monitoring device (100) comprises an arrangement of distance sensors (12) by means of which the position and width of a transport item (16) that can be fed into the system (200) via the access point can be detected, as well as a control and evaluation unit by means of which normal operation is ensured by the safety sensors (1) monitoring protective fields (17) that combine to form a total protective field extending over the entire width of the access point.