Adaptive Sensor Assembly for Dynamic Protective Field Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensor arrangements for mobile units, such as vehicles, face challenges in adaptively adjusting protective fields to dynamic environments, leading to unnecessary triggering of safety functions due to limited field configurations and interference from stationary non-hazardous objects.

Innovation Solution

A sensor arrangement that includes a receiving unit on the mobile unit to detect signals from stationary anchor points with known absolute positions, allowing for the formation of an adaptive overall protective field in the world coordinate system, ensuring optimal collision monitoring and preventing false triggers by dynamically adjusting protective fields based on the environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed protective field is defined for the sensor, then the sensor can provide collision protection, but stationary non-hazardous objects may protrude into the protective field causing unnecessary triggering of safety functions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision protectionVSAvoidadaptive adjustment to environment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The protective field is transformed from a static configuration to a dynamic one that automatically adapts to the mobile unit's position and orientation. The evaluation unit continuously calculates the protective field parameters based on real-time position data from anchor points, enabling the protective field to move and adjust with the mobile unit without requiring manual reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The protective field parameters (position, orientation, boundaries) are changed dynamically based on the mobile unit's changing position and orientation. By using the determined absolute position and orientation data, the system adjusts the protective field parameters to maintain appropriate coverage while excluding stationary non-hazardous objects that fall outside the updated field boundaries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple protective fields are stored and activated individually, then adaptation to environment is possible, but the number of stored protective fields is limited and adaptation is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental adaptationVSAvoidnumber of stored protective fields
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-configuration by automatically determining the mobile unit's position and orientation relative to anchor points and generating appropriate protective field parameters without requiring pre-stored field configurations or manual setup. The evaluation unit autonomously calculates and applies the correct protective field settings based on real-time environmental data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of relying on a finite set of pre-stored protective field configurations, the system dynamically generates protective field parameters based on the mobile unit's current position and orientation. This continuous adaptation capability eliminates the limitation of a fixed number of stored fields while reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If the sensor monitors a large area, then comprehensive protection is provided, but stationary objects in the environment cause false triggers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring areaVSAvoidfalse trigger rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective field is precisely positioned and oriented relative to the mobile unit's location and heading, creating a localized protection zone that covers only the relevant area ahead of the mobile unit. This targeted approach excludes stationary non-hazardous objects that lie outside the dynamically adjusted field boundaries, reducing false triggers while maintaining comprehensive protection of the intended zone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4418017A1Sensor assembly
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 LEUZE ELECTRONIC GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4418017A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4418017A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4418017A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a sensor arrangement (1) with at least one sensor (3a, 3b) designed for detecting objects within a protective field. The sensor arrangement (1) includes an evaluation unit (4) for evaluating sensor signals from the sensor (3a, 3b), wherein the at least one sensor (3a, 3b) is arranged on a mobile unit (2). An arrangement of sensors (3a, 3b) is provided on an arrangement of mobile units. A receiver unit (5) is provided on the or each mobile unit, which can receive signals emitted by stationary anchor points (6a to 6d), the absolute positions of which are known in the evaluation unit (4). Based on these signals, the absolute position of the respective receiver unit (5) in the evaluation unit (4) can be determined.From the absolute position of each receiving unit (5) and the relative positions of the sensor(s) (3a, 3b) to the receiving units (5) in the evaluation unit (4), a total protection field (22, 22') consisting of protection fields of the sensor(s) (3a, 3b) is formed. Object intrusions within the total protection field (22, 22') are converted into a world coordinate system and output as object detection signals via an interface (8).