Area Sensor External Storage Interface for PC-Free Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing area sensors require cumbersome procedures for monitoring area registration and control program updates, often necessitating a personal computer for connection and data transmission, which is inconvenient and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An area sensor system that includes a sensor unit and a system controller, with a memory interface for a portable external storage device, allowing data exchange without a personal computer, and featuring authentication and processing prioritization by a memory controller to enhance usability and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a personal computer is connected to the area sensor for monitoring area registration and control program updates, then data can be transmitted to and from the sensor, but the procedure becomes cumbersome and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data transmission function from the personal computer environment and implements it directly within the area sensor by integrating a card reader/writer and storage medium. This allows monitoring area registration and control program updates to be performed by simply inserting a storage medium into the sensor, eliminating the need for PC connection and significantly improving operational convenience while maintaining data transmission reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a storage medium (such as an SD card) as an intermediary between the user and the area sensor. This intermediary carries data physically to and from the sensor, enabling easy data transfer without requiring complex PC connections or wireless communication setups, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable data transmission and ease of operation
2Reliability
If authentication processing is added to the memory controller for external storage device access, then security is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The memory controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it manages data transmission between the sensor and external storage device, executes authentication processing to verify the storage medium's legitimacy, and controls the overall storage operations. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single controller, the patent improves security through authentication while minimizing the increase in system complexity that would result from adding separate authentication hardware
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
Enables easy and secure data writing and reading to and from the area sensor using a portable external storage device, improving usability and flexibility without the need for a personal computer.
Implementation Method 1
TOF is a method of calculating a distance between the area sensor and an object in the monitoring area based on a difference Δt in detected time between measurement light, which is a pulsed laser beam output to the monitoring area, and reflected light that is the measurement light reflected on the object
Implementation Method 2
AM is a method including modulating an amplitude of the measurement light and calculating the distance between the area sensor and the object in the monitoring area based on a phase difference Δφ between the measurement light output to the monitoring area and the reflected light
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An area sensor 2 includes: a sensor unit 10 that emits measurement light with which a monitoring area is scanned, and detects reflected light of the measurement light; and a system controller 20 that controls the sensor unit 10 to output sensor information to an external device, the sensor information including object information in the monitoring area obtained based on an output signal from the sensor unit 10, the system controller 20 including: a memory interface 30 to which a portable external storage device is connectable, a sensor controller 22B that controls the sensor unit 10, and a memory controller 22C that accesses the external storage device; and a start processing unit 31 which operates the memory controller 22C in priority to the system controller 20, when the external storage device is connected to the memory interface 30.