Curved Diffusor Lighting Assembly for Distortion-Free Sensor Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting assemblies for optoelectronic sensors generate transmission light patterns that are distorted by reception optics, preventing accurate imaging of lines of light onto the light receiver, especially at the borders, leading to reduced sensitivity and inefficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
The lighting assembly incorporates a diffusor arrangement with a curved effective zone to distort the transmission light pattern in a controlled manner, allowing it to be imaged distortion-free onto the light receiver, even with reception optics that cause distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a planar diffusor arrangement is used to generate transmission light patterns, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the reception optics introduce distortion that prevents accurate imaging of light lines onto the light receiver
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the diffusor arrangement by defining it as a portion of a sphere with radius R. This spherical geometry of the diffusor compensates for the distortion introduced by the reception optics, enabling accurate imaging of transmission light lines onto the light receiver despite the complex optical path. The curved surface ensures that light lines originating from different angular positions are properly focused onto corresponding reception elements.
2Reliability
If the monitored zone is completely illuminated to ensure all regions are detectable, then detection coverage is maximized, but energy consumption increases and crosstalk effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by generating transmission light patterns that are spatially selective rather than uniform illumination. The system activates specific light sources to create light lines only in regions where objects need to be detected at given moments. This localized illumination approach reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining reliable detection coverage, and prevents crosstalk effects by avoiding unnecessary illumination in regions not currently being scanned.
3Reliability
If multiple light sources are activated simultaneously to illuminate the entire monitored zone, then detection coverage is improved, but crosstalk effects increase and energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by sequentially activating individual light sources rather than illuminating the entire monitored zone simultaneously. The system activates light sources one after another in a time-multiplexed manner, creating light lines at different angular positions at different times. This temporal separation eliminates crosstalk effects between adjacent light lines while maintaining comprehensive detection coverage over time, as each light source illuminates only its specific angular region during its activation period.
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 design ensures that the lines of the reception light pattern align closely with the light sensitive reception elements, enhancing sensitivity and reducing energy waste by only illuminating detectable regions, thus improving the efficiency and accuracy of distance measurement.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission optical arrangement that comprises at least one transmission optical element and that is arranged for the focusing of transmitted light
Implementation Method 2
a diffusor arrangement that comprises at least one linear diffusor and that is configured for the purpose of scattering the focused transmitted light in one first spatial direction and to at least substantially leave the focused transmitted light unscattered in a second spatial direction
Implementation Method 3
an effective zone of the diffusor arrangement has a curvature that is configured in such a manner that a reference transmitted light pattern that would comprise lines of light extending straight on the generation by means of a reference diffusor arrangement having a planar effective zone in the angular space is distorted in such a way that the lines of light have a curved distorted pathway in the angular space
Implementation Method 4
TOF sensors are configured to detect the runtime of a light pulse between the point in time of its transmission and the point in time of the detection of the light pulse correspondingly reflected at the object
Data Source
AI summary
An optoelectronic sensor arranged for the detection of objects in a monitored zone has a light transmitter arrangement configured for transmission of transmitted light into the monitored zone and includes at least one light source, a transmission optical arrangement having at least one transmission optical element and is configured for the focusing of transmitted light, and a diffusor arrangement having at least one linear diffusor and is arranged to scatter the focused transmitted light in one first spatial direction and to at least substantially leave the focused transmitted light unscattered in a second spatial direction, with the second spatial direction being orthogonal to the first spatial direction. The light transmitter arrangement, the transmission optical arrangement and the diffusor arrangement are configured to generate a strip-like transmitted light pattern of a plurality of lines of light on an object present in the monitored zone.