Distance measuring apparatus using sensor cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distance measuring apparatuses for electronic appliances, such as refrigerators, face challenges in accurately detecting objects while minimizing interference from light reflections from the appliance's body and surrounding environment, leading to reduced sensitivity and detection area.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a sensor cover with strategically designed light emitting and receiving openings that control the field of view, blocking unwanted light reflections and enhancing sensitivity by adjusting the angular ranges for light irradiation and reception, thereby optimizing the detection area without overlapping detection zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the light receiving unit receives light over a wide field of view, then the detection area is increased, but light reflections from the body and floor cause interference and reduce measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor cover divides the light receiving field of view into multiple angular ranges, with different transmission characteristics for different segments. The light receiving opening portion blocks light from specific angular ranges (e.g., reflections from the body and floor) while allowing light from other angles to pass through, thus segmenting the field of view to eliminate interference sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor cover applies different optical properties to different regions of the light receiving path. By strategically positioning and shaping the light receiving opening portion, the cover creates localized transmission windows that allow desired light to pass while blocking unwanted reflections from specific directions (body reflections, floor reflections), thus applying local quality control to the light field.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor cover blocks more light to reduce reflections, then measurement precision is improved, but the detection area and sensitivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor cover blocks only the specific angular ranges necessary to eliminate interference (partial action), rather than blocking all light from the entire field of view. The light receiving opening portion is designed to block minimal light required to remove reflections from the body and floor, while preserving light transmission from other directions, thus achieving precision improvement without excessive loss of detection area.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor cover modifies the angular parameter of light reception by selectively blocking light from specific incident angles. By changing the angular acceptance parameters of the light receiving unit through the cover's opening geometry, the system achieves optimal balance between precision (blocking reflections) and detection area (allowing valid target light).
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
The solution effectively enhances the sensitivity and detection area of the distance measuring apparatus, improving its ability to accurately detect objects while reducing interference from reflections, resulting in improved performance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting unit configured to irradiate light along a first field of view (FoV)
Implementation Method 2
a light receiving unit configured to receive light incident on a second FoV
Implementation Method 3
The light receiving opening portion may be provided to block light reflected by the body and incident from among the light incident on the second FoV
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator including a body including at least one door and at least one distance measuring apparatus attachable to the body is provided. The at least one distance measuring apparatus includes: a distance sensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, the light emitting unit being configured to irradiate light along a first field of view (FoV), and the light receiving unit being configured to receive light incident on a second FoV; and a sensor cover including a light receiving opening portion, the light receiving opening portion being provided to pass a portion of light incident on the second FoV and block a remaining portion of the light incident on the second FoV.