Light Grid Distance Measurement Using Variable Intensity Pairing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light grids for object detection, such as those used in elevator doors, lack the ability to provide differentiated monitoring at a low cost while maintaining safety and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A light grid system with qualified transmitter and receiver elements that emit different intensity levels and apply varying amplification factors, controlled by a device to determine distance values through combinations of these settings, allowing for precise distance measurement and dynamic process tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple intensity levels and amplification factors are used for distance measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement process is segmented into multiple discrete intensity levels and amplification factor combinations. Each combination corresponds to a specific distance range, allowing the system to divide the overall measurement task into manageable segments that can be controlled and evaluated systematically.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmitter elements dynamically switch between different intensity levels, and receiver elements dynamically adjust their amplification factors based on the measured distance. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize measurement precision across varying distance ranges without requiring permanently complex hardware configurations.
2Measurement precision
If qualified transmitter and receiver elements with multiple intensity levels and amplification factors are implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The qualified transmitter elements are designed to emit multiple intensity levels, and qualified receiver elements are designed to apply multiple amplification factors. This multi-functionality allows a single set of hardware components to perform measurements across a wide range of distances with high precision, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices and reducing overall manufacturing costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic intensity control and amplification factor variation are implemented, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves adaptability by changing key parameters - specifically, the intensity levels of transmitter elements and the amplification factors of receiver elements. By systematically varying these parameters across predefined combinations, the system can adapt to different measurement ranges and conditions without requiring complex reconfiguration of the underlying hardware architecture.
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 precise distance measurement and dynamic process analysis without compromising safety, while reducing complexity and cost by using a combination of sophisticated and simple elements.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter strip with one or more transmitter elements which emit radiation with a specific intensity
Implementation Method 2
a receiver strip with one or more receiver elements which receive the radiation from an associated transmitter element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a light grid for determining the distance between a transmitter and a receiver strip, comprising a transmitter strip with one or more transmitter elements which emit radiation of a specific intensity, a receiver strip with one or more receiver elements which receive the radiation of a paired transmitter element, and a controller for actuating the transmitter elements and/or the receiver elements and for analyzing the receiver elements. Each transmitter element and each receiver element or at least one of the transmitter elements and/or at least one of the receiver elements is designed as a qualified transmitter and receiver element, wherein the qualified transmitter element or the qualified transmitter elements are designed to emit different intensities and/or the qualified receiver element or the qualified receiver elements are designed to apply different amplification factors and to output an intensity value for the received and amplified radiation, and the controller is designed to actuate different combinations of intensities and amplification factors of the qualified transmitter and/or receiver elements and ascertain a distance value on the basis of the sum of the resulting intensity values of the actuated combinations.