Light Section Sensor Projection for Intuitive Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current light section sensors lack user-friendly settings and adjustments, with complex alignment and limited intuitive orientation aids, making them difficult to operate efficiently and reliably.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a transilluminated LC display or controllable transmitted light projectors to project visible information and user guidance directly onto the measurement area, allowing for dynamic visualization of measurement boundaries and parameters without requiring additional hardware or complex external devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a transilluminated LC display or controllable transmitted light projector is incorporated into the light section sensor, then user-friendliness and operational efficiency are enhanced through intuitive visualization of measurement settings directly on the object, but device complexity increases due to additional projection components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser-friendlinessVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the display function with the existing light section sensor by incorporating a transilluminated LC display or controllable transmitted light projector into the sensor housing. This integration allows measurement settings and parameters to be projected directly onto the measurement area, eliminating the need for separate external display devices and reducing overall system complexity despite adding projection components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The LC display or projector acts as an intermediary element that translates internal sensor settings into visible projections on the measurement area. This mediator provides intuitive visual feedback to users, making complex measurement parameters easily understandable without requiring additional external hardware or complex adjustment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If visible information is projected directly onto the measurement area using the third structured light beam, then operational efficiency is improved through dynamic visualization of measurement boundaries, but energy consumption increases due to additional light sources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The third structured light beam serves multiple functions: it defines measurement boundaries and simultaneously projects visible information about measurement settings and parameters onto the measurement area. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate illumination sources, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the parameters of the third structured light beam, including its intensity and modulation characteristics, to optimize the balance between providing sufficient visible information for user guidance and minimizing energy consumption. The projection is activated only when needed during measurement operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enhances user-friendliness and operational efficiency by providing intuitive visualization of measurement settings and parameters directly on the object, reducing the complexity of sensor alignment and improving measurement dynamics.

Implementation Method 1

an optical transmitter for generating a first light beam and emitting it into a monitoring area, transmitting optics for transforming the first light beam into a linear second light beam, and an active light field aperture for the second light beam that generates a third, modulated light beam from the second light beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission and modulation: Light

Implementation Method 2

Incorporating a transilluminated LC display or controllable transmitted light projectors to project visible information and user guidance directly onto the measurement area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid crystal light modulation: Liquid Crystals

Implementation Method 3

a structured receiver with a receiving optic that detects a diffusely reflecting object located in the monitoring area at an angle dependent on the object distance and images it onto the structured optical receiver

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffuse reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3662227B1Light section sensor and method for operating this light section sensor
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 IFM ELECTRONIC GMBH
  • EP3662227B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A light section sensor comprises an optical transmitter (1), which produces a first light beam (2), a transmission optical unit (3), which reshapes the first light beam (2) into a line-shaped second light beam (4) and emits the latter into a monitored region, a structured receiver with a reception optical unit, which captures a diffusely reflecting object (10) situated in the monitored region at an angle that depends on the distance and images said object on the structured optical receiver, wherein a second optical transmitter (1a) according to the invention produces a third light beam (2a), which illuminates a radiant field stop (5) via an illumination optical unit (8a), wherein a fourth light beam (6) is produced by a projection optical unit (8b), the radiant field stop (5) projecting said fourth light beam into the monitored region and said fourth light beam being superposed on the second light beam (4) either directly or via a beam splitter (9), wherein application-specific symbols or information items are presented on the basis of the light beam (6), wherein, inter alia, it is possible to mark a region of particular interest (ROI) (7).