Moveable Infrared Curtain for Automatic Doors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional infrared (IR) sensors used in automatic door systems face challenges such as interference from moving doors, limited coverage area, and the need for complex beam paths, which affect their ability to efficiently detect traffic and adjust detection area size and shape during door opening and closing.
Innovation Solution
A novel IR sensor system with individually controllable emitters and receptors, allowing for dynamic adjustment of the IR curtain width and shape, using a controller to activate or deactivate specific emitters and receptors to match the door opening width, and employing a combination of radar and IR technology for enhanced detection and interference reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional IR sensors are used with fixed beam width, then the sensor can cover the maximum opening area, but it cannot adapt to reduced opening width during door closing, leading to unnecessary detection of areas outside the actual opening
Solution Approach 1:
The IR sensor beam is divided into multiple individually controllable emitter segments. Each emitter can be independently activated or deactivated to adjust the overall beam width, allowing the detection area to be segmented and reconfigured dynamically during door opening and closing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a fixed-width IR beam to a dynamic beam configuration where the width can change in real-time. The controller adjusts which emitters are active based on door position feedback, enabling the detection area to dynamically adapt to the actual opening width throughout the door's movement cycle
2Use of energy by moving object
If the IR beam width is continuously adjusted to match door opening width, then energy efficiency is improved by reducing unnecessary emissions, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The emitters are activated and deactivated in periodic cycles synchronized with the door's opening and closing motion. During door closing, emitters are systematically turned off in sequence as the opening narrows, creating a periodic on/off pattern that reduces energy consumption while maintaining detection coverage of the actual opening area
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from door position sensors to automatically control emitter activation without requiring external manual adjustment. The controller autonomously determines which emitters should be active based on real-time door position data, enabling the system to self-adjust its energy consumption pattern according to operational conditions
3Reliability
If all receptors are used to detect the full beam width, then maximum detection coverage is achieved, but noise from areas outside the actual opening increases susceptibility to false detections
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and isolates only the relevant detection signals from receptors that correspond to the actual opening area. By deactivating or ignoring specific receptors based on door position, the system removes extraneous signals from areas outside the opening, thereby reducing noise susceptibility and improving the reliability of traffic detection
Solution Approach 2:
Different receptors are assigned different functional roles based on their spatial position relative to the opening. Receptors within the active opening width are configured for high-sensitivity detection, while those outside the opening are deactivated or configured for noise filtering, creating local quality variations that enhance overall detection accuracy
4Reliability
If complex beam paths are used to avoid door interference, then detection reliability is improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection using the radar sensor to identify potential traffic and door interference patterns before the IR beam detection begins. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-adjust emitter and receiver configurations to optimize the beam path for current door positions, avoiding the need for complex physical beam routing
Solution Approach 2:
The radar sensor acts as an intermediary that detects both traffic and door motion, providing early warning signals that allow the IR system to adjust its operation accordingly. This intermediary detection layer enables the system to maintain simple beam paths while achieving high reliability through coordinated multi-sensor operation
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 system provides improved energy efficiency, reduced noise susceptibility, and increased flexibility in detecting traffic, enabling precise adjustments of the detection area during door operations, thus enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Applications in which infrared (IR) sensors are used to detect the entry of persons into areas are conventionally known. Passive IR sensors measure the intensity of a signal emitted by an object to detect motion. Active IR sensors emit infrared light and analyze the intensity of a reflected signal.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An infrared (IR) sensor (106) for use in a door sensor (100). The IR sensor may include one or more rows of emitters (300) configured to generate an emission beam. The emission beam may have a width that is at least a width of an opening below the door sensor. The IR sensor may also include one or more rows of receptors (200) configured to receive an evaluation beam. The receptor beam may have a maximum width that is at least the width of the opening. At least a portion of the receptors may be further configured to be one or more of deactivated and ignored, such that the width of the evaluation beam is reduced to correspond with a reduced width of the opening during a closing of a door.