Object Capture Scanning for Reliable Cart Target Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing object capturing devices in manufacturing facilities, such as those used in semiconductor manufacturing, face challenges in accurately distinguishing between reflective surfaces of manufacturing devices and recursive reflecting members on carrying carts, leading to erroneous determinations of inter-vehicular distances and potential collisions.

Innovation Solution

An object capturing device equipped with a light emission unit, a light receiving unit, and a light scanning unit that calculates distances based on phase differences or delay times of reflected light, combined with an object determination unit that assesses scanning angles and intensity distributions to accurately identify capture targets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a laser range finder is used to measure inter-vehicular distance, then collision avoidance capability is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates when the proceeding cart travels a curve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision avoidance capabilityVSAvoidinter-vehicular distance measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the reflected light detection into multiple scanning angles. Instead of relying on a single detection point, the system scans across multiple angles to identify the recursive reflecting member by finding the specific angle where reflected light intensity peaks, thereby distinguishing it from background reflections even when the cart is on a curve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds the scanning angle dimension to the distance measurement process. By introducing angular scanning alongside distance measurement, the system can identify objects based on their reflection characteristics across different angles, enabling accurate detection of recursive reflecting members on curved paths where traditional single-point detection fails.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If inter-vehicular distances are shortened to increase conveying efficiency, then productivity is improved, but collision risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveying efficiencyVSAvoidcollision avoidance reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring reflected light intensity across multiple scanning angles and using this information to dynamically adjust distance measurements. The system feeds back the angular distribution of reflected light to identify recursive reflecting members, providing reliable collision avoidance data even at shortened inter-vehicular distances where traditional sensors fail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If reflected light from exterior panels is detected, then measurement sensitivity is improved, but false detection of proceed cart increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereflected light detection sensitivityVSAvoidcapture target identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by seeking the specific scanning angle where reflected light intensity from the recursive reflecting member peaks. Instead of accepting reflected light from any angle, the system identifies the localized angular position characteristic of the recursive reflecting member, distinguishing it from diffuse reflections off exterior panels and eliminating false detections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 device effectively determines whether an object is a capture target by analyzing scanning angle ranges and intensity distributions, reducing erroneous detections and preventing collisions between carrying carts.

Implementation Method 1

a light receiving unit, and a light scanning unit configured to cause measurement light emitted at a predetermined wavelength from the light emission unit to head toward the measurement target space to perform scanning, and to guide reflected light from the object with respect to the measurement light to the light receiving unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a distance calculation unit configured to calculate, based on a phase difference or a delay time of the reflected light with respect to the measurement light, a distance to the object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS11592556B2Object capturing device, capture target, and object capturing system

Publication Date: 2023.02.28 HOKUYO AUTOMATIC CO

AI summary

An object capturing device includes light emission, receiving, and scanning units, and distance calculation, and object determination units. The scanning unit measures light from the emission unit to head toward a measurement target space to perform scanning, and to guide reflected light from the object with respect to the measurement light to the receiving unit. The distance calculation unit calculates a distance to the object in association with a scanning angle of the scanning unit. The object determination unit determines whether the object is a capture target based on whether a scanning angle range within which a difference between distances is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value corresponding to a reference scanning angle range of the capture target, and a determination of whether intensity distribution of the reflected light within the scanning angle range corresponds to reference intensity distribution of the reflected light from the capture target.