Optical Displacement Sensor Exposure Timing Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical displacement sensors cannot set exposure timings optimally according to user usage, leading to suboptimal measurement accuracy due to mismatched light projection and reception durations.

Innovation Solution

An optical displacement sensor system that includes a light projecting unit, a light receiving unit, a processing unit, and an input unit to synchronize exposure timings with a user-provided timing synchronization signal, allowing for control of exposure duration to align with measurement periods, ensuring accurate displacement calculations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the optical displacement sensor performs measurement in a free-run manner without external synchronization, then the sensor operates autonomously and continuously, but the exposure timings cannot be aligned with user-specific measurement requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexposure timing adaptabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical displacement sensor is designed to function both in autonomous free-run mode and in externally synchronized mode, making it universally applicable to different measurement scenarios. The sensor can accept external timing synchronization signals when needed while maintaining its ability to operate independently, thus adapting to various user requirements without requiring multiple dedicated devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

An external timing synchronization signal acts as an intermediary between the user's measurement requirements and the sensor's exposure control mechanism. This mediator enables precise coordination of exposure timings with external events or processes without requiring direct integration or complex internal logic within the sensor itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the exposure duration is not synchronized with measurement periods, then the sensor structure remains simple and autonomous, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to timing mismatch between light projection/reception and actual measurement requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplacement measurement accuracyVSAvoidtiming configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system uses external timing synchronization signals as feedback from the measurement process requirements. This feedback mechanism allows the sensor to adjust its exposure timings based on when measurements actually need to be taken, ensuring that light projection and reception are precisely aligned with the measurement periods, thereby improving accuracy without requiring complex internal timing logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the sensor operates in free-run mode without external timing control, then the device is easier to operate autonomously, but the exposure timings cannot be optimized for specific user usage patterns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexposure timing controlVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor's exposure control mechanism is made dynamic by allowing it to switch between autonomous free-run operation and externally synchronized operation. This dynamic adaptability enables the sensor to optimize its exposure timings according to specific measurement requirements when external synchronization is provided, while maintaining operational simplicity when operating independently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution enables precise alignment of exposure and measurement periods, reducing measurement errors and improving accuracy by allowing for customizable exposure control patterns that match user requirements, such as starting, ending, or centering exposure with measurement periods.

Implementation Method 1

a light receiving unit configured to receive light reflected from the measurement object and to generate light receiving data

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10168422B2Optical displacement sensor and system including the same

Publication Date: 2019.01.01 OMRON CORP

AI summary

An optical displacement sensor and a system are provided. The optical displacement sensor includes a light projecting unit that projects light onto a workpiece, a light receiving unit that receives light reflected from the workpiece and generates light receiving data, a processing unit that calculates a displacement amount of the workpiece on the basis of the light receiving data, an input unit that receives a timing synchronization signal, and an output unit that outputs the displacement amount calculated by the processing unit. The processing unit controls, in response to the timing synchronization signal received through the input unit, an exposure duration determined by an overlap between a duration during which the light projecting unit projects light onto the workpiece and a duration during which the light receiving unit receives the reflected light. The system includes the optical displacement sensor and a control device that generates the timing synchronization signal.