Optical Protective Field Adaptation Using Contour Detection Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing monitoring devices face challenges in adapting their protective fields to changing boundary conditions, particularly in dynamic environments like mobile machines or vehicles, leading to inefficient safety function triggering and potential safety gaps.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multiple contour detection fields that protrude beyond the protective field, along with a time monitoring unit, allows for the optimal adaptation of the protective field size based on object interventions in these fields, distinguishing between stationary obstacles and moving objects to ensure comprehensive monitoring and prevent unnecessary safety function activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single protective field is used for monitoring hazardous areas, then the device structure is simple, but the system cannot adapt to changing boundary conditions and stationary obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring space is segmented into multiple functional fields: a primary protective field for hazard detection and multiple contour detection fields for obstacle adaptation. Each field serves a specific function, allowing the system to adapt to changing boundary conditions by detecting stationary obstacles in the contour fields and adjusting the protective field boundaries accordingly, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If the protective field is continuously adjusted to fit stationary obstacles, then safety coverage is optimized, but false triggering of safety functions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection in the contour detection fields to identify stationary obstacles before they enter the protective field. By pre-adapting the protective field boundaries based on obstacle detection, the system optimizes safety coverage while preventing false triggering, as the protective field is already adjusted to exclude stationary obstacles when objects enter the monitored area.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple contour detection fields are added to detect stationary obstacles, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor system performs multiple functions using a single device: it monitors both the protective field for hazard detection and the contour detection fields for stationary obstacle detection. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to changing boundary conditions without requiring separate dedicated obstacle detection devices, thereby improving adaptability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
4Reliability
If the protective field is enlarged to cover all potential hazard areas, then safety coverage is maximized, but unnecessary areas are monitored increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The protective field boundaries are made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously adjusts the protective field extent based on real-time detection of stationary obstacles in the contour detection fields. This dynamic adaptation ensures that the protective field covers exactly the necessary hazard areas without monitoring unnecessary spaces, optimizing safety coverage while reducing the complexity of the monitoring area.
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 approach enables precise adjustment of the protective field to minimize safety gaps and prevent false triggering, ensuring complete coverage of danger areas while maintaining stable operation, particularly beneficial for mobile machines and vehicles interacting with stationary obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
distance-measuring optical sensors to monitor hazardous areas
Implementation Method 2
time monitoring unit by means of which the temporal sequence of object intrusions in the first two contour detection fields can be checked
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a monitoring device (12) with an optical sensor (1) by means of which object monitoring is carried out within a protective field (15). Two contour detection fields (Kl, K2) with at least approximately corresponding lengths are provided, wherein the lengths are dimensioned such that the contour detection fields (Kl, K2) project beyond the protective field (15) and do not overlap there, at least partially. Either a third contour detection field (K3) is provided, projecting beyond the protective field (15) and not overlapping at least partially with the first two contour detection fields (Kl, K2), and/or a time monitoring unit is provided by means of which the temporal sequence of object interventions in the first two contour detection fields (Kl, K2) can be verified.Depending on whether an object intrusion is detected in the first and/or second contour detection field (K1, K2) and depending on whether an object intrusion is detected in the third contour detection field (K3) and/or depending on control signals from the time monitoring unit, the protective field (15) is enlarged or reduced. The invention further relates to a corresponding method.