Optical Measurement Device Noise Detection Threshold

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical measurement devices require setting a threshold value for each measurement condition to determine noise in measured distances, which is impractical due to variations in light amount caused by exposure time, target type, and movement speed.

Innovation Solution

An optical measurement device sets a threshold value for the received light amount per unit time based on feature information, allowing for noise determination without setting thresholds for each measurement condition, using a controller and sensor head to stabilize light amount variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a threshold value for received light amount is set to determine noise in measured distance, then noise detection capability is improved, but the complexity of setting different thresholds for each measurement condition increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise detection capabilityVSAvoidthreshold setting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter from 'received light amount' to 'received light amount per unit time' (received light amount divided by exposure time). This parameter transformation makes the threshold independent of exposure time variations, allowing a single universal threshold to work across different measurement conditions without requiring condition-specific threshold settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal threshold value that can be applied across all measurement conditions. By normalizing the received light amount with respect to exposure time, the same threshold works for different targets, movement speeds, and exposure times, eliminating the need for multiple condition-specific thresholds.

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

2Measurement precision

If a threshold value is set for each measurement condition to accurately detect noise, then measurement precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple threshold settings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise detection accuracyVSAvoidthreshold setting ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the parameter to 'received light amount per unit time' by dividing the received light amount by the exposure time. This parameter change eliminates the dependency on exposure time, allowing users to operate the device without needing to adjust or set different thresholds for different exposure conditions, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the received light amount is used directly for noise determination, then the influence of device variations is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to great variations caused by measurement conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight amount variation influenceVSAvoidnoise determination reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter from raw 'received light amount' to 'received light amount per unit time' (received light amount divided by exposure time). This normalization eliminates the great variations caused by different exposure times, movement speeds, and target types, thereby improving the reliability of noise determination while minimizing the influence of device variations.

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

This approach enables accurate noise detection and distance measurement by using a constant reference value for light amount per unit time, reducing the influence of device variations and eliminating the need for condition-specific threshold settings.

Implementation Method 1

a light reception part that receives light projected from a light projection part and outputs a signal corresponding to the received light amount

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3910283B1Optical measurement device and optical measurement method
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 OMRON CORP
  • EP3910283B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3910283B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3910283B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Without requiring that thresholds be set for each measurement condition, the present invention makes it possible to determine whether noise that can occur in measured values is present. An optical measurement device 100 obtains measured values on the basis of the amount of reflected light that is received after being reflected by an object TA. The optical measurement device 100 comprises a setting unit 52 for setting a threshold for the amount of received reflected light per unit of time on the basis of characteristic information relating to the amount of light of the optical measurement device 100 and a determination unit 53 for determining whether there is measured value noise on the basis of the threshold.