Optoelectronic Sensor Dual Transceiver Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser scanners face challenges in achieving high measurement accuracy over a large dynamic range due to signal dynamics between strong reflectors and weakly reflective natural targets, leading to overdrive effects and limited range, particularly in navigation and safety applications where precise position determination is critical.
Innovation Solution
The use of at least two transceiver units with different sensitivities, where one unit is more sensitive for detecting natural targets and the other for artificial reflectors, allowing for independent optimization and reducing overdrive effects, enabling high range and accuracy without compromising measurement quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If a single transceiver unit is used with high transmission power to detect weakly reflective natural targets, then the detection range is extended, but overdrive effects occur with artificial reflectors causing measurement errors and the effective measurement repetition rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The single transceiver unit is divided into multiple transceiver units (first transceiver unit and second transceiver unit) with different sensitivities. The first transceiver unit is optimized for detecting weakly reflective natural targets with higher sensitivity, while the second transceiver unit is optimized for detecting strongly reflective artificial reflectors with lower sensitivity, avoiding overdrive effects.
Solution Approach 2:
Different transceiver units are assigned different sensitivity characteristics tailored to specific target types. The first transceiver unit has higher sensitivity for natural targets, while the second transceiver unit has lower sensitivity for artificial reflectors, allowing each unit to be locally optimized for its intended detection task.
2Length of stationary object
If high transmission power is used to measure weakly remitting targets or at long ranges, then the measurement capability is improved, but the effective measurement repetition rate decreases due to eye safety constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the measurement function across multiple transceiver units with different sensitivities. The first transceiver unit can operate at lower transmission power for natural targets, while the second transceiver unit handles artificial reflectors, allowing higher measurement repetition rates without exceeding eye safety limits.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a compromise design is used to handle both strong reflector signals and weak natural target signals, then the sensor can detect both target types, but overdrive effects occur with considerable additional error terms
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single transceiver unit with compromise settings, the system segments the detection function into multiple specialized units. The first transceiver unit is optimized for natural targets, and the second transceiver unit is optimized for artificial reflectors, allowing each to operate at optimal sensitivity without overdrive effects.
Solution Approach 2:
Each transceiver unit is given different sensitivity characteristics appropriate for its specific detection task. The first transceiver unit has higher sensitivity for weak natural target signals, while the second transceiver unit has lower sensitivity for strong artificial reflector signals, eliminating the need for compromise designs.
4Device complexity
If a single transceiver unit with fixed sensitivity is used, then the device complexity is low, but it cannot simultaneously optimize for both natural targets and artificial reflectors
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is segmented into multiple transceiver units, each with different sensitivity characteristics. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high measurement precision for both natural targets and artificial reflectors, with the evaluation unit selecting the appropriate transceiver unit based on the detected signal characteristics.
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 allows for high measurement accuracy over a large dynamic range, enabling precise detection of both natural and reflective targets with reduced transmission power, maintaining angular accuracy and eye safety, and improving navigation reliability by incorporating both artificial and natural landmarks.
Implementation Method 1
a light transmitter and light receiver, with the light transmitter generating transmitted light pulses and emitting them into the monitored area
Implementation Method 2
The light is remitted to objects in the monitored area and evaluated in the laser scanner
Implementation Method 3
the light transmitter generating transmitted light pulses and emitting them into the monitored area, where they are received again by the light receiver and converted into received electrical signals
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An optoelectronic sensor (10) for detecting objects in a monitoring area (20) is described, comprising at least a first transceiver unit (18a) and a second transceiver unit (18a), each with a light transmitter (22a-b) for emitting transmitted light (26a-b) and a light receiver (32a-b) for generating a received signal from the light (28a-b) emitted by objects in the monitoring area (20), a movable scanning unit (16) for periodically scanning the monitoring area (20) by the transceiver units (18a-b), and an evaluation unit (36, 46) for acquiring information about the objects based on the received signals. The first transceiver unit (18a) is configured for more sensitive detection than the second transceiver unit (18b).