Optoelectronic Sensor Elastic Compensating Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optoelectronic sensor systems face challenges in preventing internal crosstalk between the transmit and receive beams due to residual gaps caused by design constraints and process tolerances, which can lead to performance impairment.
Innovation Solution
An optoelectronic sensor with a housing containing a light transmitter, a light receiver, and a front screen, where a cylindrical elastic compensating element is arranged in front of both the light transmitter and the light receiver. This element provides gap-free shielding of the light rays and is elastically clamped under prestress to ensure a light-tight connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transmitter tube is passed through the windscreen to prevent crosstalk, then optical shielding is improved, but construction complexity and sealing problems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible black rubber sealing element that forms a bellows-like structure to create a light-tight seal between the transmitter tube and windscreen. This flexible membrane approach replaces complex rigid sealing mechanisms, achieving reliable optical shielding while simplifying construction and eliminating sealing problems associated with rigid connections.
2Reliability
If rigid sealing structures are used to prevent crosstalk, then optical shielding is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The black rubber sealing element provides compliant sealing that tolerates manufacturing variations. The flexible material can deform to accommodate slight misalignments and dimensional variations, maintaining light-tight seals without requiring high-precision manufacturing, thus reducing manufacturing precision requirements while ensuring reliable optical shielding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the sealing element from rigid to flexible by using elastic rubber material. This parameter change allows the sealing element to adapt its shape and dimensions to maintain effective sealing under various assembly conditions, reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements.
3Reliability
If gap-free shielding is implemented to prevent crosstalk, then optical shielding is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible rubber sealing element creates gap-free shielding through its ability to conform to the mating surfaces. The bellows-like structure expands and contracts to maintain continuous light-tight contact, achieving perfect shielding without complex rigid structures, thus improving optical shielding while keeping device complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing it to move and deform to maintain gap-free contact. The bellows structure can expand and contract, bending and flexing to accommodate thermal expansion, mechanical stress, and assembly variations, ensuring continuous effective shielding without complex fixed structures.
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 solution effectively prevents crosstalk by ensuring a gap-free and light-tight separation between the transmit and receive paths, thereby enhancing the performance and reliability of the optoelectronic sensor.
Implementation Method 1
a cylindrical elastic compensating element (5) which provides gap-free shielding of the light rays of the light transmitter (3) and/or the received light rays of the light receiver (4) within the housing (2), wherein the cylindrical elastic compensating element (5) rests with the respective opening edges (6) against adjacent components (7) without a gap, wherein the cylindrical elastic compensating element (5) is elastically clamped under prestress for this purpose
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
Optoelectronic sensor (1) with a housing (2), with a light transmitter (3), with a light receiver (4), and a front screen (8) arranged in front of the light transmitter (3) and in front of the light receiver (4), wherein a cylindrical elastic compensating element (5) is arranged assigned to the light transmitter (3) and/or assigned to the light receiver (4), wherein the cylindrical elastic compensating element (5) provides gap-free shielding of the light rays of the light transmitter (3) and/or the received light rays of the light receiver (4) within the housing (2), wherein the cylindrical elastic compensating element (5) bears with the respective opening edges (6) against adjacent components (7) without a gap, wherein the cylindrical elastic compensating element (5) is elastically clamped under prestress for this purpose,wherein the light beams of the light transmitter (3) and/or the light beams for the light receiver (4) are guided through the cylindrical elastic compensating element (5).