Optoelectronic Sensor Alignment via Reference Spot
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optoelectronic sensor arrangements face challenges in accurately determining the relative alignment between light transmitters and receivers, leading to potential holes in the protective field and increased complexity and cost due to strict divergence requirements, especially in safety-related applications.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an additional optical element to create a spatially shifted image of the light transmitter on a spatially resolving light receiver, allowing for the detection of misalignment and contamination, and enabling the system to differentiate between a functioning transmitter and a blocked beam by using a reference spot and intensity comparison.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If strict divergence requirements are imposed on laser beams to ensure resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to laborious and expensive relative adjustment of all laser beams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a beam splitter to create a reference beam that is a copy of the measurement beam, directing it to a reference receiver. This allows the system to verify beam alignment and divergence without requiring manual adjustment of each beam, thereby maintaining high resolution while reducing adjustment complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The beam splitter acts as an intermediary element that divides the laser beam into two paths: one for measurement and one for reference. This intermediary mechanism enables automatic alignment verification and reduces the need for complex manual adjustments of each individual beam
2Reliability
If scanners are used for position detection, then position detection capability is achieved, but measurement speed decreases and cost increases due to inability to provide parallel protective field
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the protective field into multiple parallel light beams that can be measured simultaneously, eliminating the need for sequential scanning. This segmentation approach maintains position detection capability while significantly improving measurement speed through parallel processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous emission of light beams in a parallel protective field configuration, replacing periodic scanning action. This allows simultaneous measurement of multiple positions, thereby increasing productivity while maintaining detection reliability
3Ease of manufacture
If V-shaped protective field is generated with delimiting surfaces, then optical sensor functionality is simplified, but adaptability decreases due to limitation of additional functionalities such as blanking or reduced resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamically controllable light sources (such as LED arrays or laser diode arrays) that can be individually activated or deactivated. This allows the system to adapt the protective field configuration in real-time, enabling functionalities like blanking specific zones or adjusting resolution in different areas while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized optical components
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 allows for reliable detection of misalignment and contamination, preventing resolution holes and reducing mechanical complexity and costs, while ensuring accurate monitoring and efficient operation in safety-critical applications.
Implementation Method 1
a further optical element is arranged and aligned in such a way that the light beam emitted by the light emitter is divided into a transmitted first component and a reflected second component and the second component of the optical element reflected on the further optical element light beam can be detected at a defined position of the light receiver assigned to the light transmitter
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3c
AI summary
The optoelectronic sensor arrangement has an optical element or a front screen (202) arranged and aligned in optical path of the emitted light beam (L1a). The emitted light beam is separated in a transmitted component (L1t) and a reflected another component (L1c) is provided. The reflected other component of light beam is provided to a defined position of the light receiver (E1) assigned to the light transmitter (S1) at another optical element or the front screen. An independent claim is also included for the method for testing of the function value or adjusting of an optical sensor arrangement as coded light grid.