Photoelectric Sensor Current Division Control Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photoelectric sensors face challenges in setting current division ratios efficiently and accurately, limiting their ability to detect objects with high precision due to reliance on external potentiometers for voltage adjustments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of current divider circuits with a current division control circuit that digitally sets reference and control voltages, allowing for precise control of current division ratios, enabling more accurate and efficient detection range settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external potentiometers are used to adjust voltages for setting current division ratios, then the device can be operated, but the setting accuracy and efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical potentiometer adjustment system with a digital control system. A microcontroller generates control signals that are converted to precise analog voltages through a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), eliminating the need for manual mechanical adjustment and enabling automated, high-precision setting of current division ratios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from manual voltage adjustment via potentiometer to digital value input. The microcontroller accepts digital inputs and converts them to the corresponding control voltages needed for the current divider circuits, enabling more accurate and efficient parameter setting through digital domain operations.
2Productivity
If manual voltage adjustment is used, then the system can be configured, but the setting accuracy and efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical potentiometer adjustment system with a digital control system. A microcontroller generates control signals that are converted to precise analog voltages through a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), eliminating the need for manual mechanical adjustment and enabling automated, high-precision setting of current division ratios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the microcontroller can read the actual voltage levels and adjust the digital control values accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that the current division ratios are set with high accuracy by compensating for any deviations from the target values.
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 enhances the accuracy and efficiency of current division ratio settings, improving the precision of object detection and allowing for adjustable detection ranges, thereby overcoming the limitations of previous technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a multi-segment photodiode in which a plurality of photodiodes are arranged
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A photoelectric sensor includes a current division control circuit that sequentially sets a reference voltage for each current divider circuit along one of the arrangement directions of photodiodes so that the reference voltage for the current divider circuit is equal to or larger than the voltage value of the reference voltage set for a current divider circuit in the preceding stage, and sets one common control voltage for all of the current divider circuits, the common control voltage falling within a range that includes all of the reference voltages.