Photoelectric Sensor Sensitivity Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional photoelectric sensors face difficulties in accurately detecting transparent objects due to the small variation in received light signal values, requiring fine adjustments that are challenging with large rotational angles of sensitivity potentiometers.
Innovation Solution
A photoelectric sensor design that includes light projecting and receiving means, determination means, and sensitivity parameter adjustment mechanisms, with an operation unit and adjustment units to restrict the adjustable range of sensitivity parameters, ensuring a ratio of maximum to minimum received light signal values is not greater than 2.6, and threshold adjustments within 50% to 130% of the standard signal value, facilitating easier fine adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sensitivity potentiometer with a large rotational angle is used to cover various detection distances and transmissivities, then the sensitivity parameter can be adjusted over a wide range, but the variation of sensitivity parameter per unit rotational angle becomes large, making fine adjustment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sensitivity adjustment is divided into two independent stages: a first adjustment unit for coarse adjustment that sets the overall sensitivity range, and a second adjustment unit for fine adjustment that makes precise threshold modifications. This segmentation allows each unit to have an optimized rotational angle range, solving the contradiction between wide detection range and fine adjustment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment range control where the second adjustment unit's effective range is determined based on the threshold value set by the first adjustment unit. This dynamic adaptation allows the fine adjustment unit to operate within an optimal range regardless of the coarse adjustment setting, maintaining fine adjustment capability across the entire detection range
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sensitivity parameter adjustment range is large to cover transparent objects with small signal variations, then detection coverage is improved, but the amount of variation per unit operation increases, reducing measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment system is segmented into a first adjustment unit for setting the base threshold and a second adjustment unit for fine-tuning the threshold. This segmentation enables the second unit to provide high-precision adjustments specifically for transparent objects with small signal variations, while the first unit handles the broader detection coverage requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The second adjustment unit acts as an intermediary between the coarse threshold setting and the final detection threshold. It provides an intermediate fine-adjustment layer that refines the threshold value with high precision, enabling accurate detection of transparent objects that require subtle threshold modifications
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 design reduces the variation of sensitivity parameters per unit operation, making it easier to perform fine adjustments and improve detection accuracy for transparent objects by limiting the adjustable range, thus enhancing the operator's ability to set appropriate detection thresholds.
Implementation Method 1
light projecting means for emitting detection light for detecting a detection object that is present in a detection region
Implementation Method 2
light receiving means for receiving the detection light from the detection region
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a photoelectric sensor (1; 1a; 1b; 1c) that makes fine adjustment of a sensitivity parameter easy. The photoelectric sensor (1; 1a; 1b; 1c) includes received light signal adjustment means (22) and sensitivity parameter adjustment means (25). The received light signal adjustment means (22) includes an operation unit (31) and a first adjustment unit (41). The operation unit (31) adjusts, by its position being operated in an operable rang, at least one sensitivity parameter of projection light power and received light gain within a predetermined range. The first adjustment unit (41) adjusts the at least one sensitivity parameter so that a ratio of the maximum value to the minimum value of the received light signal value is not greater than 2.6. The sensitivity parameter adjustment means (25) includes a trigger input reception unit (32) and a second adjustment unit (42). The second adjustment unit (42) adjusts at least one of the projection light power, the received light gain, and the threshold when the trigger input reception unit (32) has received a trigger input while the operation unit (31) is at a predetermined position in a state in which the detection object (6) is not present in the detection region (5).