Sensor Boundary Output for Low-Bandwidth Light Curtain Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing technique for outputting light reception results from a safety light curtain to an external device results in a significant reduction in accuracy due to the large data volume, which can lead to delayed or incomplete processing in real-time applications.
Innovation Solution
An input/output device that receives light reception results from a sensor with multiple light receivers and outputs data indicating the position of the boundary between light-receiving and non-light-receiving areas, or the number of non-light-receiving light receivers, to the external device, thereby reducing the data volume while maintaining the essential features of the light reception results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light reception results from multiple light receivers are transmitted to the external device, then the external device can perform accurate processing, but the data volume is large and transmission speed is limited causing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information from the light reception results by detecting boundaries between light-received and non-light-received portions and identifying the number of light receivers affected. This extraction process removes redundant data while preserving the critical features needed for accurate object detection and outline recognition, thereby reducing data volume and transmission time without sacrificing processing accuracy.
2Quantity of substance
If evaluation results (binary data) are transmitted instead of light reception results, then data volume is greatly reduced, but processing accuracy is significantly compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transmitting different types of data for different portions of the sensor array. Specifically, boundary information is provided for portions where light reception status changes, and the number of affected light receivers is specified. This localized approach ensures that critical information is preserved while avoiding transmission of redundant data from portions where no changes occur, thus maintaining accuracy while reducing overall data volume.
3Loss of information
If all light reception results are transmitted in real-time, then complete information is available for processing, but the transmission line capacity is exceeded causing bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information from the light reception results by detecting boundaries between light-received and non-light-received portions and identifying the number of light receivers affected. This extraction process removes redundant data while preserving the critical features needed for accurate object detection and outline recognition, thereby reducing data volume and transmission time without sacrificing processing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transmits partial information (boundary positions and count of affected receivers) rather than complete light reception data from all receivers. This partial action approach provides sufficient information for the external device to reconstruct object outlines and perform detection accurately, while avoiding the excessive data transmission that would bottleneck the system.
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 the output of light reception results in a reduced data volume, enabling real-time processing and maintaining the accuracy of object detection and outline recognition by the external device.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor including a plurality of light receivers to receive light emitted from a plurality of light emitters
Data Source
AI summary
A technique allows outputting light reception results of a sensor to an external device with a reduced volume of data while maintaining the features of the results. An input/output device receives light reception results of the sensor and outputs the results to the external device. The sensor includes light receivers to receive light emitted from light emitters. The input/output device has a smaller maximum volume of data transmittable per unit time in communicating with the external device than in communicating with the sensor. The input/output device includes an obtainer that obtains the light reception results, an analyzer that analyzes the light reception results and detects a boundary between a portion of the sensor that has received light and a portion of the sensor that has received no light, and an output unit that outputs data indicating a position of the boundary detected by the analyzer to the external device.