Sensor Device Radar ToF Fusion Industrial Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor devices for industrial automation lack reliability in detecting objects within a detection area, particularly in cases where one detection method fails to identify an object, leading to potential collisions or incorrect movement decisions.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device combining a radar sensor unit for initial detection and a ToF infrared sensor unit for secondary detection, with a computer unit generating detection information by fusing signals from both units to enhance reliability and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single detection method (radar or ToF) is used, then the device complexity is low, but the detection reliability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines radar sensor unit and ToF sensor unit into a single sensor device, merging two different detection methods (radar and time-of-flight) to detect objects in the detection area. This combination allows the system to cross-validate detections and improve reliability by using multiple independent detection channels, resolving the contradiction between detection reliability and device complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple detection methods are combined, then the detection reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device is designed with multi-functionality by integrating both radar and ToF detection capabilities into a single device. The radar sensor unit and ToF sensor unit serve different detection purposes and can operate independently or in combination, allowing the device to adapt to various detection scenarios and improve reliability without requiring separate dedicated systems for each detection method.
3Measurement precision
If signal fusion is performed, then the detection accuracy improves, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computer unit acts as an intermediary that receives sensor signals from both the radar sensor unit and ToF sensor unit, performs signal fusion and evaluation, and generates detection information. This intermediary processing layer simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the complex signal fusion operations in a dedicated unit, making the processing complexity manageable while still achieving improved detection accuracy through combined signal evaluation.
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 combined sensor system significantly improves object detection reliability by utilizing both radar and ToF infrared signals, ensuring accurate presence information and safe movement decisions, even when one method fails, thereby preventing collisions and ensuring safe operation.
Implementation Method 1
a radar sensor unit (4) configured to perform a first detection using radar to determine whether an object (2) is located in a detection area (3)
Implementation Method 2
a ToF infrared sensor unit (6) configured to perform a second detection using a time-of-flight measurement to determine whether an object (2) is located in the detection area (3)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor device (1) for industrial automation for detecting an object (2), in particular a collision object, in a detection area (3), comprising: a radar sensor unit (4) configured to perform a first detection using radar to determine whether an object (2) is located in the detection area (3) and to generate a radar sensor signal according to the first detection; a ToF infrared sensor unit (6) configured to perform a second detection using a time-of-flight measurement to determine whether an object is located in the detection area (3) and to generate a ToF sensor signal according to the second detection; and a computer unit (10) configured to generate detection information based on the radar sensor signal and the ToF sensor signal, indicating whether an object (2) is located in the detection area (3).