Optoelectronic Sensor Sampling Unit Rotation Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser scanners require complex and bulky motor designs with two shaft supports for rotational movement, leading to alignment issues and increased construction size, which can result in twisted monitored planes and impaired sensor function due to scattered light effects.
Innovation Solution
The design of an optoelectronic sensor with a sampling unit that rotates via a first circuit board supported at its outer periphery, eliminating the need for a separate motor and reducing bearing play, using a sleeve bearing for stable and compact rotation, and integrating motor windings or magnets into the circuit boards for a compact drive system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a classical motor design with two shaft supports is used, then the rotational movement can be achieved, but the device complexity and construction size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the motor function from a separate classical motor design and integrates it directly into the sampling unit as a simplified rotational drive mechanism. This eliminates the need for complex shaft supports and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the rotational movement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the motor, sampling unit, and rotational drive into a single integrated assembly. The sampling unit is directly coupled to the rotational drive mechanism, eliminating the need for separate shaft supports and reducing the number of components required for rotational movement.
2Productivity
If a rotating mirror is used for sampling, then the monitored zone can be scanned, but alignment precision requirements increase and construction size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rotating mirror from the sampling unit and replaces it with a simplified rotational drive mechanism that directly rotates the sampling unit. This eliminates the need for precise alignment between the mirror and sampling unit, reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining scanning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rotating a mirror to scan the monitored zone, the patent inverts the approach by rotating the sampling unit itself. This reversal eliminates the need for precise mirror alignment and simplifies the overall construction while achieving the same scanning function.
3Ease of operation
If a rotating mirror with front screen is used, then light transmission and reception can be achieved, but scattered light effects impair sensor function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the front screen from the optical path and eliminates it entirely. By removing the source of scattered light, the patent prevents harmful light effects while maintaining light transmission capability through the simplified rotational drive mechanism.
4Productivity
If the sampling unit is moved rotationally, then the monitored zone can be sampled periodically, but bearing play increases with conventional motor designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bearing supports from the classical motor design and integrates a simplified rotational drive mechanism directly into the sampling unit. This eliminates bearing play while maintaining the periodic sampling capability through smooth rotational movement.
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 simplifies the sensor design, reduces construction size, and enhances reliability by minimizing bearing play and scattered light effects, resulting in a more compact, cost-effective, and efficient optoelectronic sensor with improved alignment and performance.
Implementation Method 1
a light beam generated by a laser periodically sweeps over a monitored zone
Implementation Method 2
The light is remitted at objects in the monitored zone and is evaluated in the scanner
Implementation Method 3
The sampling unit is set into a rotational movement relative to the base unit... the first circuit board is rotatably supported at its outer periphery in a bearing of the base unit
Data Source
AI summary
An optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided for detecting objects in a monitored zone (18), in particular a laser scanner, which has a light transmitter (20) for transmitting a transmitted light beam (24), a base unit (14) and a sampling unit (12) rotatable with respect to the base unit (18) for the periodic sampling of the monitored zone (12) by the transmitted light beam (14) and having a first circuit board (34), a light receiver (32) for generating a received signal from the light (28) remitted by objects in the monitored zone (18) and an evaluation unit (34, 42, 50, 52) for detecting information on objects in the monitored zone (18) with reference to the received signal. In this respect, the base unit (14) has a bearing (40) in which the first circuit board (34) is rotatably supported at its outer periphery with respect to the base unit (14).