Sensor Device Speed Distribution Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current safety monitoring systems in industrial production facilities struggle to distinguish between objects and people, particularly in dangerous areas, as they rely on contour recognition methods that require a teaching process for each new object, leading to incomplete detection and potential unauthorized access.

Innovation Solution

A sensor arrangement that detects moving objects by analyzing speed and acceleration patterns, using 3D cameras or other sensors to generate distance and velocity maps, allowing for the differentiation of objects and people based on homogeneous vs. inhomogeneous speed distributions, and triggering alarms for predefined acceleration differences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If contour recognition methods are used to monitor dangerous areas, then object detection can be performed, but the system cannot reliably distinguish between objects and people without extensive teaching processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of object-person differentiationVSAvoidcomplexity of teaching process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the detection parameter from static contour recognition to dynamic speed distribution analysis. By analyzing the speed distribution of different regions within an object over time, the system can automatically differentiate between objects (uniform speed) and people (non-uniform speed) without requiring teaching processes for each new object type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical teaching process with an automatic detection mechanism based on physical principles. Instead of manually programming reference contours for each object, the system uses the inherent mechanical difference in movement patterns (uniform vs. non-uniform speed distribution) to automatically classify detected objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If reference objects are stored and compared for each new object, then detection accuracy can be maintained, but the teaching process becomes time-consuming and incomplete detection occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidteaching process time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent shifts from storing reference contours (static parameter) to analyzing speed distribution patterns (dynamic parameter). This allows the system to maintain high detection accuracy by identifying the characteristic non-uniform speed distribution of people, while eliminating the time-consuming teaching process required to store reference data for each new object type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically adapting to new objects without external teaching. The speed distribution analysis method inherently distinguishes between objects and people based on their movement characteristics, allowing the system to independently classify detected entities without requiring manual reference data input for each new object type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If homogeneous speed detection is used for all objects, then simple monitoring can be performed, but unauthorized access by people cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of monitoringVSAvoidability to detect unauthorized access
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality analysis by examining the speed distribution of different regions within an object rather than treating the object as a whole. By analyzing whether different parts of an object move at uniform or non-uniform speeds, the system maintains operational simplicity while reliably detecting unauthorized human access through the characteristic non-uniform movement patterns of body parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 method simplifies the monitoring of dangerous areas by reliably differentiating between objects and people, preventing unauthorized access by accurately detecting acceleration patterns, thus enhancing safety without the need for extensive teaching processes.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor arrangement (1) is designed to detect a moving object (7, 8) and to output a signal if areas with different speeds and/or accelerations are determined on an object surface of the moving object (7, 8)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTime of Flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentEP2114630B2Sensor device and system having a conveyor and a sensor device
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 ROCKWELL AUTOMATION SAFETY
  • EP2114630B2 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2114630B2 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A sensor device having a sensor arrangement for detecting moving objects that includes a sensor and an electronic unit. The sensor arrangement is designed to detect an object and to subsequently investigate whether there are present within the surface of the object regions that move at a different speed and/or acceleration. The sensor arrangement can also investigate whether the object is accelerating.