Optoelectronic Sensor Distance Adaptation via Time of Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cameras and barcode scanners lack intelligence to adapt optimally to changing environments and object distances, leading to suboptimal code reading performance and reliability in industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
An optoelectronic sensor system that includes a light receiver for generating a received signal, an evaluation unit for acquiring object information, and a separate distance sensor using a time of flight process to measure object distances, allowing for statistical analysis and optimization of sensor settings based on distribution comparisons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional cameras and barcode scanners are used without additional intelligence, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to changing environments and object distances deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A distance sensor is introduced as an intermediary component to measure object distances and provide information to the evaluation unit. This mediator enables the camera system to adapt to varying object distances by providing critical distance data that was previously unavailable, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining low device complexity and achieving environmental adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously measuring object distances with the distance sensor and using this information to adjust camera parameters through the evaluation unit. The measured distances feed back into the system to optimize focus and exposure settings dynamically, enabling adaptation to changing environments while maintaining manageable device complexity through intelligent control.
2Measurement precision
If a separate distance sensor is added to measure object distances, then the measurement precision of object distances is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distance sensor serves multiple functions: it measures object distances for focus adjustment, provides timing information for synchronization, and enables statistical analysis of distance distributions. By making this component multi-functional, the system achieves high measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same hardware supports multiple operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-optimization by automatically analyzing distance measurements and adjusting camera parameters without external intervention. The evaluation unit autonomously processes distance data to determine optimal focus and exposure settings, allowing the system to service itself and maintain high measurement precision while minimizing the need for complex external control mechanisms.
3Reliability
If statistical analysis of distance distributions is performed to optimize sensor settings, then the reliability of code reading is improved, but the loss of time for data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary statistical analysis of distance distributions during periods when objects are present and measurable, building up distance histograms and determining optimal parameters in advance. By preparing optimization data beforehand rather than during critical code reading operations, the system achieves high reliability without significant time loss during actual measurement and decoding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial statistical analysis by focusing on key distance parameters and most frequent distance values rather than processing every possible variable. The evaluation unit identifies and optimizes for the most critical distance ranges and settings, achieving sufficient reliability improvement without the excessive time investment that would result from comprehensive analysis of all possible parameters.
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
Enables the sensor to independently recognize disruptions, propose optimization, and signal servicing requirements, improving code reading reliability and adaptability to changing conditions by aligning settings with most frequent object distances for enhanced performance.
Implementation Method 1
a separate distance sensor is preferably used for this purpose that is in particular based on a time of flight (TOF) process
Data Source
AI summary
An optoelectronic sensor is provided for a repeated detection of objects at different object distances, having a light receiver for generating a received signal from received light, having an evaluation unit for generating object information from the received signal, and having a distance sensor for determining the object distance from a respective object. The evaluation unit is here configured to acquire a measurement variable from the received signal with respect to an object, to associate the measurement variable with the object distance measured for the object, and to form a first distribution of the measurement variable via the object distance after detecting a plurality of objects.