Ultrasonic Sensor Aperture Body for Beam Shaping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic sensors require multiple parts and complex adjustments to adapt to different object sizes, leading to increased structural effort and interference from standing waves, especially when detecting labels on carrier materials.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic sensor design with a modular diaphragm body that allows for quick and flexible adjustment of aperture openings, reducing interference and enabling adaptation to various object sizes with minimal parts, using either multiple fixed apertures or a single aperture with an adjustable mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different apertures are used for each specific beam cross section specification, then the beam cross section can be adapted to different object structures, but the number of parts increases undesirably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable screen body that can be positioned at different locations along the ultrasonic wave path. By moving the screen body to different positions, the effective aperture is dynamically changed without requiring multiple separate apertures. This dynamic positioning system allows adaptation to different object structures while maintaining a single physical aperture component.
Solution Approach 2:
The single screen body is designed to perform multiple functions by being positionable at different locations. The same physical component (screen body) serves different aperture functions depending on its position, making the system universal rather than requiring specialized components for each aperture size.
2Reliability
If screens are provided on both transmission side and reception side, then beam shaping and interference reduction can be achieved, but the number of parts increases when exchanges are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transmission screen and reception screen into a single integrated screen body that can be positioned at different locations. Instead of having two separate screens that would need to be exchanged independently, one unified screen body serves both transmission and reception functions, reducing the total number of parts while maintaining dual functionality.
3Device complexity
If a single aperture body with adjustable mechanism is used, then the number of parts is reduced, but the adjustment mechanism adds structural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The screen body is designed with movable elements that can be adjusted to different positions. This dynamic capability allows the aperture size to be changed without requiring a complex adjustable mechanism, as the movement itself is the adjustment mechanism, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining operational flexibility.
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 sensor can efficiently detect different object sizes with reduced structural complexity and minimized interference, maintaining high detection sensitivity and reliability across various applications.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter (4) that emits ultrasonic waves (3), which are guided into the monitored area via a first passage surface (21) of the sensor housing (2)
Implementation Method 2
a receiver (5) that receives ultrasonic waves (3) which, coming from the monitoring area, are guided via a second passage surface (22) of the sensor housing (2)
Implementation Method 3
interference from standing waves or ultrasonic waves reflected from parts of the sensor housing can be eliminated or at least reduced through the diaphragm opening (7)
Implementation Method 4
Object detection is based on the transmission principle. An evaluation unit is used to generate an object detection signal as a function of the received signals from the receiver (5)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an ultrasonic sensor (1) for detecting objects in a monitoring area, comprising a sensor housing (2) and a transmitter (4) that emits ultrasonic waves (3) which are guided into the monitoring area via a first passage surface of the sensor housing (2). The receiver (5) receives ultrasonic waves (3) that originate from the monitoring area and are guided via a second passage surface of the sensor housing (2). An evaluation unit serves to generate an object detection signal based on the received signals of the receiver (5). An aperture body (6) can be attached to the sensor housing (2) in different positions. In the individual positions, different aperture openings (7, 7a, 7b) of the aperture body (6) are positioned in front of a passage surface.