Method of, and apparatus for, controlling a safety-specific function of a machine

• US 20030076224A1
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sick AG (Sick)
• Original Assignee: Sick AG (Sick)
• Inventors: Braune, Ingolf
• Granted Patent: US 6,778,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/500
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/142 using image capturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/144 using light grids

Abstract

A method of controlling at least one safety-specific function of a machine. The method includes monitoring a monitoring region with at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor, where the monitoring region includes a safety boundary which separates off a danger region and defines a safe distance from a danger zone of the machine. The method also includes detecting at least one of a position, a movement direction and a movement speed of an object. The method also includes establishing a position of the safety boundary in a variable manner depending on the at least one of a detected position, movement direction and movement speed of the object. The method also includes triggering the safety-specific function of the machine when entry into the danger region by the object is detected. An apparatus corresponding to the method is also described.

Claims

1. A method of controlling at least one safety-specific function of a machine, comprising:

monitoring a monitoring region with at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor, the monitoring region comprising a safety boundary which separates off a danger region and defines a safe distance from a danger zone of the machine;

detecting at least one of a position, a movement direction and a movement speed of an object;

establishing a position of the safety boundary in a variable manner depending on the at least one of a detected position, movement direction and movement speed of the object; and

triggering the at least one safety-specific function of the machine when entry into the danger region by the object is detected.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a speed at which the position of the safety boundary is displaced depends on the at least one of a detected position, movement direction and the movement speed of the object.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monitoring region comprises a safety region separate from the danger region, the method further comprising:

establishing an extent of the safety region in a variable manner depending on the at least one of a detected position, movement direction and movement speed of the object.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object is classified by an object-classifying unit.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one safety-specific function of the machine is controlled depending on the class of the object.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one safety-specific function of the machine is controlled depending on the at least one of a detected position, movement direction and movement speed of the object.

7. A method of controlling at least one safety-specific function of a machine, comprising:

monitoring a monitoring region with at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor, the monitoring region comprising a safety boundary which separates off a danger region and defines a safe distance from a danger zone of the machine, and a safety region separate from the danger region;

detecting at least one of a position, a movement direction and a movement speed of an object;

establishing an extent of the safety region in a variable manner depending on the at least one of a detected position, movement direction and movement speed of the object; and

triggering the at least one safety-specific function of the machine when entry into the safety region by the object is detected.

8. An apparatus for controlling at least one safety-specific function of a machine, comprising:

at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor for monitoring an object in a monitoring region;

an evaluating unit for determining at least one of a position, movement direction and movement speed of the object from sensor signals received from the at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor;

a safety boundary unit for establishing a safety boundary in the monitoring region, the safety boundary separating off a danger region and defining a safe distance from the machine, the position of the safety boundary being established depending on the determined at least one of a position, movement direction and movement speed of the object; and

a warning signal or switch for triggering the at least one safety-specific function following a detected entry of the object into the danger region.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a safety region unit for establishing the extent of a safety region, separate from the danger region in the monitoring region, the extent of the safety region being established in a variable manner depending on the determined at least one of a position, movement direction and movement speed of the object.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a unit for controlling the at least one safety-specific function of the machine depending on the determined position, movement direction or movement speed of the object.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

at least one object-classifying unit for classifying the object.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a unit for controlling the safety-specific function of the machine depending on the class of the object.

13. An apparatus for controlling at least one safety-specific function of a machine, comprising:

at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor for monitoring an object in a monitoring region;

an evaluating unit for determining at least one of a position, movement direction and movement speed of the object from sensor signals received from the at least one location-resolving and time-resolving sensor;

a safety boundary unit for establishing a safety boundary in the monitoring region, the safety boundary separating off a danger region and defining a safe distance from the machine;

a safety region unit for establishing the extent of a safety region, separate from the danger region in the monitoring region, the extent of the safety region being established in a variable manner depending on the determined at least one of a position, movement direction and movement speed of the object; and

a warning signal or switch for triggering the at least one safety-specific function following a detected entry of the object into the safety region.