Photoelectric sensor
First Claim
1. A photoelectric sensor for detecting the presence/absence of an object in a detection area where a light-emitting area of a light-emitting device and a light-receiving area of a light-receiving device are overlapped with each other, the photoelectric sensor comprising:
- a power supply unit that outputs a driving current of the light-emitting device such that its current value is variable; and
a control unit that controls the power supply unit in order to change in magnitude of the driving current of the light-emitting device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An object of the present invention is to enable the detection of the presence/absence of an object over a plurality of detection areas without using a plurality of light-receiving devices and light-emitting devices. A sensor detects the presence/absence of an object in a detection area where a light-emitting area of a light-emitting device and a light-receiving area of a light-receiving device are overlapped with each other, and includes: a power supply unit that outputs a driving current I of the light-emitting device such that its current value is variable; a control unit that has the function of controlling the power supply unit to change in magnitude of the driving current I of the light-emitting device, and determining the presence/absence of an object based on an output from the light-receiving device to output the result of determination as a detection signal; and an output signal 50 that converts the detection signal into an analog signal to output the converted signal as a signal α.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A photoelectric sensor for detecting the presence/absence of an object in a detection area where a light-emitting area of a light-emitting device and a light-receiving area of a light-receiving device are overlapped with each other, the photoelectric sensor comprising:
- a power supply unit that outputs a driving current of the light-emitting device such that its current value is variable; and
a control unit that controls the power supply unit in order to change in magnitude of the driving current of the light-emitting device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- a power supply unit that outputs a driving current of the light-emitting device such that its current value is variable; and
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4. A photoelectric sensor for detecting the presence/absence of an object in a detection area where a light-emitting area of a light-emitting device and a light-receiving area of a light-receiving device are overlapped with each other, the photoelectric sensor being configured to allow the light-emitting device to emit light, compare an output level of the light-receiving device with a plurality of reference values different from one another, and output the result of comparison as a digital or analog detection signal.
- 5. A photoelectric sensor for detecting the presence/absence of an object in a detection area where a light-emitting area of a light-emitting device and a light-receiving area of a light-receiving device are overlapped with each other, the photoelectoric sensor being configured to allow the light-emitting device to emit light, compare an output level of the light-receiving device with a reference value to output the result of comparison as a detection signal, change the reference value to compare the output level of the light-receiving device with the reference value in each change in the reference value, and output the result of comparison as a detection signal.
Specification