SENSOR SYSTEM FOR DETECTING THE SURFACE STRUCTURES OF SEVERAL PACKAGED ARTICLES
First Claim
1. A sensor system for detecting the surface structures of several packaged articles, comprising:
- at least one laser distance detector that functions according to a triangulation principle and that determines distance between the at least one laser distance detector and a surface structure of a packaged article, whereby the laser distance detector has at least one analog output via which a distance-proportional analog signal can be emitted; and
an amplifier circuit that provides communication between an analog output of the at least one laser distance detector and an evaluation unit, the amplifier circuit encompassing at least one operational amplifier that has two inputs, the analog signal of the laser distance detector being present at a first input of the at least one operational amplifier, while a variable reference voltage is present at the other input of the at least one operational amplifier, the reference voltage being obtained from the analog signal of the analog output, and this analog signal being present at the other input of the operational amplifier via a low-pass filter, the output of the at least one operational amplifier being connected to the evaluation unit, the amplifier circuit being configured so that abrupt changes in the analog signal bring about a change in the output signal of the at least one operational amplifier, whereas relatively gradual changes in the analog signal do not bring about substantial change in the output signal of the at least one operational amplifier, the evaluation unit evaluating the output signal of the at least one operational amplifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a sensor system for detecting the surface structures of several packaged articles. An exemplary system comprises at least one laser distance detector that functions according to a triangulation principle and that determines the distance between the laser distance detector and a surface structure of a packaged article. The laser distance detector has at least one analog output via which a distance-proportional analog signal can be emitted. The analog output of at least one laser distance detector is in communication with an evaluation unit via an amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuit encompasses at least one operational amplifier that has two inputs, and the analog signal of the laser distance detector is present at a first input of the at least one operational amplifier. A variable reference voltage is present at the other input of the at least one operational amplifier. The reference voltage may be obtained from the analog signal of the analog output, and this analog signal may be present at the other input of the operational amplifier via a low-pass filter. The output of the at least one operational amplifier may be connected to the evaluation unit, as a result of which the amplifier circuit is configured in such a way that abrupt changes in the analog signal bring about a change in the output signal of the at least one operational amplifier. More gradual changes in the analog signal do not bring about a substantial change in the output signal of the at least one operational amplifier. The evaluation unit may evaluate the output signal of the at least one operational amplifier.
15 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A sensor system for detecting the surface structures of several packaged articles, comprising:
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at least one laser distance detector that functions according to a triangulation principle and that determines distance between the at least one laser distance detector and a surface structure of a packaged article, whereby the laser distance detector has at least one analog output via which a distance-proportional analog signal can be emitted; and an amplifier circuit that provides communication between an analog output of the at least one laser distance detector and an evaluation unit, the amplifier circuit encompassing at least one operational amplifier that has two inputs, the analog signal of the laser distance detector being present at a first input of the at least one operational amplifier, while a variable reference voltage is present at the other input of the at least one operational amplifier, the reference voltage being obtained from the analog signal of the analog output, and this analog signal being present at the other input of the operational amplifier via a low-pass filter, the output of the at least one operational amplifier being connected to the evaluation unit, the amplifier circuit being configured so that abrupt changes in the analog signal bring about a change in the output signal of the at least one operational amplifier, whereas relatively gradual changes in the analog signal do not bring about substantial change in the output signal of the at least one operational amplifier, the evaluation unit evaluating the output signal of the at least one operational amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification