Intrusion detection system for operating industrial machines with variable sensitivity
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical intrusion detection system for enabling and/or disabling the operation of an associated industrial machine when an appropriate intrusion is detected, said system comprising:
- light transmitter means for generating a plurality of light beams so as to form a light curtain;
light receiver means for sensing said light beams generated by said light transmitter means; and
control means for operating said light transmitter means and light receiver means and controlling operation of the industrial machine, said control means comprising logic circuits for selectively (a) generating a first control signal for selectively enabling or disabling said machine when X or more light beams are blocked during a first phase of the operation of said machine, and (b) generating a second control signal for selectively enabling or disabling said machine when Y or more light beams are blocked during a second phase of the operation of said machine, wherein X and Y are both integers, X and Y are both >
0, and X≠
Y.
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Abstract
An optical detection system of the sort adapted to enable and/or disable the operation of an associated industrial machine when an appropriate intrusion is detected. The optical intrusion detection system is adapted to have a variable sensitivity, whereby it can be set to respond to the intrusion of an object of a first size during one phase of operation of said machine and to an object of a second size during another phase of the operation of said machine.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An optical intrusion detection system for enabling and/or disabling the operation of an associated industrial machine when an appropriate intrusion is detected, said system comprising:
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light transmitter means for generating a plurality of light beams so as to form a light curtain; light receiver means for sensing said light beams generated by said light transmitter means; and control means for operating said light transmitter means and light receiver means and controlling operation of the industrial machine, said control means comprising logic circuits for selectively (a) generating a first control signal for selectively enabling or disabling said machine when X or more light beams are blocked during a first phase of the operation of said machine, and (b) generating a second control signal for selectively enabling or disabling said machine when Y or more light beams are blocked during a second phase of the operation of said machine, wherein X and Y are both integers, X and Y are both >
0, and X≠
Y. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 13)
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- 2. An optical intrusion detection system according to claim wherein said control means generates said first control signal for enabling said machine when X or more light beams are blocked and then unblocked during an idle phase of said machine, and generates said second control signal for disabling said machine when Y or more light beams are blocked during an operating phase of said machine.
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7. An optical intrusion detection system for enabling and/or disabling the operation of an associated industrial machine when an appropriate intrusion is detected, said system comprising:
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light transmitter means for generating a plurality of parallel spaced light beams so as to form a light curtain; light receiver means for sensing said light beams generated by said light transmitter means; and control means for operating said light transmitter means and light receiver means and controlling operation of the industrial machine, said control means comprising logic circuits for selectively (a) generating a first control signal for enabling said machine when X or more light beams are blocked and then unblocked during a first idle phase of the operation of said machine, and (b) generating a second control signal for disabling said machine when Y or more light beams are blocked during a second later operating phase of the operation of said machine, wherein X and Y are both integers, X and Y are both >
0, and X>
1 and Y=1, whereby said control means will start said machine after said light curtain is momentarily interrupted by a relatively large object, and will stop said machine when said light curtain is thereafter interrupted by a relatively small object.
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8. A method of operating an industrial machine of the sort comprising light transmitter means for generating a plurality of spaced light beams so as to form a light curtain, light receiver means for sensing said light beams generated by said light transmitter means, and control means for operating said light transmitter means and said light receiver means and controlling operation of the industrial machine, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) selectively enabling or disabling said machine when X or more light beams are blocked during a first phase of the operation of said machine, and (2) selectively enabling or disabling said machine when Y or more light beams are blocked during a second phase of the operation of said machine, wherein X and Y are both integers, X and Y are both >
0, and X≠
Y. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating an industrial machine of the sort comprising light transmitter means for generating a plurality of spaced light beams so as to form a light curtain, light receiver means for sensing said light beams generated by said light transmitter means, and control means for operating said light transmitter means and said light receiver means and controlling operation of the industrial machine, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) enabling said machine when X or more light beams are blocked and then unblocked during a first idle phrase of the operation of said machine, and (2) disabling said machine when Y or more light beams are blocked during a second later operating phase of the operation of said machine, wherein X and Y are both integers, X and Y are both >
0, X>
1 and Y=1, whereby said machine will be enabled after said light curtain is momentarily interrupted by a relatively large object, and said machine will be disabled when said light curtain is thereafter interrupted by a relatively small object.
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14. An optical intrusion detection system for enabling and/or disabling the operation of an associated industrial machine when an appropriate intrusion is detected, said system comprising:
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light transmitter means for generating a plurality of light beams so as to form a light curtain; light receiver means for sensing said light beams generated by said light transmitter means; and control means for operating said light transmitter means and light receiver means and controlling operation of the industrial machine, said control means comprising logic circuits for selectively (a) generating a first control signal for selectively enabling said machine when X or more light beams are blocked during a first phase of the operation of said machine, and (b) generating a second control signal for selectively disabling said machine when Y or more light beams are blocked during a second phase of the operation of said machine, wherein X and Y are both integers, X and Y are both >
0, and X≠
Y.
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15. A method for operating an industrial machine of the sort comprising light transmitter means for generating a plurality of spaced light beams so as to form a light curtain, light receiver means for sensing said light beams generated by said light transmitter means, and control means for operating said light transmitter means and said light receiver means and controlling operation of the industrial machine, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) selectively enabling said machine when X or more light beams are blocked during a first phase of the operation of said machine, and (2) selectively disabling said machine when Y or more light beams are blocked during a second phase of the operation of said machine, wherein X and Y are both integers, X and Y are both >
0, and X≠
Y.
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Specification