Detector for sensing and/or measuring passing objects

• US 4,866,425 A
• Filed: 05/06/1988
• Issued: 09/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diantek AB
• Original Assignee: Diantek AB
• Inventors: Lindmark, Curt
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/191,114
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 340/556, 340/630, 340/568, 340/511, 340/587, 340/693
• US Class Current: 340/556
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/12 using one transmitter and one receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/103 using a light emitting and receiving device
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/24 Self-calibration, e.g. compensating for environmental drift or ageing of components

Abstract

A detector for sensing or measuring objects passing a measurement path (5) has a detection element (6), the output signal of which is a function of objects discovered in the measurement path. The output signal is fed to an amplifier and filter circuit (7-9), the output of which is connected to two parallel integration cirucits (11, 12). The integration circuits have time constant (τ_SH, τ_L) of different magnitudes, and their output signals are fed to a comparator (13) for obtaining an operative signal indicating the presence of an object in the measurement path, this signal being unresponsive to long-duration fluctuations in the detector'"'"'s operating conditions, e.g., dirtying of the detection element. The detector includes a dirtiness alarm with the threshold response adjustable to a long-time-constant integrator output.

Claims

1. A detector intended for sensing and/or measuring objects passing the detector measuring path, where at one defining surface of which a detector element is disposed for catching radiation sent from a beam source, said detector element being connected to an electrical amplifier and filter circuit and the signal from said circuit being taken to two integration circuits having mutually different time constants (τ

_S, τ

_L), the output signals of which are taken to a comparator for obtaining of an output signal at an object alarm circuit which indicates the possible presence of an object irrespective of long duration fluctuations in the operating conditions of the detector, said detector being characterized in that the output from the integration circuit with the long time constant (τ

_L) also is connected to a reference level means included in the object alarm circuit and being connected to the output of the comparator for determination of the threshold level to be reached before indicating presence of an object, and to an amplifier within a function alarm circuit which sends an analogue output signal indicating the long duration operational conditions of the detector, such that when the signal falls below a threshold level an alarm signal is triggered.

2. The detector according to claim 1, characterized in that said reference level means is in the form of a discriminator coupled between the comparator and an alarm signal output for detecting the presence of an object.

3. The detector according to claim 1, characterized in that said reference level means is in the form of an integration network including two serially coupled resistors coupled in parallel with a capacitor and having an input signal received through an amplifier and filter circuit from the integration circuit with long time constant (τ

_L).

4. The detector according to claim 3, characterized in that the relationship between the time constants (τ

_S, τ

_L) of the integration circuits is between 1;

100 and 1;

1000.

5. The detector according to claim 1, characterized in that the radiation source and the detector element are arranged in a common, temperature-compensating means, one side of which forms the end surface of the detector measurement path passed by the objects which are to be sensed and/or measured, the detector element being adapted for sensing the reflected radiation from the radiation source.

6. The detector according to claim 5, characterized in that the temperature compensating means comprises a metal block.

7. The detector according to claim 5, characterized in that the other end surface of the measurement path is formed by a reflector, the objects passing both the forward and return radiation, and in that the temperature compensating means is arranged at the end of a printed circuit board which carries the electrical circuits of the detector.

8. The detector according to claim 7, and intended for use in such as ventilation ducts, characterized in that the printed circuit board is accommodated in a tubular casing, with its outer end closed with the aid of a body forming with its inward surface said reflector, the casing having along its cylindrical surface uniformly distributed holes, the extension of which in the longitudinal direction of the casing corresponding to the length of the measuring path.

9. The detector according to claim 8, characterized in that the uniformly distributed holes form six rows with seven holes in each, the holes in one row being staggered by a distance corresponding to 1/3 of the width of the hole relative the holes in adjacent rows.

10. The detector according to claim 5, characterized in that the metal block is made from brass.