Uniform sensitivity light curtain

• US 5,539,198 A
• Filed: 09/28/1993
• Issued: 07/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Inventors: Khoshnevisan, Mohen, McMichael, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abraham, Fetsum
• Application Number:
  US08/128,624
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 250/223 B, 250/221, 250/227.26, 250/227.28, 250/208.2, 250/560, 250/573
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A light curtain having linearly arranged pairs of light transmitting and receiving which may be placed on opposing sides of a zone to be protected. The light curtain provides uniform sensitivity across the region to be protected as the light transmitters emit a light beam which begins as an omnidirectional point source which is truncated and refocused by an optical lense. Predetermined portions of the beam are blocked to assure uniform intensity across the width of the transmitter.

Claims

1. A light curtain for detecting intrusion of a zone to be protected, comprising:

an omnidirectional light source providing a first collection of light beams radiating through a first truncator defined by an aperture having a first height and a first width;

means for optically redirecting said light beams to form a second collection of light beams radiating substantially parallel to one another;

masking means to selectively block portions of said second collection of light beams to form a third collection of light beams, said third collection of light beams characterized by uniform intensity light beams;

means to detect the intensity of said third collection of light beams incident upon a second aperture defined by a second height and a second width, said second aperture being disposed a predetermined distance from said light source; and

means to provide an indicia of an intrusion upon detection of said intensity of said third collection of light beams falling below a predetermined intensity threshold.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said first aperture is defined by a structure which blocks radiation of light beams from said omnidirectional light source at all regions except predetermined regions.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said means for optically redirecting said light beams is a frensel lens.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein said omnidirectional light source is a light emitting diode.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein said means to detect the intensity of said third collection of light beams is a photo transistor acting in combination with a means for measuring voltage, said photo transistor producing a voltage representative of the intensity of said third collection of light beams.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said means to provide indicia of an intrusion comprises a voltage comparator performing a comparison of said voltage produced by said photo transistor with a threshold voltage said voltage comparator producing a comparison signal when said voltage providing by said photo transistor falls below said threshold voltage.

7. The invention of claim 1, wherein said masking means to selectively block portions of said second collection of light beams comprises a first mask disposed for blocking predetermined portions of said first aperture, said first mask including a central portion which is substantially blocked defining a central opening extending thereacross which provides blocking of said second collection of light beams as said light beams pass therethrough, said first mask further including opposed end portions which remain unblocked permitting said second collection of light beams to pass unimpeded therethrough.

8. The invention of claim 1, wherein said means to detect the intensity of said third collection of light beams comprises:

a means to optically redirect said light beams incident upon said second aperture to a third aperture defined by a third height and a third width, and

a photo transistor disposed in said third aperture, said photo transistor suitable for producing a voltage responsive to an indicative of the intensity of said third collection of light beams, wherein the voltage produced by said photo transistor is compared to a predetermined threshold voltage by a voltage comparator.

9. The invention of claim 8, further including a second mask disposed for blocking predetermined portions of said second aperture, said second mask including a central portion which is substantially blocked defining a central opening extending thereacross and said second mask further including opposed end portions which remain unblocked permitting light beams to pass unimpeded therethrough.

10. A light curtain for detecting intrusion of a zone to be protected comprising:

an omnidirectional light source providing a first collection of light beams radiating through a first aperture defined by a first height and a first width;

said first aperture being defined by a structure which blocks radiation of light beams from said omnidirectional source at all regions except predetermined regions, said predetermined regions allowing passage of said first collection of light beams radiate through said first aperture;

means for optically redirecting said first collection of light beams to form a second collection of light beams radiating substantially parallel to one another;

a first mask disposed for blocking predetermined portions of said first, said first mask including a central portion which is substantially blocked defining a central opening extending thereacross which provides blocking of said second collection of light beams as said light beams pass therethrough, said first mask further including opposed end portions which remain unblocked permitting said second collection of light beams to pass unimpeded therethrough;

means to detect the intensity of said second collection of light beams incident upon a second aperture defined by a second height and a second width, said second aperture disposed a predetermined distance from said omnidirectional light source wherein said intensity detection means comprises a means to optically redirect said light beams incident on said second aperture to a third aperture defined by a third height and a third width and wherein said intensity detection means further comprises a photo transistor disposed in said third aperture, said photo transistor suitable for producing a voltage proportioned to the amount of light incident thereon; and

means to provide an indicia of an intrusion when said photo transistor voltage is less than a predetermined threshold voltage.

11. The invention of claim 10 further including a second mask disposed for blocking predetermined portions of said second aperture, said second mask including a central portion which is substantially blocked defining a central opening extending thereacross which provides blocking of said second collection of light beams as said light beams pass therethrough, said second mask further including opposed end portions which remain unblocked permitting said second collection of light beams to pass unimpeded therethrough.