Method in an optically operated proximity switch

• US 5,541,403 A
• Filed: 03/30/1994
• Issued: 07/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitron Oy (Teleste Oyj)
• Original Assignee: Mitron Oy (Teleste Oyj)
• Inventors: Hellsten, Markku, Heinonen, Ilkka, Malm, Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B.
• Application Number:
  US08/211,301
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/222.1, 250/214 SW, 340/555-557, 356/375
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a method in an optically operated proximity switch. A transmitter means is used to transmit a beam in a direction into the environment. The detection zone on one hand and the background area on the other hand are monitored by receiving means. In addition, processing means are used in the method by which the output signals of the receiving means are compared to monitor the situation in the detection zone. An object is detected by the processing means when the output signal of the first receiver means monitoring the detection zones is changed in relation to the output signal of the second receiver means monitoring the background. When the said change is ended, the phase of detection of the object is ended and the output signal of the first receiver means is returned to a substantially original level.

Claims

1. Method in an optically operated proximity switch, in which

a beam is generated and transmitted into the environment of the proximity switch by at least one transmitter means in a first direction,

two groups of receiver means are fitted with the proximity switch, both groups comprising at least one receiver means,

the receiver means of the first group is/are directed at least in one second direction deviating from the first direction in a way that the receiving direction of each receiver means intersects the beam of the transmitter means in the detection zone in the environment of the proximity switch, whereby the receiver means of the first group is/are capable of receiving emission which is reflected from an object in the detection zone and derived from emission from the transmitter means,

the receiver means of the second group is/are arranged to receive emission coming and/or reflected back from the background outside the detection zone of the proximity switch,

processing means are used in the method by which the output signals of the receiver means of the first and second groups are processed and compared to monitor the situation in the area of the proximity switch, wherein

the receiver means of the second group is/are directed to at least one third direction in a way that the receiving direction of each receiver means intersects the beam of the transmitter means in the zone of the background outside the detection zone and/or is parallel to the beam directed in the first direction of the transmitter means, whereby the receiver means of the first and second groups each receive directly the separate emission, on the one hand derived and/or reflected from the detection zone, and on the other hand derived and/or reflected from the background,

the object placed in the detection zone is detected on the basis of comparison of the output signals of the said groups by processing means when the output signal of the receiver means of the first group is changed in relation to the output signal of the receiver means of the second group, and

the stage of detection of the object is ended on the basis of the comparison by the processing means when the output signal of the receiver means of the first group returns to the level before the detection in relation to the output signal of the receiver means of the second group, characterized in that

a beam is generated and transmitted in the first direction as a pulse, and that

the reception of the first and the second group is synchronized to receive emission that is possibly reflected from the said beam in pulse form.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiver means of the second group is/are directed to at least one third direction deviating from the first and the second direction.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the output signals of the first and/or the second group are transmitted for averaging of the output signals to averaging circuits, separate for each group, placed in the processing means.

4. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that

the output signals from the receiver means of the first and the second group are directed to the corresponding coupling circuits in the processing means, that

the operation of the coupling circuits is controlled in a way that the said output signal is directed to the first averaging circuit connected to the said coupling circuit during transmitting of the beam to be transmitted in pulse form in the first direction, that

the operation of the coupling circuits is further controlled in a way that the said output signal is directed to the second averaging circuit connected to the said coupling circuit during the rest period of the beam to be transmitted in pulse form in the first direction, that

instrumentation amplifiers are used to compare the voltages of the two averaging circuits connected to the said coupling circuit with each other, whereby the outputs of the said instrumentation amplifier receive the value zero (OV) if the voltages in the said two averaging circuits are equal and a value different from zero if they are inequal, and that

a comparator is used to compare the values of the outputs of the instrumentation amplifiers, whereby, the values being inequal, the state of the comparator is changed by a switch connected to the comparator for performing the operations required by the object in the detection zone.

5. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a pulse ratio between 1:

1 and 1;

20 is used, where the ratio denotes the magnitude transmitting phase;

rest phase.

6. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the coupling circuits are controlled by means of control from the oscillator operating the transmitter means, particularly through a time delay circuit.

7. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a transmitter means and receiver means with a beam of emission or reception of 18-20°

are used. receiver means of the first group is directed to intersect the optical axis or direction of the beam of the transmitter means at a distance of 0.5 to 2.0 m from the transmitter means, and the receiving direction on the receiver means of the second group is directed to intersect the optical axis or direction of the transmitter means at a distance of more than 2 m from the transmitter means.

8. Method according to claim 1, which is used for purposes of occupational safety in connection with a moving apparatus, characterized in that

the receiving direction of the receiver means of the first group is directed to intersect the optical axis or direction of the beam of the transmitter means at a distance of 0.5 to 2.0 m from the transmitter means, and the receiving direction or the receiver means of the second group is directed to intersect the optical axis or direction of the transmitter means at a distance of more than 2 m from the transmitter means.