Laser optical path degradation detecting device
First Claim
1. A laser optical path degradation detecting device for use in preventing collision of two objects, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other, the device comprising:
- a laser distance detector which uses a laser beam to detect the distance between said two objects and which generates actual distance signals representative of the distance between said two objects;
voltage level detector means responsive to the distance signals for generating a first predetermined point signal upon the distance signals being in a range representative of a first predetermined distance or less, and generating a second predetermined point signal upon the distance signals being in a range representative of a second predetermined distance or less, wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance;
means for determining if the second predetermined point signal is generated within a predetermined time interval relative to the generation of the first predetermined point signal; and
means for generating a fault signal upon the occurrence of said second predetermined point signal being generated within said predetermined time interval relative to the generation of said first predetermined point signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical path degradation detecting device having a laser distance detector which uses a laser beam to detect the distance between two objects and which generates distance signals representative of the distance between the two objects. A first predetermined point signal is generated upon the distance signals being in a distance representative of a first predetermined distance or less, and a second predetermined point signal is generated upon the distance signals being in a distance representative of a second predetermined distance or less, wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance. A fault signal is generated if the second predetermined point signal is generated within a predetermined time interval relative to the generation of the first predetermined point signal.
17 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A laser optical path degradation detecting device for use in preventing collision of two objects, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other, the device comprising:
-
a laser distance detector which uses a laser beam to detect the distance between said two objects and which generates actual distance signals representative of the distance between said two objects; voltage level detector means responsive to the distance signals for generating a first predetermined point signal upon the distance signals being in a range representative of a first predetermined distance or less, and generating a second predetermined point signal upon the distance signals being in a range representative of a second predetermined distance or less, wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance; means for determining if the second predetermined point signal is generated within a predetermined time interval relative to the generation of the first predetermined point signal; and means for generating a fault signal upon the occurrence of said second predetermined point signal being generated within said predetermined time interval relative to the generation of said first predetermined point signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An optical path degradation detecting device for use in preventing collision of two objects, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other, and used with a laser distance detector which uses a laser for detecting the distance between said two objects and outputting distance signals representative of at least a first predetermined distance and a second predetermined distance, the device comprising:
-
a converter responsive to the distance signals for converting the distance signals to corresponding voltage level signals and outputting said voltage level signals; a first voltage level detector responsive to said voltage level signals for outputting a first predetermined distance point signal when said voltage signals reach a first predetermined voltage or less; a second voltage level detector responsive to said voltage level signals for outputting a second predetermined distance point signal when said voltage signals reach a second predetermined voltage or less; a gating member responsive to said first predetermined distance point signal and said second predetermined point signal for allowing output of said second predetermined distance point signal only during a predetermined pulse interval relative to receipt of said first predetermined distance point signal; and a fault signal generator responsive to said second predetermined distance point signal for generating a fault signal upon receipt of said second predetermined distance point signal; whereby, when the optical path of the laser is of sufficiently acceptable integrity, the time interval between said output of the first predetermined distance point signal and the output of the second predetermined distance point signal is greater than said predetermined pulse interval and passage of the second predetermined distance point signal is blocked by the gating member such that the second predetermined distance point signal is not received by the fault signal generator and no fault signal is generated, and when said laser optical path is of insufficiently acceptable integrity, the time interval between said output of the first predetermined distance point signal and the output of the second predetermined distance point signal is less than said predetermined pulse interval and the gating member allows passage of said second predetermined distance point signal to said fault signal generator and a fault signal is generated indicating the presence of said insufficient laser optical path. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
Specification