Object detector and object detector system

• US 6,211,784 B1
• Filed: 03/18/1997
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Original Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Inventors: Nishide, Mitsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/820,676
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568, 340/435, 340/436, 340/901, 340/903, 340/904, 340/815.45, 340/815.53, 340/815.56, 340/815.65, 367/907, 342/70, 342/71, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169 K, 180/170, 364/460, 364/461, 364/426.04, 345/160, 345/102
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4818 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4912 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/493 Extracting wanted echo signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/51 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/941 using an optical detector H03K17/968 takes precedence

Abstract

An object detector including a detector, a setting device, a comparator and a display. The detector outputs a detected quantity based on a presence or absence of an object to be detected. The setting device sets a threshold, The comparator compares the detected quantity obtained by the detector with the threshold set by the setting device and outputs a detected result. The display numerically displays either the detected quantity obtained by the detector or the threshold set by the setting device.

Claims

1. An object detector comprising:

a detector for outputting a detected quantity based on a presence and absence of an object to be detected;

a setting device for setting a threshold based on the detected quantity;

a calculating device for calculating a detection ratio based on the threshold set by the setting device and the detected quantity;

a comparator for comparing the detected quantity obtained by the detector with the threshold set by the setting device and outputting a compared result;

a display for numerically displaying either

     1) the detected quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device or

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device;

a mode switch for switching the display between displaying

     1) the detected quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device and

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device and;

an adjuster for adjusting the threshold set by the setting device wherein the display displays the new threshold values as they are being adjusted by the adjuster.

2. The object detector according to claim 1, wherein the setting device further comprises an automatic setting device for setting, during a setting operation, a threshold based on the detected quantity of the presence or the absence of the object.

3. The object detector according to claim 1, wherein the mode switch comprises a first mode switch either for switching the display between the detected quantity obtained by the detector and the threshold set by the setting device or for switching the display between the detection ratio and the threshold set by the setting device, and a second mode switch for switching the display between the detected quantity obtained by the detector and the detection ratio.

4. The object detector according to claim 3, wherein the first mode switch switches the display between the detected quantity obtained by the detector and the threshold set by the setting device.

5. An object detector system comprising:

a master object detector; and

a slave object detector;

each of the master object detector and the slave object detector comprising;

a detector for outputting a detected quantity based on a presence and absence of an object to be detected;

a setting device for setting a threshold based on the detected quantity;

calculating device for calculating a detection ratio based on the threshold set by the setting device and the detected quantity; and

a comparator for comparing the detected quantity obtained by the detector with the threshold set by the setting device and outputting a detected result;

the master object detector further comprising a display for numerically displaying either

     1) the detected quantity obtained by the detector of the master object detector,

     2) the detected quantity obtained by the detector of the slave object detector,

     3) the threshold set by the setting device of the master object detector,

     4) the threshold set by the setting device of the slave object detector.

     5) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device of the master object detector, or

     6) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device of the slave object detector;

a mode switch for switching the display between displaying

     1) the detected quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device and

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device; and

an adjuster for adjusting the threshold set by the setting device wherein the display displays the new threshold values as they are being adjusted by the adjuster.

6. The object detector according to claim 5, wherein the setting device further comprises an automatic setting device for setting, during a setting operation, a threshold based on the detected quantity of the presence or the absence of the object.

7. An object detector system comprising:

a master object detector; and

a slave object detector;

each of the master object detector and the slave object detector comprising;

a detector for outputting a detected quantity based on a presence and absence of an object to be detected;

a setting device for setting a threshold based on the detected quantity;

a calculating device for calculating a detection ratio based on the threshold set by the setting device and the detected quantity; and

a comparator for comparing the detected quantity obtained by the detector with the threshold set by the setting device and outputting a detected result;

wherein one of the master object detector and the slave object detector further comprises;

a display for numerically displaying either

     1) the detected quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device or

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device;

a mode switch for switching the display between displaying

     1) the detected quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device and

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device; and

an adjuster for adjusting the threshold set by the setting device wherein the display displays the new threshold values as they are being adjusted by the adjuster.

8. The object detector according to claim 7, wherein the setting device further comprises an automatic setting device for setting a threshold based on the detected quantity.

9. An object detector for detecting a presence and absence of an object, comprising:

a detector for outputting a presence quantity when the object is present and an absence quantity when the object is absent;

a setting device for setting a threshold based on the presence and absence quantity;

a calculating device for calculating a detection ratio based on the threshold set by the setting device and the presence or absence quantity;

a comparator for comparing the presence or absence quantity with the threshold set by the setting device and outputting a compared result;

a display for numerically displaying either

     1) the presence or the absence quantity detected by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device or

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device;

a mode switch for switching the display between displaying

     1) the presence or absence quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device and

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device; and

an adjuster for adjusting the sold set by the setting device wherein the display displays the new threshold values as they are being adjusted by the adjuster,

wherein the display includes aback light having two switchable colors, one of the two colors for indicating the presence quantity and the other of the two colors for indicating the absence quantity.

10. An object detector for detecting a presence and absence of an object, comprising:

a detector for outputting a presence quantity when the object is present and an absence quantity when the object is absent;

a setting device for setting a threshold based on the presence and absence quantity;

a calculating device for calculating a detection ratio based on the threshold set by the setting device and the presence or absence quantity;

a comparator for comparing the presence or absence quantity with the threshold set by the setting device and outputting a compared result;

a display for numerically displaying either the presence or the absence quantity obtained by the detector, the threshold set by the setting device or the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device;

a mode switch for switching the display between displaying

     1) the presence or absence quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device and

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device; and

an adjuster for adjusting the threshold set by the setting device wherein the display displays the new threshold values as they are being adjusted by the adjuster.

11. An object detector for detecting a presence and absence of an object at plural channels, the object detector comprising:

a plurality of detectors positioned at respective ones of the plural channels;

each of the plurality of detectors for outputting a presence quantity when the object is present and an absence quantity when the object is absent at the respective channel;

a setting device for setting, with respect to each of the detectors, a threshold based on the respective presence quantity and respective absence quantity;

a calculating device for calculating a detection ratio base on the threshold set by the setting device and the respective presence quantity and respective absence quantity;

a comparator for comparing the presence or the absence quantity detected by the respective detectors with the respective thresholds set by the setting device and outputting a compared result;

a display for numerically displaying either

     1) the presence or the absence quantity obtained by a selected one of the detectors,

     2) the threshold for the selected one of the detectors set by the setting device or

     3) the detection ratio for the selected one of the detectors calculated by the calculating device;

a mode switch for switching the display between displaying the presence or absence quantity obtained by the detector, the threshold set by the setting device and the detection ratio set by the calculating device;

an adjuster for adjusting the threshold set by the setting device wherein the display displays the new threshold values as they are being adjusted by the adjuster.

12. The object detector according to claim 11, further comprising a channel change switch for changing the display from one of the channels to another one of the channels.

13. The object detector according to claim 12, wherein the display includes a back light having two switchable colors, one of the two colors for indicating the presence quantity and the other of the two colors for indicating the absence quantity.

14. The object detector according to claim 11, wherein the display includes a back light having two switchable colors, one of the two colors for indicating the presence quantity and the other of the two colors for indicating the absence quantity.

15. A display device for an object detector that outputs a detected quantity based on a presence and absence of an object to be detected comprising:

a setting device for setting a threshold based on the detected quantity;

a calculating device for calculating a detection ratio based on the threshold set by the setting device and the detected quantity;

a display for numerically displaying either

     1) the detected quantity detected by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device or

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device;

a mode switch for switching the display between displaying

     1) the detected quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device and

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device; and

an adjuster for adjusting the threshold set by the setting device wherein the display displays the new threshold values as they are being adjusted by the adjuster.

16. The object detector according to claim 15, wherein the mode switch comprises a first mode switch either for switching the display between the detected quantity obtained by the detector and the threshold set by the setting device or for switching the display between the detection ratio and the threshold set by the setting device, and a second mode switch for switching the display between the detected quantity obtained by the detector and the detection ratio.

17. The object detector according to claim 16, wherein the first mode switch switches the display between displaying the detected quantity obtained by the detector and the threshold set by the setting device.

18. An object detector comprising:

a detector for outputting an output signal corresponding to a detected quantity based on a presence and absence of an object to be detected;

a setting device for automatically setting a threshold based on the detected quantity of the presence or absence of the object; and

a calculating device for calculating a detection ratio based on the threshold set by the setting device and the detected quantity;

a display for numerically displaying either

     1) the detected quantity detected by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device or

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device; and

a mode switch for switching the display between displaying

     1) the detected quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device and

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device; and

an adjuster for adjusting the threshold set by the setting device wherein the display displays the new threshold values as they are being adjusted by the adjuster.

19. The object detector according to claim 18, further comprising a comparator for comparing the detected quantity obtained by the detector with the threshold set by the setting device and outputting a compared result.

20. The object detector according to claim 18, wherein the mode switch comprises a first mode switch either for switching the display between the detected quantity obtained by the detector and the threshold set by the setting device or for switching the display between the detection ratio and the threshold set by the setting device, and a second mode switch for switching the display between the detected quantity obtained by the detector and the detection ratio.

21. The object detector according to claim 20, wherein the first mode switch switches the display between the detected quantity obtained by the detector and the threshold set by the setting device.

22. An object detector comprising:

a detector for outputting a detected quantity based on a presence and absence of an object to be detected;

a setting device for setting a threshold based on the detected quantity;

a calculating device for calculating a detection ratio based on the threshold set by the setting device and the detected quantity;

a comparator for comparing the detected quantity obtained by the detector with the threshold set by the setting device and outputting a compared result;

a display for numerically displaying either

     1) the detected quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device or

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device;

a mode switch for switching the display between displaying

     1) the detected quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device and

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device; and

an adjuster for manually adjusting the threshold set by the setting device based on

     1) the detected quantity,

     2) the threshold, or

     3) the detection ratio displayed on the display.

23. The object detector according to claim 22, further comprising:

an adjuster for adjusting the threshold set by the setting device wherein the display displays the new threshold values as they are being adjusted by the adjuster.

24. The object detector according to claim 22, wherein the setting device further comprises an automatic setting device for setting, during a setting operation, a threshold based on the detected quantity of the presence or absence of the object.

25. An object detector for detecting a presence and absence of an object, comprising:

a detector for outputting a presence quantity when the object is present and an absence quantity when the object is absent;

a setting device for setting a threshold based on the presence and absence quantity;

a calculating device for calculating a detection ratio based on the threshold set by the setting device and the presence or absence quantity;

a comparator for comparing the presence or absence quantity with the threshold set by the setting device and outputting a compared result;

a display for numerically displaying either the presence or the absence quantity obtained by the detector, the threshold set by the setting device or the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device;

a mode switch for switching the display between displaying

     1) the presence or absence quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device and

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device; and

an adjuster for manually adjusting the threshold set by the setting device based on

     1) the detected quantity,

     2) the threshold, or

     3) the detection ratio displayed on the display.

26. A display device for an object detector that outputs a detected quantity based on a presence and absence of an object to be detected comprising:

a setting device for setting a threshold based on the detected quantity;

a calculating device for calculating a detection ratio based on the threshold set by the setting device and the detected quantity;

a display for numerically displaying either

     1) the detected quantity detected by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device or

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device;

a mode switch for switching the display between displaying

     1) the detected quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device and

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device; and

an adjuster for manually adjusting the threshold set by the setting device based on

     1) the detected quantity,

     2) the threshold, or

     3) the detection ratio displayed on the display.

27. An object detector comprising:

a detector for outputting an output signal corresponding to a detected quantity based on a presence and absence of an object to be detected;

a setting device for automatically setting a threshold based on the detected quantity of the presence or absence of the object; and

a calculating device for calculating a detection ratio based on the threshold set by the setting device and the detected quantity;

a display for numerically displaying either

     1) the detected quantity detected by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device or

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device; and

a mode switch for switching the display between displaying

     1) the detected quantity obtained by the detector,

     2) the threshold set by the setting device and

     3) the detection ratio calculated by the calculating device; and

an adjuster for manually adjusting the threshold set by the setting device based on

     1) the detected quantity,

     2) the threshold, or

     3) the detection ratio displayed on the display.