Sensor device and method for operating a sensor device

• US 6,597,287 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steinel GmbH (Steinel Vertrieb Gmbh)
• Original Assignee: Steiner GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Steinel, Heinrich Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PREVIL, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US09/647,318
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 340/501, 340/567, 340/541, 340/565, 340/521, 340/522, 340/511
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/1626 Arrangements with two photodetectors, the signals of which are compared
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/22 using a variable element in the light-path, e.g. filter, polarising means G01J1/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/026 Control of working procedures of a pyrometer, other than calibration; Bandwidth calculation; Gain control
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/064 Ambient temperature sensor; Housing temperature sensor; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0802 Optical filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0843 Manually adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0893 Arrangements to attach devices to a pyrometer, i.e. attaching an optical interface; Spatial relative arrangement of optical elements, e.g. folded beam path G01J5/049 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19 using infrared-radiation detection systems G08B13/194 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 by updating and storing reference thresholds

Abstract

A sensor device, comprising a pyroelectric sensor which is set to operate in daylight, especially an infrared-based motion sensor, and an electronic evaluator. The electronic evaluator is connected downstream of the sensor and is configured to produce a control signal in response to a detector signal from the sensor in relation to a threshold value. The electronic evaluator also has a sensing device for measuring a daylight ambient brightness and a compensating device which is configured to respond to a considerable change in the daylight ambient brightness by modifying the threshold value and/or the detector signal to compensate.

Claims

1. Movement sensor device with a pyroelectric sensor adjusted to operate in daylight, and an electronic evaluation device connected downstream of the sensor and designed to generate a control signal (S) as a reaction to a detector signal of the sensor relative to a threshold value, wherein the electronic evaluation device comprises means for measuring a daylight-ambient luminosity, and compensating means designed in such a way that they carry out a compensating threshold value change in the threshold value and/or a compensating change in the detector signal as a reaction to a predetermined change in the daylight-ambient luminosity, the electronic evaluation device being designed in such a way that the compensating means only act if a change in the daylight-ambient luminosity is more than 1,000 lux in a band-pass filter-like response range of the sensor.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the compensating means are designed to move a threshold value level or to increase a distance between two threshold values.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the compensating means are designed to track at least one threshold value in the direction of a sensor influence by changing the ambient luminosity.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the means for measuring comprise a pyroelectric detector which, in terms of its electrical properties, imitates the pyroelectric sensor.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the means for measuring are produced by a luminosity detection element of an image detection and transmission apparatus connected to the electronic evaluation device, in particular by a CCD- or CMOS-element or a comparable integrated image receiving element.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein a sensor light with a light means is activated as a reaction to an output signal of the pyroelectric sensor associated with a light housing, an electronic image detection device designed to cooperate with a wireless image transmission module for an externally receivable image signal generated in an image detection mode being provided with the light housing.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the electronic image detection device comprises a CCD camera sensor acting as the means for measuring the daylight-ambient luminosity.

8. Method for operating a sensor device comprising a pyroelectric sensor in daylight, comprising the steps:

detecting a change in the daylight-ambient luminosity;

detecting a sensor detector signal;

changing a switching threshold for a control signal of the sensor device and/or

changing the sensor detector signal as a reaction to a detected change in the daylight-ambient luminosity of more than 1,000 lux in a band-pass filter-like response range of the sensor, and

generating the control signal as a function of the sensor detector signal and the switching threshold.

9. Movement sensor device with a pyroelectric sensor adjusted to operate in daylight, and an electronic evaluation device connected downstream of the sensor and designed to generate a control signal (S) as a reaction to a detector signal of the sensor relative to a threshold value wherein, optical filter means are placed on a detection region of the sensor, the means being designed in such a way that there is a reduction in the direction region to <

10% of the unfiltered radiation, and the filter means are designed in such a way that a damping of the incident radiation in the infrared range over an angular range of at least 65°

is independent of an angle of incidence on the sensor, and a loss in range owing to absorption of the infrared fraction is approximately 20 to 30%.

10. Device according to claim 9, wherein the filter means are produced as slip-on, removable filter caps.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the filter caps have variable wall thickness for implementing a uniform damping effect over the detection range.

12. Device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the filter means are produced from polyethylene or a visually similar plastics material.