Programmable photoelectric sensor and a system for adjusting the performance characteristics of the sensor
First Claim
1. A system for programming a photoelectric sensor and for monitoring the performance of said photoelectric sensor, said system comprising:
- an external processor coupled to said photoelectric sensor via a data port provided on said photoelectric sensor, said external processor operative for generating at least one graphical user interface and for programming the operation of said photoelectric sensor; and
an external display device coupled to said external processor for displaying said at least one graphical user interface;
said external processor controlling an internal processor contained in said photoelectric sensor in accordance with a selection of an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface, wherein said at least one graphical user interface depicts a plurality of modes of operation for said photoelectric sensor, said external processor programming said photoelectric sensor to operate in a given one of said plurality of modes of operation upon selection of said given mode of operation via said at least one graphical user interface, and wherein said plurality of modes of operation of said photoelectric sensor include a beam break mode of operation, a beam make mode of operation and a mark sensing mode of operation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A programmable photoelectric sensor and a system for programming/controlling the photoelectric sensor and for monitoring the performance of the photoelectric sensor. The system includes a processor coupled to the photoelectric sensor, which is operative for generating at least one graphical user interface and for programming/adjusting the operation of the photoelectric sensor; and a display device coupled to the processor for displaying the graphical user interface. The processor programs/adjusts the operation of the photoelectric sensor in accordance with selections of an operator utilizing icons displayed on the graphical user interface.
66 Citations
73 Claims
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1. A system for programming a photoelectric sensor and for monitoring the performance of said photoelectric sensor, said system comprising:
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an external processor coupled to said photoelectric sensor via a data port provided on said photoelectric sensor, said external processor operative for generating at least one graphical user interface and for programming the operation of said photoelectric sensor; and
an external display device coupled to said external processor for displaying said at least one graphical user interface;
said external processor controlling an internal processor contained in said photoelectric sensor in accordance with a selection of an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface, wherein said at least one graphical user interface depicts a plurality of modes of operation for said photoelectric sensor, said external processor programming said photoelectric sensor to operate in a given one of said plurality of modes of operation upon selection of said given mode of operation via said at least one graphical user interface, and wherein said plurality of modes of operation of said photoelectric sensor include a beam break mode of operation, a beam make mode of operation and a mark sensing mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for programming a photoelectric sensor and for monitoring the performance of said photoelectric sensor, said system comprising:
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an external processor coupled to said photoelectric sensor via a data port provided on said photoelectric sensor, said external processor operative for generating at least one graphical user interface and for programming the operation of said photoelectric sensor; and
an external display device coupled to said external processor for displaying said at least one graphical user interface;
said external processor controlling an internal processor contained in said photoelectric sensor in accordance with a selection of an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface, wherein said at least one graphical user interface comprises icons representing a plurality of variable performance attributes of said photoelectric sensor, said operator being able to vary each performance attribute by selecting the icon corresponding to the given performance attribute, said external processor programming said photoelectric sensor to operate in accordance with the selected performance attribute, and wherein said plurality of variable performance attributes contained in said at least one graphical user interface include an autoset mode attribute, a light state autoset point attribute, an output mode attribute, an automatic contrast tracking attribute, a hysteresis attribute, a response time attribute and a signal processing timer attribute. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A system for programming a photoelectric sensor and for monitoring the performance of said photoelectric sensor, said system comprising:
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an external processor coupled to said photoelectric sensor via a data port provided on said photoelectric sensor, said external processor operative for generating at least one graphical user interface and for programming the operation of said photoelectric sensor; and
an external display device coupled to said external processor for displaying said at least one graphical user interface;
said external processor controlling an internal processor contained in said photoelectric sensor in accordance with a selection of an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface. wherein said at least one graphical user interface provides a plot of the level of a signal received by said photoelectric sensor contrasted against the dynamic range of the photoelectric sensor versus time. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for programming a photoelectric sensor and for monitoring the performance of said photoelectric sensor, said system comprising:
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an external processor coupled to said photoelectric sensor via a data port provided on said photoelectric sensor, said external processor operative for generating at least one graphical user interface and for programming the operation of said photoelectric sensor; and
an external display device coupled to said external processor for displaying said at least one graphical user interface;
said external processor controlling an internal processor contained in said photoelectric sensor in accordance with a selection of an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface, wherein once said photoelectric sensor is programmed by said external processor in accordance with selections made by an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface, said photoelectric sensor remains operational when disconnected from said external processor and said external display device. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method for programming a photoelectric sensor and for monitoring the performance of said photoelectric sensor, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating at least one graphical user interface utilized for programming the operation of said photoelectric sensor, said at least one graphical user interface generated by an external processor, said external processor coupled to said photoelectric sensor via a data port provided on said photoelectric sensor; and
displaying said at least one graphical user interface on an external display device;
said external processor controlling said photoelectric sensor in accordance with a selection of an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface, wherein said at least one graphical user interface depicts a plurality of modes of operation for said photoelectric sensor, said external processor programming said photoelectric sensor to operate in a given one of said plurality of modes of operation upon selection of said given mode of operation via said at least one graphical user interface, and wherein said plurality of modes of operation of said photoelectric sensor include a beam break mode of operation, a beam make mode of operation and a mark sensing mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for programming a photoelectric sensor and for monitoring the performance of said photoelectric sensors, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating at least one graphical user interface utilized for programming the operation of said photoelectric sensor, said at least one graphical user interface generated by an external processor, said external processor coupled to said photoelectric sensor via a data port provided on said photoelectric sensor; and
displaying said at least one graphical user interface on an external display device;
said external processor controlling said photoelectric sensor in accordance with a selection of an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface, wherein said at least one graphical user interface provides a plot of the level of a signal received by said photoelectric sensor contrasted against the dynamic range of the photoelectric sensor versus time. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. A method for programming a photoelectric sensor and for monitoring the performance of said photoelectric sensor, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating at least one graphical user interface utilized for programming the operation of said photoelectric sensor, said at least one graphical user interface generated by an external processor, said external processor coupled to said photoelectric sensor via a data port provided on said photoelectric sensor; and
displaying said at least one graphical user interface on an external display device;
said external processor controlling said photoelectric sensor in accordance with a selection of an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface, wherein once said photoelectric sensor is programmed by said external processor in accordance with selections made by an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface, said photoelectric sensor remains operational when disconnected from said external processor and said external display device.
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47. A computer program product for controlling a computer comprising a recording medium readable by the computer, instructions recorded on the recording medium for programming a photoelectric sensor and for monitoring the performance of the photoelectric sensor by performing the steps of:
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generating at least one graphical user interface utilized for programming the operation of said photoelectric sensor, said at least one graphical user interface generated by an external processor, said external processor coupled to said photoelectric sensor via a data port provided on said photoelectric sensor; and
displaying said at least one graphical user interface on an external display device;
said external processor controlling said photoelectric sensor in accordance with a selection of an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface, wherein said at least one graphical user interface depicts a plurality of modes of operation for said photoelectric sensor, said external processor programming said photoelectric sensor to operate in a given one of said plurality of modes of operation upon selection of said given mode of operation via said at least one graphical user interface, and wherein said plurality of modes of operation of said photoelectric sensor include a beam break mode of operation, a beam make mode of operation and a mark sensing mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A computer program product for controlling a computer comprising a recording medium readable by the computer, instructions recorded on the recording medium for programming a photoelectric sensor and for monitoring the performance of the photoelectric sensor by performing the steps of:
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generating at least one graphical user interface utilized for programming the operation of said photoelectric sensor, said at least one graphical user interface generated by an external processor, said external processor coupled to said photoelectric sensor via a data port provided on said photoelectric sensor; and
displaying said at least one graphical user interface on an external display device;
said external processor controlling said photoelectric sensor in accordance with a selection of an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface, wherein said at least one graphical user interface provides a plot of the level of a signal received by said photoelectric sensor contrasted against the dynamic range of the photoelectric sensor versus time. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67)
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68. A computer program product for controlling a computer comprising a recording medium readable by the computer, instructions recorded on the recording medium for programming a photoelectric sensor and for monitoring the performance of the photoelectric sensor by performing the steps of:
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generating at least one graphical user interface utilized for programming the operation of said photoelectric sensor, said at least one graphical user interface generated by an external processor, said external processor coupled to said photoelectric sensor via a data port provided on said photoelectric sensor; and
displaying said at least one graphical user interface on an external display device;
said external processor controlling said photoelectric sensor in accordance with a selection of an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface, wherein once said photoelectric sensor is programmed by said computer in accordance with selections made by an operator utilizing said at least one graphical user interface, said photoelectric sensor remains operational when disconnected from said external processor and said external display device. - View Dependent Claims (69)
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70. A programmable photoelectric sensor, said programmable photoelectric sensor comprising:
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a data input port for receiving serial configuration data from an external processor;
an internal processor coupled to said data input port for receiving said serial configuration data regarding a predetermined mode of operation, said internal processor controlling said programmable photoelectric sensor such that said programmable photoelectric sensor operates in said predetermined mode of operation; and
a memory device coupled to said internal processor, said internal processor operative for storing a plurality of operational settings in said memory device upon receiving an instruction to store settings from said external processor, said plurality of operational settings defining the operation of said programmable photoelectric sensor in said predetermined mode of operation, wherein said programmable photoelectric sensor remains operational when disconnected from said external processor. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73)
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Specification