Perimetric detection system
First Claim
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1. A system for detecting objects within one or more defined volumes of space, the system comprising:
- a housing module including a perimeter around a defined area;
a plurality of light-emitting sources arrayed in combination with the housing module along, and in spaced-apart relation to, at least a segment of the perimeter, the plurality of light-emitting sources being operable to emit diverging light;
optical means integrated in combination with the housing module in spaced-apart relation with respect to the plurality of light-emitting sources, arrayed such that at least a portion of the diverging light emitted by the plurality of light-emitting sources falls incident upon the optical means and is shaped by the optical means to form a substantially continuous zone of substantially collimated light along the perimeter segment, wherein the substantially continuous zone of substantially collimated light along the perimeter segment defines a detection zone for the defined area, and wherein objects within the detection zone reflect the substantially collimated light; and
detection means integrated in combination with the housing module in spaced-apart relation with respect to the plurality of light-emitting sources and the optical means, arrayed such that at least a portion of the reflected substantially collimated light from objects within the detection zone falls incident upon the detection means, the detection means having a field of view that provides substantially continuous detection coverage for the perimeter segment to detect the reflected substantially collimated light falling upon the detection means, and operable to generate a signal in response to detection of the reflected substantially collimated light.
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Abstract
Systems and elements are disclosed for creating a continuous, collimated detection zone for an automatically-actuated device or container, such as an automatic waste container, wherein the detection zone can be made to match the periphery of a defined area, such as the opening periphery of the container, is height adjustable and immune from ambient light fluctuations.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for detecting objects within one or more defined volumes of space, the system comprising:
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a housing module including a perimeter around a defined area; a plurality of light-emitting sources arrayed in combination with the housing module along, and in spaced-apart relation to, at least a segment of the perimeter, the plurality of light-emitting sources being operable to emit diverging light; optical means integrated in combination with the housing module in spaced-apart relation with respect to the plurality of light-emitting sources, arrayed such that at least a portion of the diverging light emitted by the plurality of light-emitting sources falls incident upon the optical means and is shaped by the optical means to form a substantially continuous zone of substantially collimated light along the perimeter segment, wherein the substantially continuous zone of substantially collimated light along the perimeter segment defines a detection zone for the defined area, and wherein objects within the detection zone reflect the substantially collimated light; and detection means integrated in combination with the housing module in spaced-apart relation with respect to the plurality of light-emitting sources and the optical means, arrayed such that at least a portion of the reflected substantially collimated light from objects within the detection zone falls incident upon the detection means, the detection means having a field of view that provides substantially continuous detection coverage for the perimeter segment to detect the reflected substantially collimated light falling upon the detection means, and operable to generate a signal in response to detection of the reflected substantially collimated light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for detecting objects within one or more defined volumes of space comprising:
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a housing module including a perimeter around a defined area; a plurality of light detectors arrayed in combination with the housing module along, and in spaced-apart relation to, at least a segment of the perimeter of the defined area, each of the plurality of light detectors having a diverging field of view and each of the plurality of light detectors being operative to provide a signal in response to light within the diverging field of view impinging on the light detector; optical means integrated in combination with the housing module in spaced-apart relation with respect to the plurality of light detectors such that at least a portion of the diverging fields of view of the light detectors falls incident upon the optical means and is shaped by the optical means to form a substantially continuous zone of substantially collimated field of view of the light detectors along the perimeter segment of the defined area; light-emitting means integrated in combination with the housing module in spaced-apart relation with respect to the plurality of light detectors and the optical means, the light-emitting means being operative to emit diverging light, the diverging light providing substantially continuous coverage for the perimeter segment to illuminate objects within the substantially continuous zone of substantially collimated field of view of the light detectors along the perimeter segment; and wherein the substantially continuous zone of substantially collimated field of view of the light detectors along the perimeter segment defines a detection zone for the defined area wherein objects within the detection zone reflect the diverging light from the light-emitting sources and at least a portion of the reflected light from objects within the detection zone falls incident upon, and is directed by, the optical means to impinge on at least one of the light detectors, whereby the light detectors illuminated by the reflected light provide the signal in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for detecting objects within one or more defined volumes of space comprising:
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a housing module including a perimeter around a defined area; a plurality of light-emitting sources arrayed in combination with the housing module along, and in spaced-apart relation to, at least a segment of the perimeter of the defined area, each of the plurality of light-emitting sources being operative to emit diverging light; a plurality of light detectors arrayed in combination with the housing module along, and in spaced-apart relation to, the perimeter segment of the defined area, each of the plurality of light detectors having a diverging field of view and each of the plurality of light detectors being operative to provide a signal in response to light within the diverging field of view impinging on the light detector; optical means integrated in combination with the housing module in spaced-apart relation with respect to the plurality of light-emitting sources and the plurality of light detectors such that at least a portion of the diverging light emitted by the plurality of light-emitting sources falls incident upon the optical means and is shaped by the optical means to form a substantially continuous zone of substantially collimated light along the perimeter segment of the defined area and at least a portion of the diverging fields of view of the light detectors falls incident upon the optical means and is shaped by the optical means to form a substantially continuous zone of substantially collimated field of view of the light detectors along the perimeter segment of the defined area, wherein the substantially continuous zone of substantially collimated light along the perimeter segment and the substantially continuous zone of substantially collimated field of view of the light detectors along the perimeter segment are substantially coincident; and
whereinthe substantially coincident substantially continuous zones of substantially collimated light and substantially collimated field of view of the light detectors along the perimeter segment define a detection zone for the defined area wherein objects within the detection zone reflect the substantially collimated light; wherein at least a portion of the reflected substantially collimated light from objects within the detection zone falls incident upon, and is directed by, the optical means to impinge on at least one of the light detectors, whereby the light detectors illuminated by the reflected substantially collimated light provide the signal in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification