Sensor system and method, in particular for determining distances
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor system for determining a distance, comprising:
- a sensor unit that operates in different detection areas during a detection cycle and generates, as a function of at least one of the detection areas, at least one sensor signal, a value of the at least one sensor signal being affected by an object located in the at least one of the detection areas;
a controllable amplifier unit for amplifying the at least one sensor signal to produce an amplified sensor signal as a function of a value of a gain parameter; and
a gain predefining unit for predefining different values for the gain parameter during the detection cycle, wherein;
the gain predefining unit sets a constant gain parameter for the at least one of the detection areas as a function of the at least one of the detection areas to be examined,the gain predefining unit predefines different threshold values during the detection cycle, the different threshold values being different for a plurality of consecutive detection areas, andas a function of a result of a comparison of the amplified sensor signal to the different threshold values, whether the object located in the at least one of the detection areas is of a certain size is determined.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor system for determining distances is provided. A predefining unit controls an amplifier unit and/or a sensor unit as a function of selectable predefined values for a detection cycle. Contrary to known sensor systems, different detection cycles are implementable in a simple manner using this procedure.
-
Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A sensor system for determining a distance, comprising:
-
a sensor unit that operates in different detection areas during a detection cycle and generates, as a function of at least one of the detection areas, at least one sensor signal, a value of the at least one sensor signal being affected by an object located in the at least one of the detection areas; a controllable amplifier unit for amplifying the at least one sensor signal to produce an amplified sensor signal as a function of a value of a gain parameter; and a gain predefining unit for predefining different values for the gain parameter during the detection cycle, wherein; the gain predefining unit sets a constant gain parameter for the at least one of the detection areas as a function of the at least one of the detection areas to be examined, the gain predefining unit predefines different threshold values during the detection cycle, the different threshold values being different for a plurality of consecutive detection areas, and as a function of a result of a comparison of the amplified sensor signal to the different threshold values, whether the object located in the at least one of the detection areas is of a certain size is determined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method of determining a distance, comprising:
-
causing a sensor unit to operate in different detection areas during a detection cycle; causing the sensor unit to generate at least one sensor signal, a value of the at least one sensor signal being affected by an object located in at least one of the detection areas; amplifying the at least one sensor signal as a function of a gain parameter to produce an amplified sensor signal; predefining different values of the gain parameter during the detection cycle; setting a constant gain factor for the at least one of the detection areas as a function of the at least one of the detection areas to be examined, a threshold value being used for the at least one of the detection areas; performing a comparison of the amplified sensor signal with the threshold value; and as a function of the comparison, determining whether the object located in the at least one of the detection areas is of a certain size.
-
Specification