Sensor device

• US 7,684,018 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2008
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cedes AG (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Cedes AG (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: De Coi, Beat, Albers, Bas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ratcliffe; Luke D
• Application Number:
  US12/036,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20080225263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 356/5.01
• US Class Current: 356/5.01
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/322 by using absolute position sensors sensors for electronic control of hinges, wings, windows as such E05Y2400/44
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/452 for saving energy
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4008 of transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

A sensor device including a source for electromagnetic radiation, a receiver and a control device, the control device being designed for emitting electromagnetic radiation by means of the source and for determining a distance that is covered by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source from a reflection surface of an object to the receiver, doing so by evaluating a propagation time of the radiation or a phase of an oscillation modulated onto the radiation. According to the invention, the control device provides an economy mode in which the power of the source is lower in a prescribed time interval by comparison with a normal object detection mode, means being provided to ensure switching back into the normal object detection mode in the event of a predefined object situation.

Claims

1. A door sensor that senses the proximate position of a movable door and determines the position of any objects relative to the movable door, said door sensor comprising a source for electromagnetic radiation, a receiver for the electromagnetic radiation, and a control device, the control device being designed for emitting electromagnetic radiation by means of the source and for determining a distance that is covered by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source from a reflection surface of an object to the receiver, doing so by evaluating a propagation time of the electromagnetic radiation or a phase of an oscillation modulated onto the electromagnetic radiation, the control device providing an economy mode in which the power of the source is lower in a prescribed time interval by comparison with a normal object detection mode, means being provided to ensure switching back into the normal object detection mode in the event of a predefined object situation, wherein the control device prescribes the economy mode when the door is closed.

2. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor device is designed so as to detect objects or ambient changes even in the economy mode.

3. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device is fashioned to be able to process an external signal of a higher-order controller in the economy mode in order to enable the function of an object detection even in the economy mode.

4. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device is designed to switch itself into the economy mode.

5. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device includes a signal input that can prescribe a switchover into the economy mode.

6. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a measurement frequency of the source is reduced in the economy mode.

7. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source operates at a lower power in the economy mode.

8. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source is switched off in the economy mode.

9. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the economy mode, an ontime of the source per measurement is lowered.

10. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device takes account of temperature induced intensity changes of the source by adapting the radiation time of the source for a measurement.

11. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device takes account of temperature induced intensity changes of the source by adapting the radiation time and/or an integration time of the receiver during a measurement.

12. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein temperature regulation means are provided in order to regulate the temperature of at least individual components of the sensor device.

13. A door sensor device for sensing the position of an object relative to a movable door, wherein the operation mode is determined by the movement and position of said door comprising a source for electromagnetic radiation, a receiver for the electromagnetic radiation, and a control device, the control device being designed for emitting electromagnetic radiation by means of the source and for determining a distance that is covered by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source from a reflection surface of the object to the receiver, doing so by evaluating a propagation time of the electromagnetic radiation or a phase of an oscillation modulated onto the electromagnetic radiation, the control device providing an economy mode in which the power of the source is lower in a prescribed time interval by comparison with a normal object detection mode, means being provided to ensure switching back into the normal object detection mode so that the object is detected proximate to said door, wherein the control device prescribes the economy mode when said door is stationary and at least one of the following situations is present:

(1) said door is not about to move and is fully closed; and

(2) said door is not about to move and is fully open.

14. A door sensor that senses the proximate position of a movable door and determines the position of any objects relative to the movable door, said door sensor comprising a source for electromagnetic radiation, a receiver for the electromagnetic radiation, and a control device, the control device being designed for emitting electromagnetic radiation by means of the source and for determining a distance that is covered by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source from a reflection surface of an object to the receiver, doing so by evaluating a propagation time of the electromagnetic radiation or a phase of an oscillation modulated onto the electromagnetic radiation, the control device providing an economy mode in which the power of the source is lower in a prescribed time interval by comparison with a normal object detection mode, means being provided to ensure switching back into the normal object detection mode in the event of a predefined object situation, wherein the control device prescribes the economy mode when the door is closed, and, due to the close proximity of the door sensor to the movable door, prescribes the normal object detection mode to sense said objects when the movable door begins to move.