Safety photoelectric switch

• US 8,330,095 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Original Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Inventors: Kawabata, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): PYO, KEVIN K
• Application Number:
  US12/644,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/222.1, 250/222.2, 250/206.1, 250/559.29, 250/559.38, 356/3.01, 356/4.01, 356/4.07, 356/5.01, 356/5.05, 340/506, 340/512, 340/555, 340/556, 340/557
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/12 with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine F16P3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/141 using sound propagation, e.g. sonar
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/144 using light grids
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4812 transmitted and received beams following a coaxial path
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4817 relating to scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/14 using reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/18 using mechanical scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/941 using an optical detector H03K17/968 takes precedence

Abstract

There is provided an optical scanning type photoelectric switch capable of preventing interference with another photoelectric switch by use of its own capability, wherein, as for light projection pulse periods of the first and second optical scanning type photoelectric switches, the period is set to 30 μs in the first optical scanning type photoelectric switch while the period is set to 33 μs in the second optical scanning type photoelectric switch 1B, the light projection pulses have the same pulse width, and by setting the light projection periods different between the first and second optical scanning type photoelectric switches, even if mutual interference occurs between any optical axes, a phase difference of 36 degrees in rotation period is generated therebetween in a next scan, thereby preventing occurrence of the interference in succession in a plurality of times of scanning.

Claims

1. An optical scanning type photoelectric switch, which performs two-dimensional scanning with light projection pulse to detect an object, and also measures a distance to the object to sense a two-dimensional position of the object, the switch having;

a storage device for accepting and storing a change in a light projection period of the light projection pulse, a scanning period for scanning with the light projection pulse or a phase of the light projection pulse with respect to the light projection period;

a light projection/reception controlling device for controlling light projection/reception based upon the light projection period or the scanning period stored in the storage device; and

a safety signal output controlling device for switching a safety signal from a permission signal to a non-permission signal when light reflected by the object is received and it is determined that a position of the object is inside a protection area based on at least two scannings in succession.

2. The optical scanning type photoelectric switch according to claim 1, wherein the light projection pulse has a predetermined pulse width, and the light projection period or the scanning period is changed without changing the pulse width of the light projection pulse.

3. The optical scanning type photoelectric switch according to claim 1, further having

a scanning mirror rotation speed controlling device for controlling a rotation speed of a scanning mirror for performing two-dimensional scanning with the light projection pulse,

wherein the light projection period is changed by changing the rotation speed of the scanning mirror.

4. The optical scanning type photoelectric switch according to claim 1, further having

an interference sensing device for sensing interference with another optical scanning type photoelectric switch,

wherein the light projection period or the scanning period is changed when the interference is sensed by the interference sensing device.

5. The optical scanning type photoelectric switch according to claim 4, wherein the interference sensing device senses the interference with another optical scanning type photoelectric switch by determining occurrence of the interference when a time difference between a light projection timing and a light reception timing of the light projection pulse is out of a predetermined range and is smaller than a minimum value of a time difference which defines the predetermined range.

6. The optical scanning type photoelectric switch according to claim 1, wherein

light projection periods of a plurality of light projection pulses, scanning periods for scanning with the light projection pulses or phases of the light projection pulses with respect to the light projection periods are stored into the storage device, and

upon acceptance of an input for changing a setting from the outside, the light projection period of the light projection pulse, the scanning period for scanning with the light projection pulse or the phase of the light projection pulse with respect to the light projection period is changed.