IP Library Granted Patent US 9,316,724
Granted Patent B2
US 9,316,724 · App. 14/109,298 · Granted Apr 19, 2016

Optoelectronic sensor for the detection of objects

Inventors: Roland Gehring (Waldkirch, DE); Ralf Ulrich Nubling (Waldkirch, DE); Sebastian Pastor (Waldkirch, DE)
Assignee: Sick AG
G01S7/4812G01S7/4817G01S17/42G02B26/105
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,316,724
App. No.
14/109,298
Granted
Apr 19, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optoelectronic sensor ( 10 ), in particular a laser scanner, for the detection of objects in a monitored zone ( 20 ) having a more than one scanning plane is provided which comprises a light transmitter ( 12 ) for the transmission of a light beam ( 16 ), a drive ( 28 ) for generating a rotational movement, a deflection unit ( 18, 62 ) rotatable about an axis of rotation ( 30 ) by the drive ( 28 ) for the periodic deflection of the light beam ( 16 ), a light receiver ( 26 ) for generating a received signal from the light beam ( 22 ) remitted or reflected from the monitored zone ( 20 ), and comprising an evaluation unit ( 46 ) which is configured for the detection of the objects on the basis of the received signal, wherein the deflection unit ( 18, 62 ) can be tilted in order to vary the scanning plane. In this connection the drive ( 28 ) tilts the deflection unit ( 18, 62 ) at the same time as the rotational movement.

Claims (29)

1. An optoelectronic sensor ( 10 ) for the detection of objects in a monitored zone ( 20 ) having more than one scanning plane, which comprises a light transmitter ( 12 ) for the transmission of a light beam ( 16 ), a drive ( 28 ) for the generation of a rotational movement, a deflection unit ( 18 , 62 ) rotatable about an axis of rotation ( 30 ) by means of the drive ( 28 ) for the periodic deflection of the light beam ( 16 ), a light receiver ( 26 ) for the generation of a received signal from the light beam ( 22 ) remitted or reflected from the monitored zone ( 20 ), and an evaluation unit ( 46 ) which is configured for the detection of the objects on the basis of the received signal, wherein the deflection unit ( 18 , 62 ) can be tilted in order to vary the scanning plane,

wherein the drive ( 28 ) tilts the deflection unit ( 18 , 62 ) at the same time as the rotational movement,

the optoelectronic sensor further comprising a compulsory guidance ( 40 , 42 , 50 , 52 ) which determines a respective tilt angle in dependence on the rotational movement,

wherein the compulsory guidance ( 40 , 42 , 50 , 52 , 54 ) has an engagement between a guide element ( 40 , 50 ) connected to the deflection unit ( 18 , 62 ) and a sectional track ( 40 , 50 , 54 , 56 ) not following the rotational movement of the deflection unit ( 18 ) or has an engagement between a sectional track ( 40 , 50 , 54 , 56 ) arranged at the deflection unit ( 18 , 62 ) and a guide element ( 40 , 50 ) not following the rotational movement.

2. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a laser scanner.

3. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the deflection unit ( 18 ) is supported at a joint position ( 34 ) opposite to the engagement.

4. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the deflection unit is a mirrored wheel ( 62 ) having a plurality of facets ( 64 a - c ) whose axis ( 66 ) is arranged transverse to the axis of rotation ( 30 ).

5. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the mirrored wheel ( 62 ) has a plurality of facets ( 64 a - c ) whose axis ( 66 ) is arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation ( 30 ).

6. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the facets ( 64 a - c ) have different lengths and/or are tilted differently with respect to the axis ( 66 ).

7. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the deflection unit ( 62 ) has a plurality of guide elements ( 40 ) which are alternatively in engagement with a sectional track ( 42 , 52 , 54 , 56 ).

8. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the sectional track has a groove ( 42 ) and the guide element has a spigot ( 40 ) running in the groove ( 42 ).

9. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the guide element has two guide rollers gripping around the web ( 52 ).

10. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the sectional track has a web ( 52 ) and the guide element has at least one guide roller.

11. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the sectional track varies the distance with respect to the axis of rotation ( 30 ) in a relief section ( 54 ).

12. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the sectional track ( 56 ) has an ascending straight and a return ( 58 ).

13. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the sectional track ( 56 ) has a plurality of horizontal part sections connected by short ascents ( 60 ).

14. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the sectional track ( 56 ) comprises at least one periodic oscillation.

15. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the at least one periodic oscillation comprises at least one sinusoidal curve.

16. The sensor ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the sectional track ( 56 a , 56 b ) comprises a setting element in order to displace, to expand or to compress the sectional track ( 56 a , 56 b ).

17. A method for the detection of objects in a monitored zone ( 20 ) having more than one scanning plane, comprising

transmitting and periodically deflecting a light beam ( 16 ) by means of a deflection unit ( 18 , 62 ),

displacing into a rotational movement by means of a drive ( 28 ) and

receiving again following a remission or reflection at the object in order in this connection to obtain information on the scanned object on the basis of a generated received signal,

wherein the deflection unit ( 18 , 62 ) is tilted in order to vary the scanning plane,

wherein the deflection unit ( 18 , 62 ) is transferred into a rotational movement and tilted at the same time by the same drive ( 28 ), and

further comprising determining a respective tilt angle in dependence on the rotational movement by a compulsory guidance ( 40 , 42 , 50 , 52 ), wherein the compulsory guidance ( 40 , 42 , 50 , 52 , 54 ) has an engagement between a guide element ( 40 , 50 ) connected to the deflection unit ( 18 , 62 ) and a sectional track ( 40 , 50 , 54 , 56 ) not following the rotational movement of the deflection unit ( 18 ) or has an engagement between a sectional track ( 40 , 50 , 54 , 56 ) arranged at the deflection unit ( 18 , 62 ) and a guide element ( 40 , 50 ) not following the rotational movement.

18. An optoelectronic sensor ( 10 ) for the detection of objects in a monitored zone ( 20 ) having more than one scanning plane, which comprises a light transmitter ( 12 ) for the transmission of a light beam ( 16 ), a drive ( 28 ) for the generation of a rotational movement, a deflection unit ( 18 , 62 ) rotatable about an axis of rotation ( 30 ) by means of the drive ( 28 ) for the periodic deflection of the light beam ( 16 ), a light receiver ( 26 ) for the generation of a received signal from the light beam ( 22 ) remitted or reflected from the monitored zone ( 20 ), and an evaluation unit ( 46 ) which is configured for the detection of the objects on the basis of the received signal, wherein the deflection unit ( 18 , 62 ) can be tilted in order to vary the scanning plane,

wherein the drive ( 28 ) tilts the deflection unit ( 18 , 62 ) at the same time as the rotational movement,

wherein the deflection unit is a mirrored wheel ( 62 ) having a plurality of facets ( 64 a - c ) whose axis ( 66 ) is arranged transverse to the axis of rotation ( 30 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2014
From: GEHRING, ROLAND; NUBLING, RALF ULRICH; PASTOR, SEBASTIAN
To: SICK AG
Reel/Frame 032036/0422 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 12197854 · Dec 18, 2012 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140166866A1 · Jun 19, 2014