IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,958,056
Granted Patent B2
US 8,958,056 · App. 13/768,618 · Granted Feb 17, 2015

Triangulation light sensor

Inventors: Friedhelm Wiethege (Sexau, DE); Gerhard Merettig (Sexau, DE)
Assignee: Sick AG
G01C3/08G01S17/48G01B11/026G01S7/4816
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,958,056
App. No.
13/768,618
Granted
Feb 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A triangulation light sensor includes at least one light transmitter for transmitting a light signal into a detection zone, a light receiver having a plurality of receiver elements for receiving light from the detection zone reflected diffusely and/or specularly, and a reception optics arranged between the detection zone and the light receiver in the beam path, with the position of a light spot produced on the light receiver in a triangulation direction by the reflected light resulting in dependence on the distance of the object. The reception optics includes at least one multisegmented lens element having a plurality of lens segments with mutually spaced apart optical axes in the triangulation direction and at least one freeform lens element or one diffractive-optical element having a multisegmented lens element having a plurality of lens segments with optical axes spaced apart from one another in the triangulation direction.

Claims (28)

1. A triangulation light sensor ( 10 ) having

at least one light transmitter ( 12 ) for transmitting a light signal ( 24 ) into a detection zone ( 22 );

a light receiver ( 14 ) which has a plurality of receiver elements (m−2, m−1, m, m+1, m+2) for receiving light ( 26 , 28 , 30 ) from the detection zone ( 22 ) reflected diffusely and/or specularly; and

a reception optics ( 18 ) which is arranged in the beam path between the detection zone and the light receiver ( 14 ),

wherein the position of a light spot ( 40 ) produced on the light receiver ( 14 ) in a triangulation direction ( 46 ) by the reflected light ( 26 , 28 , 30 ) results in dependence on the distance of the object ( 20 ),

wherein the reception optics includes at least one multisegmented lens element ( 18 ) which comprises a plurality of lens segments ( 180 , 182 , 184 , 186 , 188 , 190 , 192 ) with optical axes ( 60 , 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 , 70 , 72 ) spaced apart from one another in the triangulation direction ( 46 ), the light spot ( 40 ) produced on the light receiver ( 14 ) is formed by superposition of a plurality of individual images, with each individual image being generated by means of the individual segments ( 180 , 182 , 184 , 186 , 188 , 190 , 192 ), and

wherein the multisegmented lens elements ( 18 ) corresponds to an arrangement which is generated by splitting an originally integral lens into segments which are displaced so that they have different optical axes ( 60 , 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 , 70 , 72 ).

2. A triangulation light sensor in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light segments additionally have different focal lengths.

3. A triangulation light sensor in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the lens segments ( 180 , 182 , 184 , 186 , 188 , 190 , 192 ) are arranged and configured such that the light spot produced on the light receiver ( 14 ) by the reception optics ( 18 ) is elongated in the triangulation direction ( 46 ), preferably such that it is incident on at least three receiver elements (m−1, m, m+1).

4. A triangulation light sensor ( 10 ) having

at least one light transmitter ( 12 ) for transmitting a light signal ( 24 ) into a detection zone ( 22 );

a light receiver ( 14 ) which has a plurality of receiver elements (m−2, m−1, m, m+1, m+2) for receiving light ( 26 , 28 , 30 ) from the detection zone ( 22 ) reflected diffusely and/or specularly; and

a reception optics which is arranged in the beam path between the detection zone and the light receiver ( 14 ),

wherein the position of a light spot ( 40 ) produced on the light receiver ( 14 ) in a triangulation direction ( 46 ) by the reflected light ( 26 , 28 , 30 ) results in dependence on the distance of the object ( 20 ),

wherein the reception optics includes at least one freeform lens element which has at least one freeform surface which is formed such that the freeform lens element corresponds to a multisegmented lens element ( 18 ) which comprises a plurality of lens segments ( 180 , 182 , 184 , 186 , 188 , 190 , 192 ) with optical axes ( 60 , 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 , 70 , 72 ) spaced apart from one another in the triangulation direction ( 46 ), the light spot ( 40 ) produced on the light receiver ( 14 ) is formed by superposition of a plurality of individual images, with each individual image being generated by means of the individual segments ( 80 , 182 , 184 , 186 , 188 , 190 , 192 ), and

wherein the multisegmented lens element ( 18 ) corresponds to an arrangement which is generated by splitting an originally integral lens into segments which are displaced so that they have different optical axes ( 60 , 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 , 70 , 72 ).

5. A triangulation light sensor in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the at least one freeform surface is formed such that the freeform lens element corresponds to a multisegmented lens element in which the lens segments additionally have different focal lengths.

6. A triangulation light sensor in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the at least one freeform surface is formed such that the freeform lens element corresponds to a reception optics ( 18 ) with a multisegmented lens element ( 18 ) with lens segments ( 180 , 182 , 184 , 186 , 188 , 190 , 192 ) which are arranged and configured such that the light spot ( 40 ) produced on the light receiver ( 14 ) by the reception optics ( 18 ) is elongated in the triangulation direction ( 46 ), preferably such that it is incident on at least three receiver elements (m−1, m, m+2).

7. A triangulation light sensor having

at least one light transmitter ( 12 ) for transmitting a light signal ( 24 ) into a detection zone ( 22 );

a light receiver ( 14 ) which has a plurality of receiver elements (m−2, m−1, m, m+1, m+2) for refusing light ( 26 , 28 , 30 ) from the detection zone ( 22 ) reflected diffusely and/or specularly; and

a reception optics which is arranged in the beam path between the detection zone and the light receiver ( 14 ),

wherein the position of a light spot ( 40 ) produced on the light receiver ( 14 ) in a triangulation direction ( 46 ) by the reflected light ( 26 , 28 , 30 ) results in dependence on the distance of the object ( 20 ),

wherein the reception optics includes at least one diffractive-optical lens element which is configured such that it corresponds to a multisegmented lens element ( 18 ) which comprises a plurality of lens segments ( 180 , 182 , 184 , 186 , 188 , 190 , 192 ) with optical axes ( 60 , 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 , 70 , 72 ) spaced apart from one another in the triangulation direction ( 46 ), the light spot ( 40 ) produced on the light receiver ( 14 ) is formed by superposition of a plurality of individual images, with each individual image being generated by means of the individual segments ( 180 , 182 , 184 , 186 , 188 , 190 , 192 ), and

wherein the multisegmented lens element ( 18 ) corresponds to an arrangement which is generated by splitting an originally integral lens into segments which are displaced so that they have different optical axes ( 60 , 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 , 70 , 72 ).

8. A triangulation light sensor in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the at least one diffractive-optical element is configured such that it corresponds to a multisegmented lens element in which the lens segments additionally have different focal lengths.

9. A triangulation light sensor in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the at least one diffractive-optical element is formed such that it corresponds to a reception optics with a multisegmented lens element ( 18 ) with lens segments ( 180 , 182 , 184 , 186 , 188 , 190 , 192 ) which are arranged and configured such that the light spot ( 40 ) produced on the light receiver ( 14 ) by the reception optics ( 40 ) is elongated in the triangulation direction ( 46 ).

10. A triangulation light sensor in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the light spot is incident on at least three receiver elements (m−1, m, m+2).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2013
From: WIETHEGE, FRIEDHELM; MERETTIG, GERHARD
To: SICK AG
Reel/Frame 030318/0816 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 12001008 · Feb 16, 2012 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130215409A1 · Aug 22, 2013