FI3629067T3

FI3629067T3 - Light grid with tof sensor

Info

Publication number: FI3629067T3
Application number: FIEP18197026.0T
Authority: FI
Inventors: Steven Freedman; James O'laughlin; Philipp Triet; Jan Giger
Original assignee: Cedes Ag
Priority date: 2018-09-26
Filing date: 2018-09-26
Publication date: 2023-05-23
Also published as: EP3629067B1; EP3629067A1

Claims

1 EP3 629 067 LIGHT GRID WITH TOF SENSOR Description The invention relates to a sensor device for safeguarding and/or controlling a passage, in particular an elevator door, an automatic door or a gate.

Sensor devices are known from the state of the art, for example US 20171052278 A1, which integrate a further sensor with which the space in front of the monitoring level of the light grid is monitored.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved sensor device of the type mentioned.

This object is solved, starting from a sensor device of the type mentioned above, by a sensor device according to claim 1 and a passage according to claim 14. Advantageous designs are specified in the further dependent claims.

The sensor device according to the invention is designed for safeguarding and/or controlling a passage, in particular an elevator door, an automatic door or an automatic gate with a passage opening, and comprises a light grid, a sensor and a carrier.

The light grid for detecting an object in its monitoring plane comprises a transmitter bar with at least two transmitter elements for emitting beams in a common plane, in such a manner that this plane forms the monitoring plane, and a receiver bar with at least two receiver elements for receiving beams from the transmitter bar.

The sensor for detecting an object in a monitoring space outside the monitoring plane is a distance sensor designed to detect the distance to the object.

The transmitter bar or the receiver bar as a selected bar and the distance sensor are attached to the carrier together.

The sensor device is designed to emit a signal when an object reaches or passes below a certain distance from the distance sensor or a certain line or face in front of the distance sensor within the monitoring space.

Outside the monitoring plane means here at least partially outside or completely outside.

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The monitoring space is an area that may be expressed as an area or substantially as a plane or as a ray.

Steel can also be formed as a steel cone.

The advantage of this is that the detection is more reliable.

In particular, the sensor device can form the advantage that the detection is more reliable in relation to the position of the object before the passage.

In particular, false detections caused by distant objects can be avoided.

In particular, false detections caused by different reflectivity of the objects can be avoided.

Preferably, the distance sensor is located at one end of the selected light bar or carrier to be at the bottom when the light bar is mounted perpendicular atthe passage.

The advantage of this is that the object is reliably detected before it passes, regardless of how high it is.

Preferably, the carrier and/or the selected bar with the distance sensor is provided for mounting on a sliding door, in particular in the area of the front edge of the sliding door, in particular an elevator door.

The advantage of this is that the distance sensor optimally monitors the dangerous area around the front edge of the door, thus increasing safety.

Preferably, the monitoring space of the distance sensor is designed as a second monitoring plane which runs in particular perpendicular to the monitoring plane of the light grid in order to run in particular parallel to the ground when the light grid is installed vertically.

The advantage of this is that the space in front of the passage is monitored with maximum coverage and minimum detection effort.

Preferably, the monitoring space of the distance sensor is designed as a beam along a steel axis which is inclined away from the monitoring plane of the light curtain.

The advantage of this is that an object in the area of the center before the passage can still be reliably detected with a minimum of effort.

Preferably, the distance sensor comprises a transmitter configured to emit the beam along a steel axis.

The advantage of this is that the distance sensor is not dependent on external lighting.

Preferably, the beam of the distance sensor has an opening angle of less than 40°, in particular less than 20°, in particular less than 12°, in particular

3 EP3 629 067 less than 8°, in particular less than 4° about the steel axis.

The advantage of this is that the required energy can be minimized to ensure the necessary energy density for detection.

Preferably, the beam axis of the distance sensor is disposed rotated at an acute angle relative to the monitoring plane about the longitudinal axis of the selected bar, the angle being in particular less than 90°, in particular between 20° and 70°, in particular between 40° and 60°, in particular about 50°, in order to point, in particular in the mounted state at the passage opening, into the region before or after the passage opening.

The advantage of this is that the space in front of the passage is optimally monitored with a minimum detection range.

Preferably, the beam axis of the distance sensor is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the vertical plane to the longitudinal axis of the selected bar, which is in particular less than 90°, in particular less than 45°, in particular less than 10°, in particular less than 5°, or in particular corresponds to half the opening angle of the beam, in order to point upwards, in particular when the sensor device is mounted perpendicularly.

The advantage of this is that reflections of the conical beam on the ground are minimized or avoided.

This can increase the detection quality.

Preferably, the transmitter bar and the receiver bar of the light curtain are designed and/or provided for parallel disposition and/or for perpendicular mounting on the opposite sides of the passage.

Preferably, the transmitter bar is designed to emit parallel beams perpendicular to the transmitter bar.

Preferably, the distance sensor is a 3D sensor.

Preferably, the distance sensor is an optical TOF (Time of Flight) sensor.

In particular, the distance sensor comprises a transmitter for emitting modulated IR radiation into the monitoring space and a receiver for receiving radiation reflected from the transmitter at the object.

In particular, the distance sensor determines the distance to an object by determining the time of flight or phase shift of the transmitter's radiation reflected from the object.

The advantage of this is that it is inexpensive and does not harm health.

4 EP3 629 067 Preferably, the carrier has a mounting unit for fastening the distance sensor to the carrier. Preferably, the mounting unit features a separator element for optically separating the transmitter and receiver of the distance sensor. The advantage of this is that the distance sensor can be easily mounted and that stray light from the transmitter into the receiver is avoided, thus increasing the detection quality. Preferably, the carrier has at least one cover unit for covering the light bars on the carrier and/or for covering the mounting element in the area of the transmitter and/or for covering the mounting element in the area of the receiver. Preferably, the cover unit is transparent to the radiation used by the distance sensor. The advantage of this is that the light grid and/or the distance sensor is protected against contamination. Preferably, the carrier has at least one fastening element on the carrier, mounting unit and cover units for lockable and/or form-fitting and/or displaceable securing of the mounting element and cover elements to the carrier. The advantage of this is that the units can be easily assembled. The passage according to the invention is a passage with a sensor device according to the invention as mentioned above. Preferably, the passage is a sliding door or a rolling or sectional door or an elevator door. The above-mentioned advantages can be formed. Further features of the invention are indicated in the drawings. The advantages mentioned in each case can also be realized for combinations of features in whose context they are not mentioned. Overview of the drawings: Examples of embodiment of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. Identical reference signs in the individual figures indicate corresponding elements. In the figures:

Fig. 1 shows an elevator car with elevator door in 3D view

EP3 629 067

Fig. 2 shows a detail from Fig. 1 on the lower right elevator door

Fig. 3 shows Fig. 2 as section

Fig. 4 shows Fig. 1 as a section

Fig. 5 shows Fig. 1 as section with 2nd monitoring face of the distance 5 sensor

Fig. 6 shows Fig. 2 as exploded view Detailed description of the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows an elevator car with elevator door in 3D view. The elevator car 10 is behind the building wall 14 with the passage 11. The passage can be closed by outer building doors 13 and inner car doors 12. The doors are sliding doors. A transmitter bar and receiver bar of a light grid 30 are mounted on the inner car doors and generate beams 34 that form a monitoring plane 36 between the opposing doors. A distance sensor 40 is mounted at the lower end of the transmitter bar, which generates a beam 52 for monitoring the vestibule in front of the passage 11. The beam 52 is directed into the space in front of the passage. The light grid 30 and the distance sensor 40 form the sensor device 20.

Fig. 2 shows a detail from Fig. 1 on the lower right elevator door. The transmitter bar 31 of the light grid is mounted on the carrier 21 and attached to it on the right inner elevator door 12 at the side and flush with the front edge. The transmitter bar 31 is partially covered by the right outer building door 13. The transmitter bar 31 has transmitter elements 33 that emit parallel beams 35. In the lower area of the transmitter bar 31, the distance sensor 40 is also mounted on the carrier 21 and emits a beam 52 around the beam axis 53 which forms the monitoring space of the distance sensor.

Fig. 3 shows Fig. 2 as a horizontal section. The beams 35 of the transmitter bar of the light grid define the monitoring plane 36 of the light grid. The distance sensor 40 emits its beam 53 with the beam axis 53 at an acute angle with respect to the monitoring plane 36 of the light grid.

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Fig. 4 shows Fig. 1 as a section. The distance sensor 40 transmits a beam 52 for monitoring into the space in front of the passage. An object 60, such as a person in front of the passage, is detected by the beam and detected by the distance sensor. The object is thus detected before it reaches the monitoring plane 36 of the light bars 35 of the light grid. The distance sensor is set such that it only emits a signal if objects in the direction of its beam axis move below a certain distance from the distance sensor and thus from the front edge of the elevator door or the monitoring plane of the light grid or the door plane.

Fig. 5 shows Fig. 1 as a section with the 2nd monitoring face of the distance sensor. Here, the distance sensor does not generate a beam, but illuminates a face, the 2nd monitoring plane, parallel to the ground in order to monitor this 2nd monitoring plane for the intrusion of an object 60. The 2nd monitoring plane has the shape of a square or trapezoid. The 2nd monitoring plane can be formed, for example, by a plurality of fan-like beams from the distance sensor. The 2nd monitoring plane is limited.

Fig. 6 shows Fig. 2 as an exploded view. The transmitter bar 31 is mounted on the carrier 21 with its transmitter elements 32, which emit the IR light beams 35 of the light grid. The transmitter bar 31 is surrounded by a cover unit 25 which is also attached to the carrier 21. The cover unit is made of IR-transparent material in such a manner that the IR light rays 35 can penetrate it. At the lower end of the carrier 21 below the transmitter bar 31, the carrier 21 includes fastening elements 25 to clickably receive the mounting unit 22 with opposing fastening elements 25. The mounting unit 22 is designed to receive the distance sensor 40 in a form-fitting manner and has a separator element 23 which optically separates the transmitter 41 and receiver 42 of the inserted distance sensor. A cover unit 24 is attached to the carrier 21 above the mounting unit 22, separated by the separator element 23, in each case over the area of the transmitter and the receiver with opposite fastening elements 25, in such a manner that no stray radiation from the transmitter can reach the receiver even inside the cover. Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 show the identical example of embodiment. Figure 5 is also identical except for the monitoring space, which here is formed by a face instead of a beam.

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List of reference signs: elevator car 11 passage 12 inner cabin door 13 outer building door 14 building wall sensor device 21 carrier 22 mounting unit 23 separator element 24 cover unit fastening element light grid 31 Transmitter bar 32 transmitter element 33 receiver bar 34 receiver element light beam 36 monitoring plane distance sensor 41 transmitter 42 receiver monitoring space 51 2nd monitoring plane 52 beam 53 beam axis 60 object