JP6381909B2 - Displacement sensor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a displacement sensor having a reflector that guides reflected light to a light receiving element.

A displacement sensor that detects an object to be detected by a triangulation method is known.
The displacement sensor includes a light projecting element that irradiates light to the detected object, a light receiving lens that collects the light reflected by the detected object, and a light receiving element that receives the collected light. Further, the light projecting axis on the light projecting side and the light receiving axis on the light receiving side intersect at a predetermined angle.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a displacement sensor.
The displacement sensor 300 includes a light projecting element 310, a light projecting lens 320, a light receiving lens 330, a light receiving element 340, and a case 350 that accommodates these. In FIG. 12, the light receiving lens 330 and the light receiving element 340 are indicated by a two-dot chain line.

As shown in FIG. 12, it can be seen that the longer the optical path in the case 350, the larger the case 350 becomes.
For example, when the light receiving lens 330 having a long focal length is used, the distance between the light receiving element 340 and the light receiving lens 330 is increased. Since the light receiving lens 330 is disposed obliquely with respect to the detection surface 350a (the front surface of the case 350), the light receiving element 340 moves away from the detection surface 350a and away from the light projecting element 310 when the focal length increases. Are arranged as follows. For this reason, the longitudinal width WYa of the case 350 increases as the optical path in the case 350 is set longer.

  On the other hand, there is a demand for downsizing the displacement sensor 300 because of the improved usability of the displacement sensor 300. Based on such a request, a technique for reducing the size of the displacement sensor 300 by reflecting light with a reflecting plate has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram of the displacement sensor 200 using the reflection plate 260.
The displacement sensor 200 includes a light projecting element 210, a light projecting lens 220, a reflecting plate 260 that reflects light incident on the case 250, a light receiving lens 230 that collects the reflected light, a light receiving element 240, A case 250 for housing them. In order to compare the size of the case 350 of the conventional displacement sensor 300 and the case 250 of the displacement sensor 200 according to the proposal, the light projecting element 210 and the light projecting lens 220 are the same as the displacement sensor 300 described above. It is assumed that the light projecting element 310 and the light projecting lens 320 are in the same position.

  In the displacement sensor 200 according to the proposal, the light that is reflected by the detected object and enters the case 250 is reflected by the reflecting plate 260 toward the light projecting element 210. With this configuration, the vertical width WYb of the displacement sensor 200 is reduced.

JP 2010-48575 A

By the way, as shown in FIG. 13, the displacement sensors 200 and 300 are installed at a predetermined detection distance L in the light projecting axis direction with respect to the detected object 900.
On the other hand, various things such as electrical wiring, air conditioning ducts, manufacturing equipment, air conditioning equipment, etc. are installed in the rooms of factories and laboratories, and it is necessary to secure sufficient working space for workers in the room. Therefore, it may be difficult to secure a space for disposing the displacement sensors 200 and 300. For this reason, the depth width WZ of the displacement sensors 200, 300 is required to be reduced from the viewpoint of improving the usability of the displacement sensors 200, 300. However, the actual situation is that no proposal regarding such a request has been made in the displacement sensors 200 and 300.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a displacement sensor having a small depth width.

( 1 ) A displacement sensor that solves the problem includes a light projecting element that emits light toward a detection object, a light receiving lens that collects light reflected by the detection object, and a light that passes through the light reception lens. A light-receiving element that has a light-receiving surface that receives light reflected by the light-reflecting plate, outputs a signal corresponding to the position of light on the light-receiving surface, the light projecting element, the light-receiving lens, and the reflection A plate and a case having a detection surface that transmits light emitted from the light projecting element and transmits light reflected by the detection object, and the reflection plate includes the light receiving element. In a displacement sensor that reflects light along the light receiving axis of the lens toward the light projecting element side and the detection surface side, the displacement sensor further includes a holder that holds the light receiving lens, the reflecting plate, and the light receiving element. The base and said A ring portion provided at a portion and fixed to the case, wherein the ring portion includes a peripheral wall constituting one ring, a light receiving lens holding portion provided on the peripheral wall for holding the light receiving lens, and the peripheral wall It is preferable to have a reflecting plate holding portion that is provided on the peripheral wall and holds the reflecting plate, and a light receiving element holding portion that is provided on the peripheral wall and holds the light receiving element.

  It is also possible to individually provide the light receiving lens, the reflecting plate, and the light receiving element at the base of the holder. For example, a light receiving lens holding portion that holds the light receiving lens, a reflection plate holding portion that holds the reflection plate, and a light receiving element holding portion that holds the light receiving element are provided so as to protrude separately from the base portion. However, since these holding portions simply protrude from the base portion, they may be deformed or vibrated. If the holding portion is twisted or vibrated, the detection error of the detected object may increase, or the detection object may be erroneously detected.

  In this regard, according to the above configuration, the light receiving lens holding portion, the reflection plate holding portion, and the light receiving element holding portion are provided on the peripheral wall of the ring portion. The ring portion is less susceptible to vibration and deformation than the protrusions provided individually on the base. For this reason, it is possible to suppress an increase in the detection error of the detected object and occurrence of erroneous detection of the detected object.

( 2 ) In the displacement sensor configured as described above, the holder is provided with a plurality of through holes through which fastening members for fixing to the case are inserted, and at least one of the plurality of through holes is provided in the through hole. It is preferable that a hole is provided inside the ring portion.

  According to this configuration, the outer shape of the base portion can be reduced by the configuration in which the through hole is arranged inside the ring portion as compared with the configuration in which the through hole is arranged outside the ring portion. Thereby, size reduction of a displacement sensor can be achieved.

  The displacement sensor according to the above configuration has a small depth dimension.

The perspective view of a displacement sensor. Sectional drawing in alignment with the AA of FIG. The perspective view of a case main body. The perspective view of an internal structure. The perspective view of the internal structure from which the circuit board was removed. The perspective view of a holder. The perspective view of a front cover. FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the optical components for the displacement sensor according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the optical components for the displacement sensor of the comparative structure. FIG. 9A is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a light projecting lens and a light projecting element. FIG. 9A is a plan view of a model with a short detection distance, and FIG. 9B has an intermediate length of the detection distance. FIG. 9C is a plan view of a model with a long detection distance. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display change aspect of the display part by predetermined operation about the conventional displacement sensor, and each of Fig.10 (a)-FIG.10 (d) is a schematic diagram which shows the screen of the display part in predetermined elapsed time. It is a schematic diagram which shows the display change aspect of the display part by predetermined operation about the displacement sensor which concerns on this embodiment, and each of FIG. 11 (a)-FIG.11 (f) is a schematic which shows the screen of the display part in predetermined elapsed time. Figure. The schematic diagram which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship of an optical component about the conventional displacement sensor. The schematic diagram which shows the installation position of the displacement sensor with respect to a detected object.

<Displacement sensor>
With reference to FIGS. 1-8, an example of the displacement sensor 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 1, the displacement sensor 1 is configured such that the light projecting axis φa and the light receiving axis φb intersect at a predetermined angle θ. Further, the displacement sensor 1 has a detection distance L suitable for detecting the detected object. The detection distance L is a distance between the intersection of the light projection axis φa and the light reception axis φb and the detection surface 1x of the displacement sensor 1. The light projecting axis φa extends perpendicular to the detection surface 1x.

The detection surface 1x of the displacement sensor 1 is a surface that includes an intersection of the light projection axis φa and the front surface of the case 50 (the front surface of the front cover 40) and is perpendicular to the light projection axis φa.
The displacement sensor 1 is installed at a location separated from the detected object by a detection distance L. Further, the displacement sensor 1 detects the amount of displacement of the detected object from the reference position, with the position separated from the detection surface 1x by the detection distance L as the reference position.

  In the following description, the direction along the light projection axis φa in which light is emitted is referred to as “front”, and the opposite direction is referred to as “rear”. In addition, a direction along a line that is in a plane including the light projecting axis φa and the light receiving axis φb and is perpendicular to the light projecting axis φa is referred to as an up-down direction, and a direction from the light receiving element 6 toward the light projecting element 2 is “upward”. The opposite direction is called “downward”. The vertical direction and the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction are referred to as “left-right direction”, and the left-hand side is referred to as “left” and the right-hand side is referred to as “right” in front view (the front surface of the displacement sensor 1 is the front). . The width of the displacement sensor 1 in the vertical direction is referred to as “vertical width WY”, and the width of the displacement sensor 1 in the horizontal direction is referred to as “horizontal width WX”. The width of the displacement sensor 1 in the front-rear direction is referred to as “depth width WZ”.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the displacement sensor 1 includes a light projecting element 2, a light projecting lens 3, a light receiving lens 4, a reflecting plate 5, a light receiving element 6, a holder 10 that holds these optical components, and a circuit. A substrate 7 (see FIG. 4), a case 50 (see FIG. 1) for housing these optical components and the circuit board 7, a front cover 40 provided on the front surface of the case 50, and a display device 60 are provided.

The light projecting element 2 is constituted by a laser diode or the like. The light projecting lens 3 is disposed in front of the light projecting element 2.
The light receiving lens 4 condenses the light reflected by the detected object. The light receiving lens 4 is arranged such that the light receiving axis φb intersects the light projecting axis φa. Specifically, the light receiving lens 4 is disposed obliquely with respect to the detection surface 1x.

The reflecting plate 5 reflects the light that passes through the light receiving lens 4 and enters the case 50 toward the light receiving element 6. The reflecting plate 5 is disposed behind the light receiving lens 4.
The light receiving element 6 detects the position of light on the light receiving surface 6a. The light receiving element 6 includes, for example, a CMOS image sensor (CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor), a CCD image sensor (CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor), a PSD (Position Sensitive Detector), and the like.

The light receiving element 6 is long in one direction and has a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape.
The light receiving element 6 is disposed between the light projecting lens 3 and the light receiving lens 4 in the vertical direction of the displacement sensor 1. The longitudinal direction DL of the light receiving element 6 is inclined with respect to the detection surface 1 x in the front-rear direction (depth direction) of the displacement sensor 1. Further, the intermediate point CX of the light receiving element 6 is located on the detection surface 1x side with respect to the position of the light projecting element 2 (the position of the light emitting point). Furthermore, it is preferable that the intermediate point CX of the light receiving element 6 is located in front of the center point CM of the reflecting plate 5. The intermediate point CX of the light receiving element 6 is defined as a point that is equidistant from both ends in the longitudinal direction DL and equidistant from both ends in the short direction.

  The display device 60 includes a display unit 61 that displays displacement information indicating the amount of displacement of the detected object, setting information, setting information indicating the setting content of the displacement sensor 1, and the like, and a display lamp 62 that indicates the operating state of the light projecting element 2. And a switch 63 for setting the operation mode of the displacement sensor 1 and the like. The display unit 61 is composed of, for example, a 7-segment display.

  The case 50 is rectangular in front view, rectangular in plan view (see the case 50 from the viewpoint above the case 50), and rectangular in side view (see the case 50 from the left or right viewpoint of the case 50). It presents a pentagon with one corner cut out.

  The case 50 includes a case main body 51 that holds the holder 10, and a plate-like side plate 52 (see FIG. 1) that closes a side opening 51 a (see FIG. 3) provided on the side surface of the case main body 51. The side plate 52 constitutes the right side surface of the case 50.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the case main body 51.
The case body 51 includes a front portion 53, a plate-like upper portion 54, a plate-like lower portion 55, a rear portion 56, a side portion 57, and a tapered portion 58 that connects between the lower portion 55 and the rear portion 56.

  The front portion 53, the upper portion 54, the lower portion 55, the rear portion 56, and the tapered portion 58 are provided vertically from the side portion 57. Further, the front portion 53, the upper portion 54, the rear portion 56, the tapered portion 58, and the lower portion 55 are connected to each other in this order.

The upper part 54 constitutes the upper surface of the case 50.
The upper part 54 is preferably configured to be flat. Here, “flat” means a structure having no protrusion protruding above the plane P including the side 54a. For example, the flatness includes a planar structure, a concave curved surface structure, a planar structure provided with a portion lower than the plane P, and the like. With this structure, in the arrangement of the two displacement sensors 1, it is possible to dispose both displacement sensors 1 so that the sides 54a of the upper portion 54 are in contact with each other.

The front portion 53 is provided with a cover fitting portion 59 into which the front cover 40 is fitted.
At the bottom 59c of the cover fitting portion 59, a light projecting opening 59a for emitting the light emitted from the light projecting element 2 to the outside of the case 50 and the light reflected by the detected object enter the case 50. The light receiving opening 59b is provided.

  The cover fitting portion 59 is provided with a groove portion 59d along the periphery. An adhesive for adhering the front cover 40 to the front portion 53 of the case 50 is applied to the groove 59d. The peripheral edge of the front cover 40 and the case 50 are bonded via an adhesive.

The side portion 57 constitutes the left side surface of the case 50.
Two screw holes (hereinafter referred to as “first screw holes 57 a” and “second screw holes 57 b”) for fastening the holder 10 are provided on the inner surface of the side portion 57. The first screw hole 57a is disposed on the light receiving side, and the second screw hole 57b is disposed on the light projecting side.

The rear portion 56 is provided with a rectangular rear opening 56a into which the display device 60 is fitted.
A cable 9 (see FIG. 2) is attached to the tapered portion 58. That is, the cable 9 is disposed on the light receiving element 6 side.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the internal structure 70.
The internal structure 70 includes a holder 10 to which an optical component is attached and a circuit board 7.
The circuit board 7 includes a driving circuit for the light projecting element 2, a control circuit for the display device 60, a processing circuit for processing setting information input to the display device 60, a signal processing circuit for processing an output signal of the light receiving element 6, and the like. .

The circuit board 7 is disposed on the right surface of the holder 10 (the surface disposed on the right side when the holder 10 is accommodated in the case 50).
The circuit board 7 and the light projecting element 2 are connected to each other via the connection board 8.

FIG. 5 shows the internal structure 70 with the circuit board 7 removed.
The light projecting element 2 is attached to the light projecting element adapter 20 and is held by the holder 10 via the light projecting element adapter 20.

  The light projecting element adapter 20 includes a cylindrical body 21 that holds the light projecting element 2 and a tip 22 that protrudes from an end surface 21a of the body 21 (see FIG. 2). The front end portion 22 is provided with a light projection hole 23 through which light passes. A step portion 21b for positioning the light projecting element 2 is provided inside the body portion 21 (see FIG. 2).

The light projecting lens 3 is attached to the light projecting lens adapter 30 and is held by the holder 10 via the light projecting lens adapter 30.
A concave portion 31 is provided on the side surface of the projection lens adapter 30. Further, a lens fitting portion 32 into which the light projection lens 3 is fitted is provided at the rear portion of the light projection lens adapter 30.

FIG. 6 shows the holder 10.
The holder 10 includes a base 11, a first holding part 12 that holds the light projecting element adapter 20, a second holding part 13 that holds the light projecting lens adapter 30, and a ring part 14.

  The base 11 is provided with two through holes (hereinafter referred to as “first through holes 11a” and “second through holes 11b”) through which fastening members such as screws are inserted. . The first and second through holes 11a and 11b are provided so as to correspond to the first and second screw holes 57a and 57b. The holder 10 is fixed to the case 50 with a fastening member.

The first through hole 11 a is provided inside the ring portion 14 in the base portion 11.
The second through hole 11 b is provided outside the ring portion 14 in the base portion 11.
The holder 10 is inserted into the first screw hole 57a of the case 50 through the first through hole 11a and the screw inserted into the second screw hole 57b of the case 50 through the second through hole 11b. Fastened to case 50.

The first holding part 12, the second holding part 13, and the ring part 14 are provided on one surface of the base part 11.
The first holding unit 12 holds the light projecting element adapter 20 so as to be movable in the direction of the light projecting axis φa. The light projecting element adapter 20 is aligned in the direction of the light projecting axis φa while being attached to the first holding portion 12 and is fixed with an adhesive after the adjustment is completed.

  The 1st holding | maintenance part 12 has the hole 12a (refer FIG. 2) in which the trunk | drum 21 of the light projecting element adapter 20 fits, and the opening part 12b which communicates with this hole 12a and opens ahead. The distal end portion 22 of the light projecting element adapter 20 is inserted into the opening 12b.

  In addition, a contact surface 12c (see FIG. 2) with which the end surface 21a of the light projecting element adapter 20 contacts is provided inside the first holding unit 12. When the light projecting element adapter 20 is inserted into the first holding part 12, the end surface 21a of the light projecting element adapter 20 is pressed against the contact surface 12c. Thereby, the light projecting element adapter 20 is positioned with respect to the holder 10.

  The second holding unit 13 includes two protrusions 13 a and 13 b that hold the light projecting lens adapter 30 so as to sandwich the light projecting lens adapter 30. The light projecting lens adapter 30 is attached to the second holding portion 13 so as to be movable and tiltable in a plane direction (particularly in the left-right direction) perpendicular to the light projection axis φa. The light projecting lens adapter 30 is attached to the second holding unit 13 and aligned in the tilt or the left-right direction, and is fixed with an adhesive after the adjustment is completed.

  The ring portion 14 includes a peripheral wall 14w constituting one ring, a light receiving lens holding portion 14a that is provided on the peripheral wall 14w and holds the light receiving lens 4, and a reflector that is provided on the peripheral wall 14w and holds the reflecting plate 5 A holding portion 14b and a light receiving element holding portion 14c provided on the peripheral wall 14w and holding the light receiving element 6 are provided.

  The reflection plate holding portion 14b holds the reflection plate 5 so that incident light along the light receiving axis φb is reflected toward the light projecting element 2 side and the detection surface 1x side. In other words, the reflection plate holding portion 14b includes a point of intersection between the incident light along the light receiving axis φb and the reflection surface of the reflection plate 5, and reflects light forward from a virtual plane Pv parallel to the detection surface 1x. The reflector 5 is held.

  The light receiving element holding portion 14c holds the light receiving element 6 so that light incident along the light receiving axis φb and reflected by the reflecting plate 5 enters the center of the light receiving surface 6a. The light receiving element 6 is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the detection surface 1x. More preferably, the light receiving element 6 is tilted so that the rear end 6b of the light receiving element 6 is disposed in front of the rear end 14d of the ring portion 14.

FIG. 7 shows the front cover 40.
The front cover 40 includes a transparent cover body 41 that covers the light projecting opening 59a and the light receiving opening 59b, and a convex portion 42 that projects in correspondence with the light projecting opening 59a. The cover main body 41 and the convex portion 42 are integrally formed of a transparent resin.

  The convex portion 42 is configured in a shape similar to the shape of the light projecting opening 59a, and is configured to fit into the light projecting opening 59a. A gap is provided between the light projecting opening 59a and the convex portion 42 as shown in FIG.

With reference to FIG. 8, the arrangement structure of the optical components in the displacement sensor 1 will be described.
FIG. 8A shows an arrangement structure of optical components of the displacement sensor 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 8B shows an arrangement structure of optical components of the displacement sensor 100 according to the comparison.

  Similar to the displacement sensor 1 according to this embodiment, the displacement sensor 100 according to the comparison includes a light projecting element 102, a light projecting lens 103, a light receiving lens 104, a reflecting plate 105, a light receiving element 106, and these optical components. And a case 150 for housing the container. The displacement sensor 100 has a conventional arrangement structure of the reflector 105. According to the conventional arrangement structure of the reflector 105, the light that is reflected by the detected object and enters the case 150 is reflected to the light projecting element 102 side and rearward. In the case of such a configuration, the light receiving element 106 is disposed behind the reflecting plate 105. In the case of such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 8B, an extra space Sa is generated behind the light projecting element 102. Further, the projection lens 103 and the light receiving lens 104 are separated by a predetermined distance or more from the principle of triangulation. For this reason, even in a region surrounded by the light projecting element 102, the light projecting lens 103, the light receiving lens 104, and the reflection plate 105, a space in which no components are arranged (hereinafter referred to as “inter-optical component space Sx”). ) Exists.

  In the present embodiment, the light that is reflected by the detected object and enters the case 50 is reflected to the light projecting element 2 side and the detection surface 1x side. And the light receiving element 6 is arrange | positioned in the position which receives this light. That is, the light receiving element 6 is disposed in the inter-optical component space Sx. With this configuration, the depth width WZ of the displacement sensor 1 is smaller than that of the comparative displacement sensor 100 as shown in FIG.

  By the way, when the light receiving element 6 is disposed in the inter-optical component space Sx, the thickness of the holding portion that holds the light receiving element 6 may be limited due to the fact that the inter-optical component space Sx is not sufficiently large. . For example, when the detection distance L is shortened, the inter-optical component space Sx is narrowed accordingly.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to thin the holding portion that holds the light receiving element 6. However, in this case, since the strength of the holding portion is reduced, the light receiving element 6 is likely to vibrate. For example, if the displacement sensor 1 is installed in a factory where a device with high vibration such as a press machine is installed, there is a concern that the holding unit vibrates and the detection error of the displacement sensor 1 increases. Further, if the holding portion is thin, the holding portion is easily deformed by heat. For example, when the displacement sensor 1 is installed in a factory having a high room temperature, there is a concern that the holding portion is deformed by heat. A deviation occurs from the initial position and inclination of the light receiving element 6 when the displacement sensor 1 is installed, and the output value of the light receiving element 6 changes from the initial value. For this reason, there is a possibility that a detection object may be erroneously detected.

  In view of such concerns, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the light receiving lens 4, the reflecting plate 5, and the light receiving element 6 are attached to the ring portion 14. The ring structure is less likely to vibrate and less deformed by heat than holding parts that are not connected to each other. For this reason, compared with the holding structure which provides the holding part (holding part which protrudes from the base part 11) with respect to each of the light receiving lens 4, the reflecting plate 5, and the light receiving element 6, the thickness can be made small.

  According to such a structure, even when the inter-optical component space Sx is narrow enough to ensure the thickness of the holding portion that holds the light-receiving element 6, the light-receiving element 6 in the inter-optical-component space Sx. Can be arranged. Further, it is possible to suppress a detection error due to vibration and a decrease in detection accuracy due to thermal deformation.

<Common structure between models>
Next, a common structure of the displacement sensor 1 will be described.
The arrangement position of the displacement sensor 1 with respect to the detected object is limited due to various circumstances. For example, in the factory line, the installation position of the displacement sensor 1 is limited by the installation state of factory wiring or piping. Further, the installation position of the displacement sensor 1 may be limited due to a request for downsizing the factory line. In addition, the installation position of the displacement sensor 1 may be limited in consideration of the influence of disturbance light, electromagnetic waves, and the like. In consideration of such circumstances, models with different detection distances L are prepared for the displacement sensor 1. All models having a common structure and different detection distances L form one group (hereinafter referred to as “product group”).

  In these product groups, parts are shared between models. This is to streamline manufacturing by reducing the number of parts used in the product group. Specifically, at least one of the light projecting element 2, the light projecting lens 3, the light receiving lens 4, the reflecting plate 5, the light receiving element 6, the circuit board 7, and the case 50 is shared. In the example shown below, all of these components (seven types of components) are shared.

In these product groups, the detection distance L is varied by changing the inclination and arrangement of optical components for each model.
In these product groups, after the optical components are attached to the holder 10, alignment is performed in the light projecting lens 3 in order to optimize the optical characteristics. The alignment is performed in the direction of the projection axis φa (referred to as “Z-axis direction” in the description of the alignment), the X-axis direction perpendicular to the projection axis φa, and the Y-axis direction. Note that the X axis and the Y axis are orthogonal to each other.

  The alignment in the direction of the projection axis φa is a distance adjustment between the projection element 2 and the projection lens 3. The distance between the light projecting element 2 and the light projecting lens 3 can be adjusted by the movement of the light projecting element 2, but in order to allow the light projecting element 2 to move, a flexible substrate (for example, , A flexible substrate) or the like to connect the light projecting element 2 and the circuit board 7. Since a flexible substrate is relatively expensive, a rigid substrate is used to connect the light projecting element 2 and the circuit board 7. For this reason, alignment by movement of the light projecting element 2 is not performed.

However, when the projection lens 3 performs alignment in the Z-axis direction, the X-axis direction, and the Y-axis direction, there are the following problems.
The alignment in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction can be adjusted with a micrometer or the like because the position adjustment width is small. However, the alignment in the Z-axis direction has a large position adjustment width, so that the work time becomes longer in the adjustment with the micrometer. . For this reason, there is a demand for reducing the alignment work time.

That is, in the product group of the displacement sensors 1 having common optical components and different detection distances L, it is a problem to shorten the alignment work time.
In order to solve such a problem, the displacement sensor 1 does not require a flexible substrate, the X-axis and Y-axis alignment is performed by the light projecting lens 3, and the Z-axis alignment is performed by the light projection. It has an internal structure that can be done with the lens 3. Hereinafter, the internal structure 70 having such an internal structure will be described.

FIG. 9 shows the internal structure 70 with the circuit board 7 removed.
FIG. 9A shows a plan view of a model having a short detection distance L in the product group of the displacement sensor 1. FIG. 9B is a plan view of the model B having the intermediate detection distance L in the product group of the displacement sensor 1. FIG. 9C shows a plan view of the model C having a long detection distance L in the product group of the displacement sensor 1.

  In the following description, the displacement sensor 1 having a short detection distance L is referred to as “displacement sensor 1 of model A”, and the displacement sensor 1 having an intermediate detection distance L is referred to as “displacement sensor 1 of model B”. The displacement sensor 1 having a long L is referred to as “displacement sensor 1 of model C”.

  Each of the displacement sensors 1 of the model A, the model B, and the model C has different distances between the light projecting lens 3 and the light receiving lens 4. Specifically, the inter-lens distance increases in the order of model A, model B, and model C.

  The displacement sensors 1 of the models A, B, and C have different lens-element distances between the light projecting element 2 and the light projecting lens 3. Specifically, the lens-element distance decreases in the order of model A, model B, and model C, as shown in FIGS. The lens-element distances of model A, model B, and model C are distance LXA, distance LXB, and distance LXC, respectively.

  Corresponding to such a structure, the holders 10 of the models A to C have different lens distances and lens-element distances. On the other hand, the structure for holding the optical component is common. That is, in each model A to C, the structure of the light projecting element adapter 20, the structure of the light projecting lens adapter 30, the structure of the first holding part 12, the second holding part 13 (however, the length dimension in the direction of the light projecting axis φa) The structure excluding La (see FIG. 9A) and the structure of the ring portion 14 are the same.

Moreover, the 2nd holding | maintenance part 13 is arrange | positioned in the same position with respect to the reference | standard position (for example, center point of the 1st screw hole 57a) of the base 11 about each model AC.
As shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the first holding unit 12 has a different position with respect to the base 11 depending on the lens-element distance of the model.

  The rear end surface 12d of the first holding portion 12 is the same position as the reference position of the base portion 11 regardless of the size of the lens-element distance of the model as shown in FIGS. 9 (a) to 9 (c). Placed in. That is, the distance between the light projecting lens 3 and the rear end surface 12d of the first holding unit 12 is set to a predetermined distance LXD.

  According to such a configuration, the connection substrate 8 disposed on the rear end surface 12d of the first holding unit 12 is disposed at the same position with respect to the base 11 regardless of the model. For this reason, the circuit board 7 to which the connection board 8 is connected can also be configured in a common shape regardless of the model.

Further, according to the structure of the holder 10 as described above, the following effects are obtained.
The light projecting lens adapter 30 that holds the light projecting lens 3 is held so as to be sandwiched between the two protrusions 13a and 13b of the second holding unit 13, and therefore the light projecting lens in the X-axis and Y-axis directions (or tilts) 3 positions can be aligned.

  The light projecting element adapter 20 that holds the light projecting element 2 is held by the first holding unit 12 so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction (direction of the light projecting axis φa). Alignment is possible.

  Further, the light projecting element adapter 20 is positioned by the end surface 21 a of the light projecting element adapter 20 coming into contact with the contact surface 12 c of the first holding part 12. For this reason, the light projecting element 2 is positioned at a substantially predetermined position in the Z-axis direction. For this reason, the alignment work of the light projecting element 2 in the Z-axis direction is reduced as compared with the conventional structure (without this structure).

  When the light projecting element 2 is moved by alignment in the Z-axis direction, the light projecting element adapter 20 or the light projecting element 2 is moved, and the connection substrate 8 is not moved. Specifically, the lead 2 a of the light projecting element 2 is inserted through the through hole 8 a of the connection substrate 8. With this configuration, the connection substrate 8 does not move even when the light projecting element 2 moves. The lead 2 a of the light projecting element 2 is soldered to the through hole 8 a of the connection substrate 8 after the alignment in the Z-axis direction is completed.

  Thus, according to the above configuration, the connection substrate 8 does not move from the predetermined position (the rear end surface 12d of the first holding unit 12) during alignment in the Z-axis direction by the light projecting element 2. For this reason, a rigid substrate can be used as the connection substrate 8.

<Setting mode of display unit>
As an operation for changing the setting state of the displacement sensor 1, there is a “long press operation” of the switch 63.
For example, in order to prevent the setting contents of the displacement sensor 1 from being changed by an unintended operation, the displacement sensor 1 may be provided with a “lock mode” function. The “lock mode” is a mode in which the setting content set in the displacement sensor 1 is not changed even by a normal switch operation (for example, a pressing operation within 1 second). The “long press operation” mentioned above is used for such a “lock mode” setting operation.

  The “long press operation” is completed by, for example, a long press for a predetermined time. That is, the mode setting is completed by continuously pressing for a predetermined time. However, such “long press operation” has the following problems. Hereinafter, this problem will be described.

FIG. 10 shows a display change mode of the display unit 161 by the conventional “long press operation”.
FIG. 10A shows a screen of the display unit 161 when the displacement sensor 1 is normally operating.
The normal operation indicates an operation when the setting operation is not performed in the displacement sensor 1 and detection of the detected object is being performed. At this time, information such as the amount of displacement of the detected object (information during normal operation) is displayed on the screen of the display unit 161. In this example, the first information is displayed by the left 4-digit 7-segment display 161a, and the second information is displayed by the right 4-digit 7-segment display 161b.

FIG. 10B shows the screen of the display unit 161 when the “long press operation” is being performed. The screen of the display unit 161 at this time is the same as the screen of the display unit 161 at the normal time.
FIG. 10C shows a screen of the display unit 161 when the switch 63 is kept pressed for a predetermined time or longer. This screen indicates that the mode setting by the “long press operation” has been completed. From this screen, the operator can recognize that the mode setting has been completed.

FIG. 10D shows a screen of the display unit 161 when the displacement sensor 1 returns to the normal operation after the mode transition is completed.
From this screen, the operator can recognize that the displacement sensor 1 has returned to the normal operation.

Thus, in the conventional display unit 161, the screen of the display unit 161 during the “long press operation” is the same as the screen of the display unit 161 during the normal operation.
However, in such a display mode, the operator cannot recognize from this screen whether or not the “long press operation” is correctly executed during the “long press operation”.

  In addition, although the operator has not performed the “long press operation” for a predetermined time or longer, the operator may mistakenly recognize that the “long press operation” has been completed and stop the “long press operation” halfway. . In this case, although the displacement sensor 1 has not changed the mode, the operator continues to recognize that the mode setting of the displacement sensor 1 has been completed.

For this reason, it is desirable that the operator can recognize whether or not the operation is properly executed during the “long press operation”.
Therefore, in the displacement sensor 1 according to the present embodiment, during the “long press operation”, the screen corresponding to the “long press operation” and the setting state of the mode are displayed on the screen of the display unit 61.

Further, during the “long press operation”, the display mode is changed as time elapses for the purpose of making the operator recognize the time elapse of the “long press operation”.
FIG. 11 shows a display change mode of the display unit 61 by the “long press operation” for the displacement sensor 1 according to the present embodiment.

The display unit 61 includes a 4-digit 7-segment display 61a disposed on the left side and a 4-digit 7-segment display 61b disposed on the right side.
FIG. 11A shows a screen of the display unit 61 when the displacement sensor 1 is normally operating.

  At this time, the first information at the time of normal operation is displayed on the screen of the display unit 61 by the left 4-digit 7-segment display 61a, and the second information at the time of normal operation is displayed by the right-side 4-digit 7-segment display 61b. Is displayed.

FIG. 11B shows the screen of the display unit 61 when the “long press operation” for changing the mode is started.
At this time, the mode information is displayed on the screen of the display unit 61 by the left 4-digit 7-segment display 61a, and the mode setting state is displayed by the right 4-digit 7-segment display 61b. Further, the mode information is indicated by three digits, and all digits are blinking. Note that “loc” illustrated in FIG. 10B indicates “lock mode”, and “off” indicates that “lock mode” is not set.

FIG. 11C shows the screen of the display unit 61 when one second has elapsed after performing the “long press operation” for changing the mode.
Information displayed on the screen of the display unit 61 at this time is the same as that at the start of the “long press operation”. However, the display mode of the mode information changes. The blinking state of the first digit segment of the mode information is canceled. That is, the first 2 digit segment of the mode information blinks. Thereby, the display unit 61 displays that the time until the setting is completed is reduced.

FIG. 11D shows a screen of the display unit 61 when the switch 63 is kept pressed for a predetermined time.
At this time, the blinking state of the second digit segment of the mode information is canceled. That is, the first digit segment of the mode information blinks. Thereby, the display unit 61 displays that the time until the setting is completed further decreases.

FIG. 11E shows a screen of the display unit 61 when the mode setting is completed.
At this time, the mode information is displayed on the screen of the display unit 61 by the left 4-digit 7-segment display 61a, and the mode setting state is displayed by the right 4-digit 7-segment display 61b. “On” shown in FIG. 11E indicates that the “lock mode” is set. At this time, the blinking of all digits constituting the mode information is eliminated.

FIG. 11F shows the screen of the display unit 61 when the displacement sensor 1 returns to the normal operation after the mode setting is completed.
From this screen, the operator can recognize that the displacement sensor 1 has returned to the normal operation.

The operation of such a display mode will be described.
The display unit 61 shows information different from that in the normal operation in the case of “long press operation”. For this reason, the operator can recognize from this display that the displacement sensor 1 has received the “long press operation”.

  Further, the display unit 61 indicates the mode content of “long press operation” and the mode setting state thereof by “long press operation”. For this reason, the operator can confirm the operation content of the “long press operation” and can confirm the setting state.

  Further, the display unit 61 changes the display mode of information shown on the screen of the display unit 61 as time elapses during the “long press operation”. Specifically, when the “long press operation” operation is disclosed, the display unit 61 blinks the segment by the number of digits corresponding to the required operation time of the “long press operation”. Then, the display unit 61 reduces the number of digits of the segment to be blinked according to the elapsed time of the “long press operation”. With such a display mode, it is possible to allow the worker who is performing the “long press operation” to predict the time until the setting based on the operation is completed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of erroneous recognition of an operator who recognizes that the setting is completed although the setting operation is incomplete.

Hereinafter, the effect of this embodiment will be described.
(1) In the above embodiment, the reflecting plate 5 reflects the light along the light receiving axis φb of the light receiving lens 4 toward the light projecting element 2 side and the detection surface 1x side.

  According to this configuration, the reflecting plate 5 reflects light along the light receiving axis φb of the light receiving lens 4 toward the light projecting element 2 side and the detection surface 1x side. Therefore, the reflecting plate 5 is located between the detection surface 1x and the light receiving element 6 as compared with the displacement sensor 100 according to the comparison in which the light along the light receiving axis φb of the light receiving lens 4 is reflected toward the light projecting element 2 side. The distance becomes smaller. That is, with this configuration, the depth width WZ of the displacement sensor can be made smaller than that of the displacement sensor 100 according to the comparison.

  (2) The light receiving element 6 has a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The light receiving element 6 is arranged such that its longitudinal direction DL is inclined with respect to the detection surface 1x in the front-rear direction (depth direction) of the displacement sensor 1.

  According to this configuration, the rear end 6b of the light receiving element 6 can be brought closer to the detection surface 1x side than a displacement sensor in which the light receiving element 6 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction DL is perpendicular to the detection surface 1x. . Thereby, the depth width WZ of case 50 can be made small.

(3) Further, the intermediate point CX of the light receiving element 6 is located on the detection surface 1x side with respect to the light projecting element 2.
According to this configuration, the light receiving element 6 is disposed on the detection surface 1x side as compared with the displacement sensor in which the light receiving element 6 is disposed such that the intermediate point CX of the light receiving element 6 is located behind the light projecting element 2. Is done. For this reason, the depth dimension of case 50 becomes small.

(4) Further, the holder 10 includes a base portion 11 and a ring portion 14 provided on the base portion 11.
The ring portion 14 includes a peripheral wall 14w constituting one ring, a light receiving lens holding portion 14a provided on the peripheral wall 14w for holding the light receiving lens 4, and a reflector holding member provided on the peripheral wall 14w for holding the reflecting plate 5. And a light receiving element holding part 14c that is provided on the peripheral wall 14w and holds the light receiving element 6.

  The light receiving lens 4, the reflecting plate 5, and the light receiving element 6 can be individually provided on the base 11 of the holder 10. For example, a light receiving lens holding portion 14 a that holds the light receiving lens 4, a reflecting plate holding portion 14 b that holds the reflecting plate 5, and a light receiving element holding portion 14 c that holds the light receiving element 6 individually protrude from the base 11. Provide as follows. However, since these holding portions 14a to 14c simply protrude from the base portion 11, there is a risk of deformation or vibration. If the holding portion is twisted or vibrated, the detection error of the detected object may increase, or the detection object may be erroneously detected.

  In this regard, according to the above configuration, the light receiving lens holding portion 14a, the reflector holding portion 14b, and the light receiving element holding portion 14c are provided on the peripheral wall 14w of the ring portion 14. The ring portion 14 is less likely to be vibrated or deformed than the protrusions provided individually on the base portion 11. For this reason, it is possible to suppress an increase in the detection error of the detected object and occurrence of erroneous detection of the detected object.

  (5) The holder 10 is provided with two through holes 11a and 11b through which a fastening member for fixing to the case 50 is inserted. One of the two through holes 11 a and 11 b (first through hole 11 a) is provided inside the ring portion 14.

  With this configuration, the outer shape of the base portion 11 can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the first through hole 11 a is disposed outside the ring portion 14. Thereby, size reduction of the displacement sensor 1 can be achieved.

(Other embodiments)
Note that the embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the embodiment may be modified as shown below, for example.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the peripheral wall 14 w of the ring portion 14 is configured such that the height H with respect to the base portion 11 is constant in the circumferential direction. It is not limited to such a configuration. For example, in a portion of the peripheral wall 14w of the ring portion 14, the height H of the portion may be lower than that of the adjacent portion, or the height H of the portion may be higher than that of the adjacent portion. Good. Even in this case, the effect according to the above (4) is obtained.

  In the above embodiment, the light projection lens 3 is provided in the displacement sensor 1, but this can be omitted. For example, when the light projecting element 2 has a lens, the light projecting lens 3 can be omitted. Further, when light close to parallel light is emitted from the light projecting element 2, the light projecting lens 3 can be omitted.

  In the above embodiment, in the light receiving system, the light receiving lens 4 and the reflecting plate 5 are provided as separate bodies, but this can be replaced with one optical component. For example, instead of the optical system constituted by the light receiving lens 4 and the reflecting plate 5, a concave reflecting mirror that collects and reflects light can be used. In this case, the concave reflecting mirror is arranged so as to reflect the light reflected by the detection object toward the light projecting element 2 side and the detection surface 1x side. Even with this configuration, for the same reason as the above (1), there is an effect according to the effect described in the above (1).

[Appendix]
The embodiments and other embodiments include the following technical ideas in addition to the technical ideas described above.

[Appendix 1]
A light projecting element 2 that emits light toward the detection object, a reflection plate that reflects and collects the light reflected by the detection object, and a light receiving surface 6a that receives the light reflected by the reflection plate; The light receiving element 6 that outputs a signal corresponding to the position of light on the light receiving surface 6a, the light projecting element 2, the reflecting plate, and the light receiving element 6 are accommodated and emitted from the light projecting element 2. And a case having a detection surface 1x that transmits light reflected by the detection object, and the reflection plate transmits light along the light receiving axis φb to the light projecting element 2 side and the detection surface 1x side. Displacement sensor that reflects toward you.

  In this configuration, unlike the reflecting plate 5 shown in the present embodiment, the reflecting plate has a reflecting function and a condensing function. The reflecting plate reflects light along the light receiving axis φb toward the light projecting element 2 and the detection surface 1x. For this reason, for the same reason as the above (1), the depth width WZ of the displacement sensor 1 can be made smaller than that of the displacement sensor according to the comparison. For example, a concave reflecting mirror is used as the reflecting plate.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Displacement sensor, 1x ... Detection surface, 2 ... Light projecting element, 2a ... Lead, 3 ... Light projecting lens, 4 ... Light receiving lens, 5 ... Reflecting plate, 6 ... Light receiving element, 6a ... Light receiving surface, 6b ... Rear end , 7 ... Circuit board, 8 ... Connection board, 8a ... Through hole, 9 ... Cable, 10 ... Holder, 11 ... Base, 11a ... First through hole, 11b ... Second through hole, 12 ... First holding part, 12a ... Hole part, 12b ... Opening part, 12c ... Abutting surface, 12d ... Rear end face, 13 ... Second holding part, 13a ... Protrusion, 13b ... Protrusion, 14 ... Ring part, 14a ... Receiving lens holding part, 14b ... Reflection Plate holding part, 14c ... Light receiving element holding part, 14d ... Rear end part, 14w ... Peripheral wall, 20 ... Projection element adapter, 21 ... Body part, 21a ... End face, 21b ... Step part, 22 ... Tip part, 23 ... Throw Light hole, 30 ... Projection lens adapter, 31 ... Recess, 32 ... Lens fitting part, 40 ... Face cover, 41 ... Cover body, 42 ... Projection, 50 ... Case, 51 ... Case body, 51a ... Side opening, 52 ... Side plate, 53 ... Front part, 54 ... Upper part, 54a ... Side, 55 ... Lower part, 56 ... rear part, 56a ... rear opening part, 57 ... side part, 57a ... first screw hole, 57b ... second screw hole, 58 ... taper part, 59 ... cover fitting part, 59a ... floodlight opening part, 59b ... Light receiving opening, 59c ... bottom, 59d ... groove, 60 ... display device, 61 ... display, 61a ... 4-digit 7-segment display, 61b ... 4-digit 7-segment display, 62 ... indicator lamp, 63 ... switch, 70 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS Internal structure 100 Displacement sensor 102 Light projecting element 103 Light projecting lens 104 Light receiving lens 105 Reflector 106 Light receiving element 150 Case 161 Display unit 161a 4 digits 7 segment display, 16 b: 4-digit 7-segment display, 200: displacement sensor, 210: light projecting element, 220: light projecting lens, 230 ... light receiving lens, 240 ... light receiving element, 250 ... case, 260 ... reflector, 300 ... displacement sensor, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 310 ... Light projecting element, 320 ... Light projecting lens, 330 ... Light receiving lens, 340 ... Light receiving element, 350 ... Case, 350a ... Detection surface, 900 ... Detection object.

Claims (2)

A light projecting element that emits light toward the detection object;
A light receiving lens for collecting the light reflected by the detected object;
A reflecting plate that reflects light that has passed through the light receiving lens;
A light receiving element that receives light reflected by the reflecting plate, and outputs a signal corresponding to the position of the light on the light receiving surface;
A case that houses the light projecting element, the light receiving lens, the reflector, and the light receiving element, and has a detection surface that transmits light emitted from the light projecting element and transmits light reflected by the detection object And
The reflection plate is a displacement sensor that reflects light along a light receiving axis of the light receiving lens toward the light projecting element side and the detection surface side.
A holder for holding the light receiving lens, the reflection plate, and the light receiving element;
The holder has a base and a ring provided on the base, and is fixed to the case.
The ring portion includes a peripheral wall that forms one ring, a light receiving lens holding portion that is provided on the peripheral wall and holds the light receiving lens, and a reflector holding portion that is provided on the peripheral wall and holds the reflector. A displacement sensor, comprising: a light receiving element holding portion that is provided on the peripheral wall and holds the light receiving element. The displacement sensor according to claim 1 ,
The holder is provided with a plurality of through holes through which fastening members for fixing to the case are inserted,
A displacement sensor, wherein at least one of the plurality of through holes is provided inside the ring portion.