Sick Ag

Erwin Sick Gmbh Optik-Elektronik

Erwin Sick Gmbh Optik.sub.-- Elektronik

Heinrich Hippenmeyer

Christoph Anselment

Hans-Werner Pierenkemper

Jurgen Reichenbach

Gunter Fetzer

Klemens Wehrle

Ulrich Zwölfer

Stephan Schmitz

Wolfram Runge

Siegfried Ringwald

Hubert Uhl

Ralf Paske

Reinhold Kilian

J&uuml;rgen Reichenbach

Björn Denz

Martin Grafmüller

Hermann Buitkamp

The invention relates to a method for the localization of gripping points of objects, wherein the objects are scanned by means of a 3D sensor and the objects are illuminated by means of at least one first illumination unit while the objects are detected by means of a camera, wherein the relative positions of the 3D sensor, of the first illumination unit and of the camera with respect to one another are known and the 3D sensor, the first illumination unit and the camera are arranged in a fixed position with respect to one another. In this respect, the boundary of the objects is determined from a two-dimensional image generated by the camera, a spatial position is determined from detected distance information of the 3D sensor and of the two-dimensional image and the gripping points for the objects are determined from the boundaries and from the spatial position of the objects.

Method for the localization of gripping points of objects

This invention concerns an optoelectronic sensor assembly () with at least one light emitter () and at least one light receiver () comprising a spatially resolving receiving element (), with the receiving element () having an inner region () comprising at least one photosensitive element () for detecting the light beam () and an outer region () comprising at least one photosensitive element () for determining the position of the light beam () emitted by the light emitter (), with the outer region () satisfying lower sensitivity and/or bandwidth requirements than the inner region ().

Optoelectronic sensor

A method of reading of a bar code consisting of a predetermined number of code elements for the generation of a binary signal with sequential high/low phases, the length of which correspond to the widths of the sequential code elements. The bar code is sensed by at least two scanning beams from different directions along different scanning lines. At least some of the regions of the bar code are scanned by a scanning beam and are respectively detected as a code segment, and wherein at least some of the detected code segments are selected with respect to predetermined decision criteria and combined for the reconstruction of the scanned bar code. Furthermore an apparatus is described for carrying out the method.

Method and apparatus for the reading of a bar code consisting of a defined number of code elements

An optical arrangement is described having a plurality of light transmitting transmitter elements and/or receiver elements, a plurality of diffractive/refractive optical elements and a transparent front cover, in particular a front plate. The diffractive/refractive optical elements are arranged on a uniform carrier element formed in one piece. The carrier element is formed by the front cover, with the diffractive/refractive optical elements being directly formed in the front cover, and in particular being pressed into or moulded into the latter. The transmitter elements and/or the receiver elements are arranged on a uniform circuit board formed in one piece. Furthermore a light grid is described having such optical arrangements, and also a method for the manufacture of the required components for such optical arrangements.

Light grid and method of itS manufacture

An apparatus is described for the adjustment of the focal position of an opto-electronic apparatus including a transmitter element which transmits light and a lens for the focusing of the light transmitted by the transmitter element. The apparatus includes a pivotal lever for receiving the transmitter element or the lens, which is pivotable via a positioning element about a pivot joint for the adjustment of the spacing between the transmitter element and the lens and thus for the adjustment of the focal position. The pivotal lever is formed as a two-armed pivotal lever, with the one arm of the pivotal lever being formed to receive the lens or the transmitter element, and with the positioning element acting on a section of the other arm of the pivotal lever lying on the other side of the pivot joint. Furthermore, a variant is described in which the positioning element extends along the longitudinal extent of the pivotal lever, as well as an opto-electronic apparatus with such an adjustment device.

Apparatus for the adjustment of the focal position of an opto-electronic

A method and an apparatus are described for the recognition and reading of a bar code provided on an object and consisting of a plurality of code elements. The object carrying the bar code is scanned by one or more scanning beams of a bar code reader, wherein each time a scanning beam sweeps over an object a scan is formed and bright and dark regions of an object swept over during a scan are recognized as scanned elements. A width index is determined for at least some of the elements scanned during a scan and is in each case representative for the width of the element in the scanning direction. Furthermore the frequency of occurrence of the width indexes found is in each case determined and a conclusion is drawn on the presence of a bar code from the frequencies that are found.

Method and apparatus for the recognition and reading of a bar code

A laser diode module as an example has a laser diode pressed into a first housing part and a lens of an optical collimation system pressed into a cup-shaped second housing part. The second housing part is pressed into a cylindrical opening of the first housing part. In the opening there are molded three runners, which extend in the axial direction and are uniformly distributed in the peripheral direction, with the runners engaging on the jacket surface of the second housing part. The runners and the jacket surface form connection elements which are press-fitted together and which enable, apart from the connection, an adjustment of the lens relative to the laser diode. Pressure die cast zinc is in particular suitable as the material for the connection elements. An adhesive bond is not required with a holder of this kind.

Optical apparatus comprising an adjustable holder device

The invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor, in particular a bar code reader, with an optical receiving system positioned in front of a light receiver for the deflection of a light beam reflected from an object, in particular a bar code, onto the light receiver. Through the provision of aperture diaphragms, or a plurality of light receivers, or regions with different image forming characteristics in the optical receiving system, a situation is achieved in which the receiving characteristics of the overall system, which result by reason of the shape of the sensing laser beam, as a result of the characteristics of the electronic evaluation system and as a result of different light intensities of the light returned, for example from a bar code, are optimized for different sensing distances.

Self-focusing bar code reader and optical receiving system

The invention relates to an optical code reader comprising an optical scanning device (11) having a light transmitter (27) and a photoreceiver arrangement (19), said scanning device (11) transmitting a light beam (12) executing a scanning movement into a reading zone (14) provided at a reading distance ((L) from the scanning device (11). The reading zone preferably has a substantially planar front surface (13) and, moreover, a predetermined depth. Articles (16) carrying an optically detectable article code (15) are moved through the reading zone (14) and an electronic evaluation system (17), which is provided at the output of the scanning device (11), evaluates electrical signals formed by the photoreceiver arrangement (19) from the light reflected from the code (15) to the scanning device (11) and identifies the article code (15). A reflector (18) is arranged behind the reading zone (14) and, in the absence of an article (16) in the reading zone (14), reflects light received from the scanning device (11) in a manner identifiable as coming from the reflector (18) back to the scanning device (11). An article recognition stage (21) is provided in the electronic evaluation system (17), which suppresses the article identification until no further light is received which can be identified as coming from the reflector (18).

Optical code reader with an optical scanning device

The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for measuring the distance between a measuring device and an object in which a light signal transmitted over the measurement path undergoes a phase shift which is converted into a frequency change in an oscillating circuit.

Method and apparatus for distance measurement

A method and an apparatus are set forth for the reading of a bar code consisting of a predetermined number of code elements in which a bar code reader which scans the code elements generates a binary signal with sequential high-low phases, the lengths of which correspond to the widths of the sequentially scanned code elements. Only those high-low phases whose lengths lie within a defined region are processed further as permissible code elements. Permissible code elements belonging to directly sequential high-low phases are respectively grouped into segments, and only those segments are processed further as being permissible which have at least the predetermined number of code elements. If the number of code elements of a permissible segment exceeds the predetermined number, the code elements which actually belong to the bar code to be found are determined by a start marking, a stop marking and/or a center marking contained in the segment and the bar code which has been found is decoded.

Method and device for reading a bar code

A light bead generating apparatus has a point light source (11) and a variable optical system (12, 13) of variable focal length, by means of which the point light source (11) is imaged via a light deflecting apparatus (24) in an image plane (14). The variable optical system is formed by two circular cylindrical mirrors (12', 13') which are crossed relative to one another, which have variable focal lengths in the direction of their circular cylinder axes (17', 18') and which are adjustable. They are illuminated by the image forming light beam (19, 19') in the direction of the optical axes (15).

Light bead generating apparatus

A rotary mirror arrangement (10) for changing the focus of an already focused laser beam is characterized in that a plurality of deflecting mirrors (12) of different focal length are secured on one side of a base plate (14) which is rotatably journalled on a stationary latch plate (16) arranged on the opposite side and can be latched with the latter in various rotational positions. In a respective latch position, a relevant deflecting mirror (12) is pivoted into the beam path of the incident light beam (LS). The base plate (14) is displaceably journalled on the latch plate (16) in the direction of the axis of rotation (A) and is held against the latch plate by spring force (18). The base plate (14) is supported by a three-point mounting on the latch plate (16) The mounting includes, in particular, three ball-segment-like projections (20) which cooperate with a conical bore (22), a wedge-shaped groove (24), or a lower disposed section (26) of the latch plate (16) or of the base plate (14) in order to unambiguously and reproducibly fix the base plate (14) in the respective latched position,

Rotary mirror arrangement for the focusing of an incident light beam

A bar code reader for an article (17) which is moved at least substantially in one direction (26) has a scanner (12) which generates a scanning light beam (11) which scans a surface (18) of the article (17) linewise, a light receiving arrangement (13) which includes an electronic evaluation circuit (14) with which bar codes (16) applied to the surface of the article (17) and scanned by the light beam (11) can be recognized and which is arranged outside of the parth of movement (20) of the article (17) and directed towards the front surface (18) of the article (17) as seen in the direction of movement. A detection means (27, 28) for the location of the scanning surface (18) at which the scanning is to start, and optionally a detection means (29) for the speed of movement of the article (17) are connected to an electronic control and evaluation circuit (14) which acts on an advance means ( 30, 31) for the displacement of the scanning line (23) in such a way that the spacing of the scanner (12) from the scanning line (23) on the surface (18) of the article (17) remains at least substantially the same.

Bar code reader and method for its operation

In a machine having automatic article transport individual identical articles are conveyed along a conveyor path (21) past various processing stations. A clock (12) is associated with the conveyor path. Furthermore, a characteristic detection apparatus (13) is provided which delivers information corresponding to the characteristics of the articles (16) which are moving past to a characteristic shift register (11), which is pulsed by the clock (1). An article sorting apparatus (14) is arranged spaced from the characteristic detection apparatus and is controlled by the associated storage (11') of the characteristic shift register. A further presence shift register (15) is arranged parallel to the characteristic shift register (11) and the information contained in the presence shift register (15) is compared with the output of a presence detection apparatus (17) and can be used to stop the machine in the event that a deviation is detected.

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Freiamt, Germany

Heinrich Hippenmeyer