Rockwell Automation Safety Ag

Ems Inventa Ag

Cedes Ag

Rockwell Automotive Safety Ag

Rockwell Automation Switzerland Gmbh

Manfred Stein

Carl Meinherz

Martin Hardegger

Danilo Dorizzi

Clau Lombriser

Richard Casty

Guido Baumgartner

Bas Albers

Eric Lutz

Ulrich Kemp

Gunter Goossens

Christian Baumann

A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device includes: an illumination component that emitting a light beam toward a viewing space; a receiving lens element receiving reflected light and directing the reflected light to a photo-receiver array; and a processor. The processor is configured to generate distance information for a pixel corresponding to an object in the viewing space based on time-of-flight analysis of the reflected light; record a variation of an intensity of the reflected light from the object over time to yield intensity variation information; record a variation of the distance information for the pixel corresponding to the object over time to yield distance variation information; and apply a correction factor to the distance information in response to a determination that the intensity variation information and the distance variation information do not conform to an inverse-square relationship.

Absolute distance measurement for time-of-flight sensors

A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided with features for correcting distance measurement offset errors caused by such factors as temperature, dynamic reflectivity ranges of objects in the viewing space, or other factors. In various embodiments, the TOF sensor device generates corrected distance values based on comparison of two different distance values measured for an object by two different measurement techniques, including but not limited to phase shift measurement, pulsed TOF measurement, distance measurement based on the focal length of the TOF sensor's lens, and comparison of distance variations with light intensity variations. In addition, some embodiments of the TOF sensor device perform self-calibration using internal waveguides or parasitic reflections as distance references.

A light curtain system is configured to perform dynamic partial muting of the light curtain's beams to accommodate products of different heights. When a product enters the light curtain's protective field during muting mode, the system identifies the highest interrupted light beam, which is indicative of the product's height. The system then sets the muting height for the light curtain based on this highest interrupted beam. Beams higher than the set muting height are un-muted, while beams up to the set muting height remain muted. Both regions are actively monitored during the partial muting mode to confirm the expected non-interrupted, respectively interrupted conditions. When the product clears the light curtain, the muting height is reset, and a new muting height is set in a similar fashion when the next part enters the light curtain's protective field.

Dynamic light curtain muting system and method

An optical module for an optical unit associated with forming a light curtain for monitoring a protective or surveillance field. The optical module includes at least one radiation emitting and/or radiation receiving element for transmitting and/or receiving a radiation beam associated with forming a light curtain. The optical module includes a module body for mounting a radiation transmitter/receiver carrier that carries the at least one transmitting and/or receiving element associated with the radiation beam. The module body has at least one alignment element for aligning the optical module within a support element that forms an outer housing of the optical unit.

Optical module and optical unit for a light curtain, and fabrication method

A lens carrier and an optical module for forming a light curtain associated with monitoring a protective field. The lens carrier includes at least one lens for focusing a radiation beam forming said light curtain and a lens mask having at least one opening for shaping the radiation beam to have a predetermined aperture. The lens carrier is formed by overmolding said lens mask with a transparent material. The optical module has such a lens carrier and a module body for mounting a radiation transmitter/receiver carrier that comprises at least one transmitter and/or receiver for transmitting and/or receiving said radiation.

Lens carrier and optical module for a light curtain and fabrication method

A sensor device having a sensor arrangement for detecting moving objects that includes a sensor and an electronic unit. The sensor arrangement is designed to detect an object and to subsequently investigate whether there are present within the surface of the object regions that move at a different speed and/or acceleration. The sensor arrangement can also investigate whether the object is accelerating.

Sensor device and system having a conveyor and a sensor device

A device and a method are disclosed, by means of which microfilament yarns made of synthetic polymers can be produced with increased uniformity of the titer, dye absorption and improved physical yarn properties at increased production speeds by means of a spinning process with spinnerets of high hole density and a central cooling unit.

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Domat/Ems, Switzerland

Manfred Stein