Leuze Electronic Gmbh +co.

Leuze Electronic Gmbh + Co Kg

Martin Argast

Lutz Lohmann

Thomas Dümmel

Gerald Quapil

Günther Schwartz

Gernot Mast

Siegfried Fauth

Harald Loffler

Rainer Ruckh

Sven Tassy

Karsten Knauss

Wolfgang Teumer

Bernhard Müller

Gerhard Hofgärtner

Axel Hermle

Manfred Schönhardt

Manfred Doll

An optical sensor for detecting objects within an area to be monitored comprises at least one casing to accommodate optical and electronic components. The at least one casing comprises casing parts. The casing parts are composed of a low-pressure injection molding compound and are formed by a low-pressure injection molding operation.

Optical sensor employing an injection-molded casing

The invention relates to an optoelectronic device (,) for detecting objects (,) in a monitoring range, one end of which comprises a transmitter (,) that emits transmitting light rays (,) and two receivers (,) that receive light rays (,) and have respectively one first and second linear polarizing element (,) installed in front, for which the polarization directions are such that they are turned relative to each other by an angle &agr; in the range of 45&deg;<&agr;<135&deg;, while the other end has a reflector unit (,), comprising a reflector (,) with a third linear polarizing element (,) installed in front, for which the polarization direction essentially coincides with the polarization direction of the first or second polarizing element (,). The receiving signals present at the outputs of the receivers (,) are respectively assigned two different threshold values S,and S,(S,>S,), for which the interval is selected such that the receiving signal of a receiver (,) is above S,and the receiving signal of the second receiver (,) is below S,, but only for a clear optical path. Means for testing the device (,) are provided which, when activated, cause the receiving signals of the receivers (,) to assume predetermined switching states with respect to the threshold values S,and S,, that is during an error-free operation. Alternatively, the quotient of the receiving signals for receivers,can also be assigned a threshold value S.

Optoelectronic device

A method is provided for detecting objects located in or entering into an area to be monitored with a device including a transmitter, a receiver and an evaluation unit. A transmitted beam emitted by the transmitter transversely to the radiation direction of the transmitted beam is guided inside the area. For different orientations of the transmitted beam, the distances of the objects from the device are detected and these measured position values are stored in the evaluation unit. For detecting objects of a particular shape the measured position values for the respective object are compared with set values, which are calculated in the evaluation unit from the shape of the object when in a predetermined position in the area to be monitored. An object having a defined shape is considered to have been recognized when a minimum number N of the measured position values falls around the set values within at least one tolerance band T. The minimum number N of the position values and the width of the tolerance band T are selected in the evaluation unit as a function of the dispersion of the measured position values.

Method for detecting objects in a monitored area

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Hülben, Germany

Martin Argast