Area Monitoring Sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016155306-A1
Application number	US-201514943670-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 17, 2015
Priority date	Dec 1, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

There is provided an area monitoring sensor, an operating state of which a user can be checked without approaching a hazard source. An area monitoring sensor, which detects an intruding object in a monitoring area to generate a stop signal for stopping an operation of an external device, is configured of a measurement unit; a display unit that includes a screen display part for displaying an operating state of the measurement unit on a screen; and a wiring cable for detachably connecting the measurement unit and the display unit, to supply electric power between the measurement unit and the display unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An area monitoring sensor which detects an intruding object in a monitoring area to generate a stop signal for stopping an operation of an external device, the area monitoring sensor comprising:
a measurement unit that includes
a light projecting section for generating detection light,
a scanning section for performing a scan with the detection light in a circumferential direction about a rotational axis,
a light receiving section for receiving the detection light reflected by a target to generate a detection signal, and
a distance calculating section for obtaining a distance to the target based on the detection signal;
a display unit that includes a screen displaying section for displaying an operating state of the measurement unit on a screen; and a power cable for detachably connecting the measurement unit and the display unit, to supply electric power between the measurement unit and the display unit.

2 . The area monitoring sensor according to claim 1 , wherein
the display unit further includes an external communication port for communication with a setting data creating device that generates setting data made up of area setting information to specify the monitoring area and operation setting information to specify an operating condition for the measurement unit.

3 . The area monitoring sensor according to claim 2 , wherein
the measurement unit further includes an intrusion detecting section for detecting an intruding object in a monitoring area based on a distance to the target, a scanning angle of the detection light and the setting data, to generate the stop signal.

4 . The area monitoring sensor according to claim 3 , wherein
the measurement unit further includes
two input-output ports for communication with the display unit or the measurement unit, and
each of the input-output ports is connected to the display unit or the measurement unit by use of a communication cable, to connect two or more of the measurement units to the display unit through a common bus.

5 . The area monitoring sensor according to claim 4 , wherein
the display unit includes
a non-volatile setting data storing section for holding the setting data received from the setting data creating device, and
a setting data transmitting section for reading the setting data from the setting data storing section every time a main power is turned on, to transmit the read data to the measurement unit.

6 . The area monitoring sensor according to claim 5 , wherein
the measurement unit includes
a light emission timing adjusting section for generating a timing control signal for adjusting light emission timing for each of the light projecting sections among a plurality of measurement units, and
a control signal transmitting section for transmitting the timing control signal to the measurement unit that is connected through the input-output port.

7 . The area monitoring sensor according to claim 1 , wherein
the measurement unit further includes a power circuit that is connected with an external power supply to supply electric power to the display unit by use of electric power supplied from the external power supply.

Assignees

• Keyence Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kawanaka Masashi
• Tagashira Tsuyoshi

Classifications

• G01V8/20

  using multiple transmitters or receivers · CPC title

• F16P3/144

  using light grids · CPC title

• G08B13/183

  by interruption of a radiation beam or barrier · CPC title

• F16P3/142 Primary

  using image capturing devices · CPC title

• G01V8/10

  Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers (by reflection from the object G01S17/00) · CPC title