Optoelectronic sensor and method of measuring the distance from an object

US10877133B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SICK AG · DE

Inventors

• Stefan Kienzler · Waldkirch, DE
• Martin Köhl · Baiersdorf, DE
• Kai Waslowski · Trento, IT
• Ulrich ZWÖLFER · Waldkirch, DE
• Christophe Thil · Waldkirch, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 20, 2018
• Grant date: Dec 29, 2020
• Expiry date: Jul 24, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/894
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optoelectronic sensor is provided for measuring the distance from an object in a monitored zone that has a light transmitter for transmitting individual light signals into the monitored zone; a light receiver having at least one avalanche photodiode operated in Geiger mode for receiving the individual light pulses reflected or remitted by the object; an individual time of flight measurement unit for determining an individual time of flight of an individual light pulse as a duration between a transmitted point in time of the respective individual light pulse and its received point in time at the avalanche photodiode; and an evaluation unit that is configured to determine a common measured value for the distance from a plurality of individual times of flight and to estimate how many individual times of flight are to be expected in a time interval on the basis of background events.