Optical sensor according to the time-of-flight principle for detecting objects in a monitored region

US12248104B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Pepperl+Fuchs SE · DE

Inventors

• Lutz Lohmann · Olching, DE
• Hinrik Weber · Berlin, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 11, 2019
• Grant date: Mar 11, 2025
• Expiry date: Jul 14, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S7/4818
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical sensor according to the time-of-flight principle for detecting objects in a monitored region, having a first transmitter for transmitting first light pulses into the monitored region, a first receiver for detecting first light pulses radiated back by a first object to be detected in the monitored region, a second transmitter for transmitting second light pulses into the monitored region, a second receiver for detecting second light pulses radiated back by the first object or by a further object in the monitored region, a control and evaluation unit which is designed to control the first transmitter and to evaluate the first light pulses detected by the first receiver and to control the second transmitter and to evaluate the second light pulses detected by the second receiver, characterised in that between the first transmitter and the second receiver a first optical reference path is formed, between the second transmitter and the first receiver a second optical reference path is formed, the control and evaluation unit is designed to trigger the first transmitter to transmit first test light pulses which reach the second receiver on the first opti…