Self-calibrating photoelectric control system
US7071452B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 28, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 4, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 28, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47F9/04
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A self-calibrating photoelectric control system for use in a checkstand to control the starting and stopping of a conveyer belt utilized to move products closer to a checkout clerk. The self-calibrating photoelectric control system including a light source for emitting a light beam having an intensity, a photoelectric sensor for receiving light from the light source and for generating an output signal when the received light is equal to or greater than a light-state threshold of the photoelectric sensor; and a calibration circuit for automatically calibrating the sensitivity of the photoelectric control system to partial beam breaks after occurrence of any one of a plurality of predefined events. The calibration circuit is operative for performing a calibration process which adjusts the intensity of the light beam emitted by the light source such that the intensity is slightly greater than the light-state threshold of the photoelectric sensor. By repeatedly performing the calibration process at selected times, the present invention optimizes the detection of objects that partially block the light beam, and thereby greatly enhances the system's ability to detect translucent and low-…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.