# US 10,246,190 B2 · Adaptive optical sensor for container presence and motion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,190 B2 - Document ID: US10246190B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/382,183 - Filed: 2016-12-16 - Published: 2018-06-21 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-16 - Assignees: Goodrich Corporation - Applicants: Goodrich Corporation - Inventors: Scott Harms; Justin D. Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246190B2 ## CPC - B64D 9/00: Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like - B64C 1/20: specially adapted for freight - B64C 1/22: Other structures integral with fuselages to facilitate loading {, e.g. cargo bays, cranes} - H05B 45/12: using optical feedback - H05B 47/10: Controlling the light source - H05B 47/11: by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light - H05B 47/115: by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings - B64D 2009/006: {Rollers or drives for pallets of freight containers, e.g. PDU} - G01V 8/12: using one transmitter and one receiver - Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A power drive unit (PDU) includes a light source configured to generate light as pulses with pulse intervals between the pulses. The PDU also includes a light driver configured to control the light source to generate the light at a desired intensity. The PDU also includes a light receiver configured to receive a reflection of the light. The PDU also includes a processor coupled to the light receiver and configured to determine whether the cargo is positioned on the PDU based on the reflection of the light. The PDU also includes a light controller coupled to the processor and the light driver and configured to determine an adjustment to the desired intensity of the light generated by the light source based on an intensity of the reflection of the light and whether the light source is generating a pulse or a pulse interval. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power drive unit (PDU) for moving cargo within an aircraft, comprising: a light source configured to generate light as pulses with pulse intervals between the pulses; a light driver configured to control the light source to generate the light at a desired intensity; a light receiver configured to receive a reflection of the light; a processor coupled to the light receiver and configured to determine whether the cargo is positioned on the PDU based on the reflection of the light; and a light controller coupled to the processor and the light driver and configured to determine an adjustment to the desired intensity of the light generated by the light source based on an intensity of the reflection of the light and whether the light source is generating a pulse or a pulse interval. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The PDU of claim 1, wherein the light controller includes: a first switch configured to output the intensity of the reflection of the light in response to the light source generating the pulse and an average intensity of the reflection of the light detected during a previous pulse in response to the light source generating the pulse interval; and a second switch configured to output the average intensity of the reflection of the light detected during a previous pulse interval in response to the light source generating the pulse and the intensity of the reflection of the light in response to the light source generating the pulse interval. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The PDU of claim 2, wherein the light controller further includes: a first averaging block coupled to the first switch and configured to determine the average intensity of the reflection of the light during the pulse or during the previous pulse; and a second averaging block coupled to the second switch and configured to determine and output the average intensity of the reflection of the light during the pulse interval or during the previous pulse interval. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The PDU of claim 3, wherein the light controller further includes a first summer coupled to the first averaging block and the second averaging block and configured to determine a delta corresponding to a first difference between the average intensity of the reflection of the light during the pulse or during the previous pulse and the average intensity of the reflection of the light during the pulse interval or during the previous pulse interval. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The PDU of claim 4, wherein the light controller further includes a first gain block configured to determine a delta reference by multiplying the desired intensity of the light generated by the light source by a proportional coefficient. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The PDU of claim 5, wherein the light controller further includes a second summer configured to receive the delta reference and the delta and to determine an error signal corresponding to a second difference between the delta reference and the delta. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The PDU of claim 6, wherein the light controller further includes a second gain block configured to determine the adjustment to the desired intensity of the light generated by the light source by multiplying the error signal by the proportional coefficient. ### Claim 8 A cargo loading system for use in an aircraft, comprising: a cargo deck configured to support cargo; and a plurality of power drive units (PDUs) each coupled to the cargo deck and having: a light source configured to generate light as pulses with pulse intervals between the pulses, a light driver configured to control the light source to generate the light at a desired intensity, a light receiver configured to receive a reflection of the light, a processor coupled to the light receiver and configured to determine whether the cargo is positioned on the PDU based on the reflection of the light, and a light controller coupled to the processor and the light driver and configured to determine an adjustment to the desired intensity of the light generated by the light source based on an intensity of the reflection of the light and whether the light source is generating a pulse or a pulse interval. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cargo loading system of claim 8, wherein the light controller includes: a first switch configured to output the intensity of the reflection of the light in response to the light source generating the pulse and an average intensity of the reflection of the light detected during a previous pulse in response to the light source generating the pulse interval; and a second switch configured to output the average intensity of the reflection of the light detected during a previous pulse interval in response to the light source generating the pulse and the intensity of the reflection of the light in response to the light source generating the pulse interval. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cargo loading system of claim 9, wherein the light controller further includes: a first averaging block coupled to the first switch and configured to determine the average intensity of the reflection of the light during the pulse or during the previous pulse; and a second averaging block coupled to the second switch and configured to determine the average intensity of the reflection of the light during the pulse interval or during the previous pulse interval. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cargo loading system of claim 10, wherein the light controller further includes a first summer coupled to the first averaging block and the second averaging block and configured to determine a delta corresponding to a first difference between the average intensity of the reflection of the light during the pulse or during the previous pulse and the average intensity of the reflection of the light during the pulse interval or during the previous pulse interval. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cargo loading system of claim 11, wherein the light controller further includes a first gain block configured to determine a delta reference by multiplying the desired intensity of the light generated by the light source by a proportional coefficient. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cargo loading system of claim 12, wherein the light controller further includes a second summer configured to receive the delta reference and the delta and to output an error signal corresponding to a second difference between the delta reference and the delta. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cargo loading system of claim 13, wherein the light controller further includes a second gain block configured to determine the adjustment to the desired intensity of the light generated by the light source by multiplying the error signal by the proportional coefficient. ### Claim 15 A method for determining desired changes to an amount of light generated by a light source of a power drive unit (PDU), comprising: generating, by the light source, light as pulses with pulse intervals between the pulses; controlling, by a light driver, the light source to generate the light at a desired intensity; receiving, by a light receiver, a reflection of the light; receiving, by a processor and from the light receiver, an intensity of the reflection of the light; determining, by the processor, whether cargo is positioned on the PDU based on the intensity of the reflection of the light; and determining, by a light controller, an adjustment to the desired intensity of the light based on the intensity of the reflection of the light and whether the light source is generating a pulse or a pulse interval. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: outputting, by a first switch of the light controller, the intensity of the reflection of the light in response to the light source generating the pulse; outputting, by a second switch of the light controller, an average intensity of the reflection of the light detected during a previous pulse interval in response to the light source generating the pulse; outputting, by the first switch, the average intensity of the reflection of the light detected during a previous pulse in response to the light source generating the pulse interval; and outputting, by the second switch, the intensity of the reflection of the light in response to the light source generating the pulse interval. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: determining, by a first averaging block of the light controller, the average intensity of the reflection of the light during the pulse or during the previous pulse; and determining, by a second averaging block of the light controller, the average intensity of the reflection of the light during the pulse interval or during the previous pulse interval. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising determining, by a first summer of the light controller, a delta corresponding to a first difference between the average intensity of the reflection of the light during the pulse or during the previous pulse and the average intensity of the reflection of the light during the pulse interval or during the previous pulse interval. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising determining, by a first gain block of the light controller, a delta reference by multiplying the desired intensity of the light generated by the light source by a proportional coefficient. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising: determining, by a second summer of the light controller, an error signal corresponding to a second difference between the delta reference and the delta; and determining, by a second gain block of the light controller, the adjustment to the desired intensity of the light generated by the light source by multiplying the error signal by the proportional coefficient.