Optical sensor with a single continuous injection molded optical element with fresnel lenses
AssigneeLeuze Electronic GmbH & Co.
InventorNorbert Aldiek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to an optical sensor (1) for detecting objects in a monitored area, said sensor comprising at least one transmitter (4) for emitting light rays (3), at least one receiver (6) for receiving transmitted light rays (5), and an evaluation unit (7) for generating an object detection signal in dependence on signals received and present at the receiver (6) output. Furthermore provided is an optical element consisting of an injection-molded plastic part (9). Respectively one first and one second segment of the optical element functions as a Fresnel lens (9a, 9b) for forming a beam with the transmitted light rays (3) and/or the received light rays (5).
Claims14
An optical sensor for detecting objects within a monitored area, said sensor comprising:
- at least one transmitter adapted to emit light rays;
- at least one receiver adapted to receive transmitted light rays;
- an evaluation unit adapted to generate an object detection signal in dependence on the signals received by the at least one receiver;
- an optical element including a first and second segment that respectively form a Fresnel lens adapted to form a light beam with the transmitted light rays and/or the received light rays;
- and
- an optical guide channel including a front end face located in a plane defined by the optical element, wherein the front end face comprises an indicator element, the optical element and the optical guide channel forming a single part consisting of the same injection-molded plastic part;
- and
- a light-emitting diode attached to a back end face of the optical guide channel, wherein the light-emitting diode is adapted to emit visible rays that are guided inside the optical guide channel, and wherein the visible rays emitted by the light-emitting diode form optical signals visible on the indicator element.
An optical sensor for detecting objects within a monitored area, said sensor comprising:
- at least one transmitter adapted to emit light rays;
- at least one receiver adapted to receive transmitted light rays;
- an evaluation unit adapted to generate an object detection signal in dependence on the signals received by the at least one receiver;
- an optical element including a first and second segment that respectively form a Fresnel lens adapted to form a light beam with the transmitted light rays and/or the received light rays;
- an optical guide channel including a front end face located in a plane defined by the optical element, wherein the front end face comprises an indicator element, the optical element and the optical guide channel forming a single part consisting of the same injection-molded plastic part;
- a light-emitting diode attached to a back end face of the optical guide channel, wherein the light-emitting diode is adapted to emit visible rays that are guided inside the optical guide channel, and wherein the visible rays emitted by the light-emitting diode form optical signals visible on the indicator element;
- a casing into which the optical element is integrated;
- and
- holding arms formed integrally with the optical element and adapted to secure the injection-molded plastic part to the casing, wherein the holding arms function as a lock-in device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.