Proximity sensor and method for measuring the distance from an object
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01S-013/36
G01S-013/32
G01S-007/35
출원번호
US-0895012
(2013-07-01)
등록번호
US-10132922
(2018-11-20)
국제출원번호
PCT/DE2013/000342
(2013-07-01)
국제공개번호
WO2015/000452
(2015-01-08)
발명자
/ 주소
Fericean, Sorin
Eberspaecher, Mark
출원인 / 주소
Balluff GmbH
대리인 / 주소
Collard & Roe, P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
7
초록▼
A proximity sensor for measuring the distance from an object contains a microwave oscillator providing, as an output signal, a transmission wave emitted toward the object as a free space transmission wave reflected by the object, the object being electrically conductive or having at least one electr
A proximity sensor for measuring the distance from an object contains a microwave oscillator providing, as an output signal, a transmission wave emitted toward the object as a free space transmission wave reflected by the object, the object being electrically conductive or having at least one electrically conductive surface, as a free space reflection wave and is received by the proximity sensor as a reflection wave. The reflection coefficient is determined from the transmission and reflection waves and is provided by the proximity sensor as a measure of the distance. The transmission wave is guided in a waveguide as a waveguide transmission wave and is injected into the waveguide with a wave mode which results in the waveguide transmission wave being separated at the aperture at the front end of the waveguide into the free space transmission wave and in the free space transmission wave propagating to the object.
대표청구항▼
1. Proximity sensor for measuring the distance (D) from an object, comprising: a microwave oscillator which provides a transmission wave as an output signal, which the proximity sensor emits in the direction of the object as a free space transmission wave which the object, which is electrically cond
1. Proximity sensor for measuring the distance (D) from an object, comprising: a microwave oscillator which provides a transmission wave as an output signal, which the proximity sensor emits in the direction of the object as a free space transmission wave which the object, which is electrically conductive or at least has an electrically conductive surface, reflects as a free space reflection wave and the proximity sensor receives as a reflection wave,wherein a determination of the reflection factor (Γ) from the transmission wave and the reflection wave is provided, which the proximity sensor provides as a measure for the distance (D),wherein the transmission wave is guided in a waveguide as a waveguide transmission wave,wherein the injection of the transmission wave into the waveguide is provided with a wave mode which leads to the separation of the waveguide transmission wave at the aperture at the front end of the waveguide into the free space transmission wave and to the propagation of the free space transmission wave towards the object. 2. Proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the TE11 mode is provided as a wave mode when a circular waveguide is used. 3. Proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the waveguide is designed to be circular cylindrical. 4. Proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein a dielectric window is provided at the aperture at the front end of the waveguide. 5. Proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the waveguide is filled with a dielectric material. 6. Proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least one mode changer is provided for the determination of the wave mode of the waveguide transmission wave in the waveguide. 7. Proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein a quadrature mixer is provided for the determination of the reflection factor (Γ) from the transmission wave and the reflection wave. 8. Proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein a 6-gate technique is provided for the determination of the reflection factor (Γ) from the transmission wave and the reflection wave. 9. Proximity sensor according to claim 6, wherein the waveguide, the at least one mode changer and a signal-processing arrangement form a single-part unit, and wherein the at least one mode changer and the signal-processing arrangement are located at a rear end of the waveguide so that the waveguide transmission wave travels in a path that is free towards an open front end of the waveguide. 10. Method for the measurement of the distance (D) from an object, comprising: providing an output signal of a microwave oscillator as a transmission wave which is emitted in the direction of the object as a free space transmission wave which is reflected by the object, which is electrically conductive or at least has an electrically conductive surface, as a free space reflection wave and is received as a reflection wave, wherein the reflection factor (Γ) is determined from the transmission wave and the reflection wave and is provided as a measure for the distance (D),guiding the transmission wave in a waveguide as a waveguide transmission wave, andcarrying out the injection of the transmission wave into the waveguide with a wave mode which leads to the separation of the waveguide transmission wave into the free space transmission wave at the aperture at the front end of the waveguide and to the propagation of the free space transmission wave towards the object. 11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the TE11 mode is provided as a wave mode when a circular waveguide is used. 12. Method according to claim 10, wherein the determination of the distance (D) is carried out for one frequency of the transmission wave and one wave mode. 13. Method according to claim 10, wherein, to determine the distance (D), a tuning of the microwave oscillator is carried out alternatingly to at least two different frequencies of the transmission wave and wherein the determination of the distance (D) is carried out for at least two different frequencies as well as a wave mode. 14. Method according to claim 10, wherein at least one second wave mode is provided for the injection of the transmission wave into the waveguide alternatingly with respect to the first waveguide. 15. Method according to claim 10, wherein the determination of the distance (D) is carried out for one frequency of the transmission wave and at least for two different wave modes. 16. Method according to claim 10, wherein such a further wave mode is provided which leads to a predominantly evanescent field distribution in front of the waveguide. 17. Method according to claim 16, wherein in the case of use of a circular waveguide, the TM01 mode is provided as at least one further wave mode. 18. Method according to claim 13, wherein the determination of the distance (D) is carried out in at least two different ways. 19. Method according to claim 10, wherein a determination of a phase (Ph Γ) of the reflection factor (Γ) is provided as a measure for the distance (D). 20. Method according to claim 10, wherein a determination of a phase (Ph Γ) and of the absolute value |Γ| of the reflection factor (Γ) is provided as a measure for the distance (D). 21. Method according to claim 20, wherein an unambiguous determination of the distance (D) from the phase (Ph Γ) of the reflection factor (Γ) is provided by the absolute value of the reflection factor (Γ), if ambiguity of the phase (Ph Γ) of the reflection factor (Γ) is present within a predetermined measurement range. 22. Method according to claim 10, wherein a rough calibration is carried out to determine a normalization impedance. 23. Method according to claim 22, wherein a fine calibration is carried out after the rough calibration to determine the normalization impedance, wherein the fine calibration comprises developing an interpolation polynomial for the function |Γ (D)| and subsequently carrying out a linearization for the determination of the distance. 24. Method according to claim 10, wherein the distance (D) is provided as an analogue signal. 25. Method according to claim 10, wherein a switch signal is provided which signals that a determined distance (D) is exceeded or fallen below a selected threshold distance. 26. Method according to claim 18, wherein the determination of the distance (D) is carried out by using a plurality of different frequencies of the transmission wave. 27. Method according to claim 18, wherein the determination of the distance (D) is carried by out by using at least two different wave modes of the transmission wave.
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