METHOD FOR OPERATING A SENSOR SYSTEM, SENSOR ELEMENT AND SENSOR SYSTEM

Abstract

A method for operating a sensor system having at least three sensor elements that can be attached on the surface of machines or components, the sensor elements having electrodes for forming electrical fields between electrodes having different electrical potential, the electrical fields changing upon the approach and/or contact of a body or an object, the electrodes acting as transmit electrode and/or as receive electrode, and the sensor elements being controlled in succession by a control device in a particular temporal or positional sequence.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A method for operating a sensor system having at least three sensor elements that can be attached on the surface of machines or components, the sensor elements having electrodes for forming electrical fields between electrodes having different electrical potentials, the electrical fields changing upon approach and/or upon contact of a body or an object, the electrodes acting as transmit electrodes and/or as receive electrodes, and the sensor elements being controlled successively by a control device in a determined temporal or positional sequence, the method comprising: one of: forming simultaneously at least two electrical fields between a first sensor element, acting as a transmit electrode, and two second sensor elements acting as receive electrodes; or forming simultaneously the at least formed electrical fields two first sensor elements acting as transmit electrodes, and a second sensor element acting as a receive electrode.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein all sensor elements not acting as a transmit electrode are simultaneously switched as to act as a receive electrode.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein at least two of the sensor elements situated immediately adjacent to one another are switched to act as a transmit electrode in temporal succession, and the respective sensor element of the at least two of the sensor elements previously acting as a transmit electrode is switched to act as a receive electrode.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising: comparing, using an algorithm, measurement signals from electrical fields situated spatially close to one another with measurement signals of electrical fields situated spatially far from one another, using an algorithm.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of: (i) a plurality of the sensor elements acting as receive electrodes are electrically connected together, and (ii) a plurality of the sensor elements acting as a transmit electrode are electrically connected together.

18. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein, in a first step, an electrical field formed between two sensor elements is produced by operating a first sensor element as a transmit electrode and a second sensor element as a receive electrode, and, in a second step, the electrical field is produced by operating the second sensor element as a transmit electrode and the first sensor element as a receive electrode.

19. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein, some electrical fields are formed simultaneously and other electrical fields are formed in temporal succession.

20. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the sensor elements acting as a transmit electrode are operated with different frequencies.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein at least one of the sensor elements is switched to act as a receive electrode, and the at least one sensor element acting as a receive electrode is designed to distinguish the different frequencies using filters.

22. A sensor element having a single electrode for forming a part of an electrical field, the single electrode being capable of being connected to a different electrical potential in such a way that the single electrode can act as a receive electrode and can act as a transmit electrode.

23. A sensor system including a plurality of sensor elements, each of the sensor elements having a single electrode for forming a part of an electrical field, the single electrode being capable of being connected to a different electrical potential in such a way that the single electrode can act as a receive electrode and can act as a transmit electrode, the sensor elements being capable of being controlled by a common control device via a bus system.

24. The sensor system as recited in claim 23, wherein the sensor system is part of a machine controlling for recognizing an approach of objects or bodies.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 through FIG. 4 show a sensor system made up of a plurality of sensor elements in which electrical fields are produced in temporal succession, in a simplified representation.

[0020] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through a sensor element as used in the sensor system according to FIGS. 1 through 4.

[0021] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show simplified representations showing the formation of electrical fields during two temporally successive cycles.

[0022] FIG. 8 shows a representation of a sensor system in which dead zones formed between sensor elements can be recognized.

[0023] FIG. 9 shows a simplified schematic diagram of a sensor system according to the present invention as part of a machine controlling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Identical elements, or elements having identical function, have been provided with identical reference characters in the Figures.

[0025] In FIGS. 1 through 4, as an example four capacitive sensor elements 1a through 1d situated adjacent to one another are shown in simplified fashion as part of a sensor system 100. In particular, it can be provided that sensor elements 1a through 1d are situated on a machine component or on a robot in the area of a movable component such as a gripper arm or the like. The situation of the individual sensor elements 1a through 1d can be done for example through adhesive bonding on the surface of the component. In addition, it is to be noted that, only as an example and for better clarity, four sensor elements 1a through 1d are shown. In practice, such a sensor system 100 will however have a large number of such sensor elements 1a through 1d, for example several hundred sensor elements 1a through 1d. The individual sensor elements 1a through 1d also do not necessarily have to be fashioned identically and/or have the same size.

[0026] In addition, a plurality of the sensor elements 1a through 1d can be constructively combined and for example situated on a common circuit bearer. Sensor elements 1a through 1d are thus functionally separate units that however do not necessarily have to be separated from one another in terms of their construction.

[0027] With regard to the possible design of such a sensor element 1a (through 1d), reference is now made to FIG. 5. There it can be seen that sensor element 1a has, on its side facing the external environment, an (active) electrode element 11. Electrode element 11, made thin or flat, can be electrically switched either as transmit electrode or as receive electrode. For this purpose, electrode element 11 is capable of being connected to a different voltage potential. On the side facing away from the external environment, a first bearer or intermediate element 12 is connected to electrode element 11. On the side of intermediate element 12 facing away from electrode element 11, there is situated a shielding electrode 13 that is connected to electrical ground at least at the time of measurement. A second intermediate layer 14 is connected to shielding electrode 13. To second intermediate layer 14 there is connected a first signal layer 15 to which in turn a third intermediate layer 16 is connected. On the side of third intermediate layer 16 facing away from first signal layer 15, there is connected a second signal layer 17 on which electronic components 18 are situated.

[0028] With reference to FIGS. 1 through 4, a possible mode of operation of sensor system 100 is explained as follows: first, corresponding to FIG. 1, sensor element 1a is switched as transmit electrode, while adjacent sensor elements 1b through 1d are each switched as, or act as, receive electrode. In this way, three electrical (alternating) fields 21 through 23 are simultaneously formed, shown in FIG. 1 by a respective single field line as an example. First electrical field 21 is formed between sensor element 1a and sensor element 1b. Second electrical field 22 is formed between sensor element 1a and sensor element 1c. Third electrical field 23 is formed between sensor element 1a and sensor element 1d. All three electrical fields 21 through 23 can be monitored by an evaluation device (not shown in FIGS. 1 through 4) in order for example to recognize the approach of a hand H to electrical fields 21 through 23.

[0029] After the formation of electrical fields 21 through 23, subsequently three further electrical fields 24 through 26 are formed according to FIG. 2. Electrical fields 24 through 26 are formed in that sensor element 1b is now operated as transmit electrode, while sensor elements 1a, 1c, and 1d act as receive electrode.

[0030] Subsequently, according to FIG. 3, three electrical fields 27 through 29 are in turn formed. Here, sensor element 1c is operated as transmit electrode, while sensor elements 1a, 1b, and 1d act as receive electrode.

[0031] Finally, corresponding to FIG. 4, three electrical fields 30 through 32 are produced, sensor elements 1a, 1b, and 1c acting as receive electrode, while sensor element 1d acts as transmit electrode.

[0032] Subsequently, electrical fields 21 through 32 can again be formed corresponding to the sequence of FIGS. 1 through 4, or in a reverse sequence, or, alternatively, in any sequence. FIGS. 6 and 7 show a further operating mode of sensor system 100, using six sensor elements 1a through 1f. In order to illustrate which of sensor elements 1a through 1f acts as transmit electrode or as receive electrode, sensor elements 1a through 1f are designated E1 through E6, while a sensor element acting as transmit electrode is designated S.

[0033] On the basis of FIG. 6, it can be seen that at a first time sensor element 1f acts as transmit electrode S, while adjacent sensor element 1a acts as receive electrode E1. Between the two sensor elements 1a and 1f an electrical field 33 is formed. Subsequently, corresponding to FIG. 7, the functioning of the two sensor elements 1a and 1f is reversed in such a way that now sensor element 1a acts as transmit electrode S, while sensor element 1f acts as receive electrode E6. Here, an electrical field 34 is formed between the two sensor elements 1a and 1f.

[0034] FIG. 8 shows how, given the use of six sensor elements 1a through 1f, an object, in the form of a hand H, that is approaching between the two sensor elements 1a and 1f is recognized. Here it is essential that, as hand H approaches from a direction in which an electrical field 35 formed between sensor elements 1a and 1f is not changed, the approach of hand H to sensor system 100 is recognized through a change of electrical fields 36 and 37 between sensor elements 1f and 1b, as well as 1f and 1c. The two electrical fields 38 and 39 between sensor element 1f and sensor element 1d, or sensor element 1e, for example do not change when hand H approaches sensor system 100.

[0035] FIG. 9 further explains the design or configuration of sensor system 100. In particular, it can be seen that a multiplicity of sensor elements 1a through 1n are connected or coupled in the form of a chain, via a common bus line 101, to a central unit 102 acting as control device. The supply of voltage to individual sensor elements 1a through 1n also takes place via central unit 102, via connecting lines 103, 104. In addition, serial connections 105, 106 for data exchange are respectively present both between the individual sensor elements 1a through 1n and between sensor element 1a and central unit 102. Central unit 102 is connected to a machine controlling 110 that operates or puts the machine for example into a safe mode when there is an approach of an object or a person. In addition, central unit 102 can be configured via a computer 115.

[0036] In addition, it is to be noted that the recognition of the approach of an object or a person to sensor elements 1a through 1f can be realized by an analog, digital, or mixed analog/digital circuit. In addition, it is to be noted that, in contrast to FIG. 5, sensor elements 1a through 1f can also be fashioned or realized in that either, as shown in FIG. 5, each electrode 11 has assigned to it a separate sensor element 1a through 1f, or a separate substrate, or else a plurality of electrodes 11 of sensor elements 1a through 1f are situated on a common substrate.

[0037] The layer construction of a sensor element 1a through 1f can also differ from the design shown in FIG. 5. Thus, for example it can be possible to provide no further electrode elements alongside active electrode element 11. It is also for example possible for a bias electrode to be situated or connected between electrode element 11 and shielding electrode 13. In addition, it can be provided that an electrode element 11 is fashioned only as transmit electrode or receive electrode. In addition, it can be provided to situate sensor system 100 described above, or sensor elements 1a through 1f, in for example (plastic) casing shells of an industrial robot or a machine. The electronic components can be situated on the same substrate as the electrode elements, or at least some of the components can be situated on a constructively separate circuit bearer.

[0038] A further acceleration of the measurement process can be achieved in that one or more sensor elements 1a through 1n, acting as transmit electrodes, are simultaneously operated with different transmit frequencies, and that the different transmit frequencies are simultaneously acquired by sensor elements 1a through 1n, acting as receive electrodes, for example using filters.

[0039] With regard to the evaluation method of electrical fields 21 through 38, it is to be noted that a comparison of the change in measurement value of each electrical field 21 through 38, or characteristic values calculated therefrom, with an upper or lower boundary value can be carried out for each electrical field 21 through 38, and machine controlling 110 can be put into a safe state when such a boundary value is exceeded or fallen below. A dynamic approach of an object or person can also be inferred if the change in a measurement value of an electrical field 21 through 38 takes place faster than a specified boundary value. By including the measurement values of adjacent sensor elements 1a through 1n and processing them using suitable algorithms in order to plausibilize the measurement values, or in order to in the case of sensor elements 1a through 1n that do not stand in a fixed spatial relation to one another, a reliable recognition of safety-critical approaches is enabled.

[0040] With regard to possible applications, in addition to use in industrial plants or industrial robots, it is to be noted that such a sensor system 100 can for example also be installed in a chassis part of a motor vehicle, such as a fender, in order in this way for example to perform an assistance and safety function.

[0041] Sensor system 100 described above can be modified in many ways without departing from the present invention.