SYSTEM COMPRISING A FIRST PART AND A SECOND PART

Abstract

A system includes a first part and a second part, the second part being movable relative to the first part, the first part having an optical waveguide that radiates light on the side, the second part at least one sensor system for detecting the light intensity.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A system, comprising: an optical waveguide; a first part; and a second part, the second part being movable relative to the first part, the second part being movable relative to the first part in a direction of the optical waveguide installed in an elongated manner; wherein the first part includes an optical waveguide adapted to radiate light at a side, the second part having at least one sensor system adapted to detect light intensity, the first part having a grating arranged between the sensor system and the optical waveguide; wherein the grating includes (a) grating openings in an extension direction of the optical waveguide, (b) grating openings that are spaced apart from one another at regular intervals, and/or (c) a first polarization filter adapted to polarize light emerging from the grating and being radiated in a direction of the sensor system, and has a single polarization direction; wherein the sensor system includes a first sensor adapted to determine light intensity and a second sensor adapted to determine light intensity, a second polarization filter being arranged between the first sensor and the grating on the second part, a third polarization filter being arranged between the second sensor and the grating on the second part, a polarization direction of the second polarization filter having a non-zero angle of rotation with respect to the polarization direction of the third polarization filter and/or an angle of rotation of 90?; wherein the sensor system includes a third sensor adapted to determine light intensity and to receive data for a contact-free data transmission; and wherein no polarization filter is disposed between the optical waveguide and the third sensor.

17. A system, comprising: a first part including an optical waveguide adapted to radiate light on a side; and a second part movable relative to the first part, the second part including at least one sensor system adapted to detect light intensity.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the sensor system is moveable along the optical waveguide when the second part is moved relative to the first part such that light that is laterally radiated from the optical waveguide impinges upon the sensor system.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the sensor system is moveable along the optical waveguide when the second part is moved relative to the first part such that light that is laterally radiated from the optical waveguide impinges upon the sensor system.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the first part has a grating that is arranged between the sensor system and the optical waveguide.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein (a) the grating has grating openings in the extension direction of the optical waveguide, which are spaced apart from one another at regular intervals, and/or (b) the grating has a first polarization filter so that the light that emerges from the grating and is radiated in the direction of the sensor system is polarized and/or has a single polarization direction.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein the sensor system has a first sensor adapted to determine light intensity and a second sensor adapted to determine light intensity, a second polarization filter being arranged between the first sensor and a grating on the second part, a third polarization filter being arranged between the second sensor and the grating on the second part, a polarization direction of the second polarization filter having a non-zero angle of rotation with respect to the polarization direction of the third polarization filter and/or an angle of rotation of 90?.

23. The system according to claim 16, wherein the first, the second, and the third polarization filters have a planar configuration and are aligned parallel to one another.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the first, the second, and the third polarization filters have a planar configuration and are aligned parallel to one another.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein the sensor system includes a third sensor adapted to determine light intensity, and no polarization filter is arranged between the optical waveguide and the third sensor.

26. The system according to claim 16, wherein light irradiated into the optical waveguide is generated by a controllable light source, intensity of the light irradiated into the optical waveguide being modulated according to a data flow generated by a data source.

27. The system according to claim 17, wherein light irradiated into the optical waveguide is generated by a controllable light source, intensity of the light irradiated into the optical waveguide being modulated according to a data flow generated by a data source.

28. The system according to claim 16, further comprising an evaluation unit and/or a modem adapted to demodulate a sensor signal generated by the third sensor is demodulated by an evaluation unit and to convey the demodulated sensor signal to a data sink, a signal-electronics system, and/or a control of the second part.

29. The system according to claim 25, further comprising an evaluation unit and/or a modem adapted to demodulate a sensor signal generated by the third sensor is demodulated by an evaluation unit and to convey the demodulated sensor signal to a data sink, a signal-electronics system, and/or a control of the second part.

30. The system according to claim 16, wherein the second part is rotatable relative to the first part, and/or the second part is movable relative to the first part in a direction of the optical waveguide and/or along a circular path having a diameter at least one hundred times greater than a diameter of a cross-section of the optical waveguide.

31. The system according to claim 17, wherein the second part is rotatable relative to the first part, and/or the second part is movable relative to the first part in a direction of the optical waveguide and/or along a circular path having a diameter at least one hundred times greater than a diameter of a cross-section of the optical waveguide.

32. The system according to claim 16, wherein the second part is arranged as a driverless transport system.

33. The system according to claim 17, wherein the second part is arranged as a driverless transport system.

34. The system according to claim 16, wherein a surface of the optical waveguide is roughened.

35. The system according to claim 17, wherein a surface of the optical waveguide is roughened.

36. The system according to claim 16, wherein each sensor includes at least one photodiode.

37. The system according to claim 17, wherein each sensor includes at least one photodiode.

38. The system according to claim 16, wherein a normal of the plane accommodating the first polarization filter is aligned at a right angle to the polarization direction of the first polarization filter.

39. The system according to claim 24, wherein a normal of the plane accommodating the first polarization filter is aligned at a right angle to the polarization direction of the first polarization filter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In FIG. 1, the stationary part of a system according to an example embodiment of the present invention, which has a laterally luminous optical waveguide 2, is schematically sketched.

[0032] In FIG. 2, a system according to an example embodiment of the present invention, which has a stationary part and mobile components 23, in particular mobile components that are movable in a translatory manner, is schematically sketched.

[0033] In FIG. 3, a rotatory system is schematically sketched.

[0034] In FIG. 4, the stationary part of a system according an example embodiment of to the present invention, which has a laterally luminous optical waveguide 2, is schematically sketched, a grating 40 at least partially covering optical waveguide 2.

[0035] In FIG. 5, a grating 40 for the at least partial coverage of the laterally luminous optical waveguide 2 is shown in addition to the system illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a rotary joint 30 whose stationary part in turn an optical waveguide 2, which is installed in a circular manner and has a grating 40 for an at least partial coverage, light-sensitive sensors for the receiving of data and for determining the position being disposed on the part that is rotatable relative to the stationary part.

[0037] FIG. 7 schematically shows a polarization filter 70 as a grating 40 for rotary joint 30.

[0038] FIG. 8 schematically shows a rotary joint 30; disposed on the stationary part is a polarization filter 70 while a light-sensitive sensor 26 for the receiving of data, and light-sensitive sensors (60), in particular photodiodes, which are covered by a mutually rotated polarization foil, are in turn on the part that is rotatable relative to the stationary part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the light irradiated into an optical waveguide 2 by a light source 1 is able to be emitted at the side if the surface of optical waveguide 2 is roughened so that the reflection, especially the total reflection, of the light beams guided in optical waveguide 2 that occurs at the inner surface is reduced. The lateral radiation is shown with the aid of the arrows.

[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the laterally luminous optical waveguide is able to be moved in a system in an elongated fashion, and mobile components 23 are moving along the optical waveguide in the process.

[0041] Once again, the data transmitted by a data source 20, in particular a higher-level control, are conveyed to light source 22 via a modem 21, so that this light source 22 injects correspondingly modulated light into optical waveguide 2 with the result that this modulated light then laterally emitted from optical waveguide 2.

[0042] Mobile components 23 that are movable along optical waveguide 2 are provided with a light-sensitive sensor in each case, in particular a light receiver 26, whose sensor signals are forwarded to a modem 24, which demodulates and/or decodes the data so that the data are able to be conveyed to a data sink 24. The control of mobile component 23 may be provided as a data sink 24 by way of example. Using light that is radiated by optical waveguide 2 at the side, data are therefore transmittable from a central control of the system to the control of mobile component 23 in a contact-free manner.

[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 3, data are once again conveyed from a data source 20, in particular a higher-level control, to light source 22 via a modem 21 so that this light source 22 injects correspondingly modulated light into optical waveguide 2, this modulated light then being radiated by optical waveguide 2 at the side.

[0044] A light receiver 26, i.e. a light-sensitive sensor, which detects the light laterally radiated by optical waveguide 2, is disposed on part 23 of rotary joint 30 that is rotatably mounted with respect to the stationary part which includes light source 22, modem 21, and data source 20. The sensor signals generated light receiver 26 are conveyed to modem 25, which supplies the data flow that is decoded therefrom to data sink 24. In this instance, a signal-electronics system disposed on part 23 functions as data sink 24. As a result, a contact-free transmission of information to the rotatably mounted part is possible with the aid of the modulated light.

[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 4, laterally radiating optical waveguide 2 is at least partially covered by a grating 40. The lateral radiation along optical waveguide 2 is therefore irregular in accordance with the placement of the grating openings and is able to be used for encoding positional information. When grating 40 is arranged as a polarization grating, polarized light emerges and thereby makes it possible to determine the rotation of mobile component 23 with respect to the polarization plane. A combination of grating 40 having grating openings with polarization grating 40 disposed thereon is also possible so that mobile part 23 is capable of determining its rotation with respect to the polarization plane on the one hand, and the position along the trajectory defined by the optical waveguide on the other. The grating openings along the optical waveguide may be spaced apart from one another at regular intervals. The polarization foil is disposed such that the polarization plane along the optical waveguide is substantially aligned transversely to the optical waveguide. As an alternative, a longitudinal polarization direction, i.e. a polarization direction parallel to the optical waveguide, may also be used.

[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the data transmitted from data source 20 to a modem 21 are in turn conveyed in the form of modulation signals to light source 22, which then injects the correspondingly modulated light into optical waveguide 2, which forwards the light and laterally radiates it through grating(s) 40. In this case, too, a polarization grating is provided as a grating 40, or a grating whose grating openings make it possible to determine a position at least in a relative manner, i.e. by counting the grating openings during the movement along optical waveguide 2.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows two mobile parts 23, which are movable along optical waveguide 2. As a result, a plurality of mobile parts 23 is able to be supplied with data from data source 20. Each mobile part 23 has a light receiver 26, i.e. a sensor that is sensitive to a light intensity. The output signal, i.e. the sensor signal, from sensor 26, is supplied to a modem 25 whose decoded data flow is conveyed to a data sink 24, i.e. a signal-electronics system of mobile part 23 acting as a control, in particular.

[0048] During the travel along optical waveguide 2, the intensity of the light received by sensor 26 varies according to the sequence of the grating openings of grating 40. This makes it possible to determine the position relative to an initial position. Data are able to be received, in particular at a time overlap, by demodulating the received modulated light.

[0049] If an additional polarization filter is available, it is also possible to determine the angle of rotation of respective mobile part 23 relative to the polarization plane of the polarization filter.

[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 6, it is also possible to provide a light-sensitive sensor 26, as in FIG. 5, for the receiving of data, and photodiodes 60, in particular a first photodiode and a second photodiode, in addition, the photo diodes being placed at an offset from one another in the direction of the line conductor, such that when mobile part 23 is moving at a constant speed, the signals from the two photodiodes have the same form and a mutual phase offset of 90? is present. This makes it possible to determine the position in an accurate manner.

[0051] Grating 40, which is disposed on optical waveguide 2 in FIG. 6, may be arranged in an annular form.

[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 7, this grating 40 may also be replaced by an annular grating 70 that is produced from a polarization foil. The polarization plane of polarization foil 70 produced in this manner, i.e. of first polarization filter 70, is aligned parallel to the axis of rotation throughout. As a result, light that has a single polarization direction as a whole is laterally emitted by the stationary part from the optical waveguide.

[0053] In contrast, a first polarization foil 80, i.e. a second polarization filter 80, is situated on the rotatably mounted part upstream from the aforementioned first photodiode, and a second polarization foil 81, i.e. a third polarization filter 80, is situated upstream from the second photodiode, the polarization plane of first polarization foil 80, and thus also the associated polarization direction, being rotated at an angle, in particular at 90? for example, relative to the polarization plane of second polarization foil 81, and thus also relative to the associated polarization direction. The first and the second polarization foils (80, 81) are situated in a planar manner in each case, and these two planes are not only situated parallel to each other but also parallel to the particular plane in which polarization foil 70 is situated.

[0054] As illustrated in FIG. 8, a corresponding ratio of the light intensities detected by the two photodiodes 60 is therefore obtainable as a function of the angle of rotation of the rotatable part relative to the stationary part. This makes it possible to bijectively determine the angle of rotation, at least in a circumferential-angle range of 180?. During the rotary motion of the rotatable part, the characteristic of, and/or the change in, the light intensities may be determined as well, thereby determining the angular position in a bijective manner, at least relative to an initial angular position.

[0055] The characteristic of the light intensities determined by the two angle sensors 60 at a uniform rotary motion of the rotatable part relative to the stationary part has a mutual phase offset of 90?.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0056] 1 light source [0057] 2 laterally luminous optical waveguide [0058] 20 data source [0059] 21 modem [0060] 22 light transmitter [0061] 23 mobile part [0062] 24 data sink [0063] 25 modem [0064] 26 light receiver [0065] 30 rotary joint [0066] 40 grating, in particular polarization filter or position-encoded grating [0067] 60 photodiodes, in particular first photodiode and second photodiode [0068] 70 polarization filter [0069] 80 second polarization filter [0070] 81 third polarization filter