SYSTEM FOR SIMULATING SENSORS

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for simulating sensors that in particular measure a distance between the sensor and an object, that measure geometrical dimensions of the object, that measure positions of the object, that measure material, contrast, color, luminescence, brightness or transparency of the object, that measure polarization of the light reflected by the object or that measure a magnetic field strength.

Claims

1. A system for simulating sensors, the system having an input unit for inputting a limited number of physical parameters that parameterize one or more predefined sensor requirements; having a memory unit in which sensor models are stored with sensor model properties; and having an evaluation unit for simulating all the sensors as to whether they satisfy the parameterized sensor requirements and the simulation takes place with reference to the stored sensor models, with at least one mapping specification being associated with each sensor model property, with which mapping specification one or more of the sensor model properties are mapped onto one of the parameterized sensor requirements, and the evaluation unit comprises an assessment unit that assesses whether a sensor model satisfies the parameterized sensor requirements.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the simulated sensors are configured to measure one of the following: a distance between the sensor and an object, geometrical dimensions of an object, positions of an object, material of an object, contrast of an object, color of an object, luminescence of an object, brightness of an object, transparency of an object, polarization of light reflected by an object and a magnetic field strength.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the assessment unit assesses how well a sensor model satisfies the parameterized sensor requirements.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a display unit is provided for displaying at least some of the assessment result.

5. The system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the display unit outputs a ranking of the simulated sensors in accordance with the assessment result.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mapping specification is an analytical function and/or a diagram stored in the memory unit and/or a look-up table.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein only predefined values can be input with respect to specific parameters.

8. A computer program having program code means that are configured such that a system having an input unit for inputting a limited number of physical parameters that parameterize one or more predefined sensor requirements; having a memory unit in which sensor models are stored with sensor model properties; and having an evaluation unit for simulating all the sensors as to whether they satisfy the parameterized sensor requirements and the simulation takes place with reference to the stored sensor models, with at least one mapping specification being associated with each sensor model property, with which mapping specification one or more of the sensor model properties are mapped onto one of the parameterized sensor requirements, and the evaluation unit comprises an assessment unit that assesses whether a sensor model satisfies the parameterized sensor requirements, arises when the program is executed on a computer.

9. A computer program product having program code means that are stored on a computer-readable data carrier and that are configured such that a system having an input unit for inputting a limited number of physical parameters that parameterize one or more predefined sensor requirements; having a memory unit in which sensor models are stored with sensor model properties; and having an evaluation unit for simulating all the sensors as to whether they satisfy the parameterized sensor requirements and the simulation takes place with reference to the stored sensor models, with at least one mapping specification being associated with each sensor model property, with which mapping specification one or more of the sensor model properties are mapped onto one of the parameterized sensor requirements, and the evaluation unit comprises an assessment unit that assesses whether a sensor model satisfies the parameterized sensor requirements, arises when the program product is executed on a computer.

Description

[0028] The invention will be explained in detail in the following with reference to an embodiment and to the drawing. There are shown in the drawing:

[0029] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a system in accordance with the invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a stylized graphic for inputting parameters of predefined sensor requirements; and

[0031] FIG. 3 a schematic representation for illustrating the mapping specifications for associating the sensor model properties with the parameterized sensor requirements.

[0032] Sensors suitable for a current application should ultimately be determined from a plurality of sensors using the system in accordance with the invention for simulating sensors. Sensor models are therefore simulated by the simulation while taking account of application-specific sensor requirements that result from a current application. The application-specific sensor requirements are determined by physical parameters. In the simplest case, an application-specific sensor demand can, for example, be that the sensor has to be able to measure in a distance range of 1 m to 2 m. The parameter that parameterizes this sensor requirement is then a distance value.

[0033] The system 10 can be formed by a computer 10 that can be configured in the most varied, known manners, for example as a desktop PC as shown by way of example in FIG. 1, as a tablet PC, as a smartphone or the like. The system 10 has at least one input unit 17, 18, a memory unit 13 and an evaluation unit 12 as well as a display unit 14. Other compositions of the system 10 are possible. The memory unit could e.g. be installed on an external server (“cloud”).

[0034] For support in the inputting of the parameters, a stylized, typical exemplary application situation 16 is shown on the display unit 14 by means of graphical symbols that will be explained in the following. This exemplary application situation 16 is representative for a plurality of applications so that it is of a stylized nature. The individual symbols represent physical objects and/or properties of the application. The aim of the representation is ideal graphical support in the detection of the parameters for a sensor requirement.

[0035] The plurality of parameters may not ask too much of the user and require an ideally adapted graphical support in order e.g. to detect object dimensions correctly with respect to the position of the sensor and to the direction of movement of the object. The application scene is shown suitably when it reproduces the actual situation as correctly as possible and causes a high identification in the user.

[0036] The exemplary application situation 16 is shown enlarged in FIG. 2 and will be explained in more detail with respect to FIG. 2. A symbol 200 is representative of the sensor (or sensors) that should operate the current application. The application itself is represented by symbols 202, 204 and 206. The symbol 202 is representative of an object to be detected; the symbol 204 is representative of a direction of movement of the object and the symbol 206 is representative of a distance between the sensor 200 and the object 202. The distance itself, but also foreground information such as the installation conditions can also be input via the symbol 206 as explained further below.

[0037] Further symbols can additionally be provided such as a symbol 208 for a performance requirement, which is to be understood as the object speed, the resolution and the accuracy, and a symbol 210 for the description of the space behind the object (application background).

[0038] Parameter sets are defined for each symbol of the application, with the parameters corresponding, as mentioned above, to sensor requirements, that is to physical properties of the current application for which a sensor is to be simulated and thus specifying the application. The parameter sets can be preallocated with suitable default values.

[0039] An object parameter set is defined with respect to the object symbol 202 that can comprise one or more of the following parameters: “minimal object length in the direction of movement”, “maximum object length in the direction of movement”, “minimal object width”, “maximum object width”, “minimal object height”, “maximum object height”, “positional tolerance”, “material”, “contrast”, “color”, “luminescence”, “brightness”, “transparency”, “depolarization capability”, “focusing capability”, “magnetic field strength”.

[0040] To be able to correctly detect the object dimensions with respect to the sensor and to the direction of movement, graphical representations are sensible that are arranged downstream and with which the length, width and height of objects is also clearly enabled with two-dimensional sensor devices. This is roughly indicated by the three-dimensional representation of the object system 202 as a box.

[0041] A direction parameter set is defined with respect to the direction of movement symbol 204 and a distance parameter set is defined with respect to the object distance symbol 206. The distance parameter set can comprise one or more of the following parameters: “distance sensor to object”, “distance sensor to reflector”, and “object guidance tolerances”. The properties of the space in front of the object (foreground information) and/or installation conditions can also be input via the object distance symbol 206. The installation conditions are in particular relevant to inductive sensors since what is decisive with these sensors is the distance at which objects, in particular metal objects are located, and the size of said objects, in the region of the front end of the sensor.

[0042] The aforesaid background parameter set can comprise a parameter “background type”. Different background types of different sensor systems can thus be described. The background is thus formed by the receiver in a separate transmitter/receiver system. With fork sensors, the background is formed by one of the fork branches; and with reflection systems by a reflector. Another parameter can be “extraneous light”. Background properties such as disturbing extraneous light or undefined reflections at boundary layers can thereby also be described from which, for example, the selection of specific light scanners (with or without background suppression) is derived.

[0043] The larger part of all possible applications can be detected using this set of symbols and associated parameters. The parameters are stored in a parameter memory 306. The input can take place through the most varied known types, for example by clicking on a symbol, whereby a drop down selection menu opens, or by the input of specific numbers, e.g. input of the sensor to object distance, for example by direct number input into a corresponding window that opens by clicking on the corresponding symbol 206 or by dragging graphical symbols.

[0044] Sensor models are stored in the memory unit 13 with sensor model properties. The invention relates to the situation when the parameterized sensor requirements are not identical to sensor model properties since a mechanism is required for exactly this situation to bring the sensor requirements and the sensor model properties into line. This does not preclude there nevertheless being able to be parameterized sensor requirements that correspond 1 to 1 to a sensor model property. This applies, for example, to a sensor to object distance as a sensor requirement that corresponds to a sensor model property “measurement range”. This is, however, a trivial case for which no simulation would be required on its own.

[0045] The invention therefore deals with the situations in which these trivial cases are not present or are not present alone. The evaluation unit 12 is therefore provided with which all the stored sensors can be simulated. A check is therefore made in the simulation whether the available sensors satisfy the parameterized sensor requirements when applying the associated sensor model. Since, as already mentioned, the parameterized sensor requirements are not identical to the sensor model properties, the simulation takes place in accordance with the invention in a manner such that at least one mapping specification is associated with each sensor model property, with which mapping specification one or more of the sensor model properties is mapped to one of the parameterized sensor requirements.

[0046] This is shown in a simple manner in FIG. 3. In this respect, the sensor model properties 302 that are stored in a database 300 are mapped to the parameters of the application stored in the parameter memory 306 by means of the mapping specification 304 associated with the respective sensor model. The mapping specifications 304 specific to the sensor model had been previously set up. This means that there are associations between the stored parameters and the sensor model properties 302 on the basis of the stored mapping specifications 304. After the selection or input of the parameters by an input at the computer 10, the sensor modules are now run through the simulation by the computer 10.

[0047] The mapping specifications 304 were set up with knowledge of all the selectable parameters and thus include the expert knowledge of the sensors and application fields. A mapping specification 302 can be stored as an analytical function and/or as a diagram stored in the database and/or as a look-up table. For example, the requirement may be made in the application that a barcode of a minimal line thickness d and with a line spacing d1 should be detected at a contrast K and at a predefined speed v within a distance range. A stored mapping specification for a point scanning sensor could comprise the linking of different functional relationships such as the light spot size over the scanning distance, the light spot size in relation to the line width and to the gap and the ratio of the contrast resolution of the sensor to the prevailing contrast of the application (barcode). The advantage of such mapping specifications is actually that complex functional relationships can be taken into account in the simulation.

[0048] The expert knowledge of the sensors and their usability is included in these more complex mapping specifications that each have to be set up per se once beforehand.

[0049] All the sensor modules are therefore run through by the simulation. In accordance with the invention, an assessment unit 15 is finally provided with which an assessment is made as to whether a sensor model satisfies the parameterized sensor requirements. In a further development, the assessment unit 15 can also assess “how well” a sensor model satisfies the sensor requirements. The result is then a “ranking” of sensor models that can be shown on the display unit 14. Sensor models are then displayed that best match the parameterized sensor requirements and thus the application.

[0050] In addition to the sensors found, required accessories can also be displayed so that the user can recognize that the accessories displayed are required in addition to the found sensor to satisfy the application. The operation and performance of sensors are namely often directly linked to the specific properties of associated components “accessories”. The sensors and the “accessories” then form a total system. Systems are therefore found in such cases on the basis of the parameters that comprise the actual sensor and further components. For example, the system properties are influenced by “accessories” such as reflectors (size and technology) as well as light guides of different lengths (damping) or specific magnets (magnetic field strength). In addition to the sensors found, associated accessories should therefore also be displayed in the results display. For example, a specific reflection light barrier could be present as the result that has a different range, namely a much larger range, with a triple reflector as the reflector than with a reflection film as the reflector. The additional indication of the required reflector type is therefore sensible and helpful in such a case.

[0051] Furthermore, a so-called pre-filter can be provided that can be activated via a symbol 400 or 402. The symbols 400 and 402 stand for two different types of pre-filter.

[0052] The one pre-filter 400 serves to restrict the possibilities by a few specific feature queries (parameters) and to simplify the application detection by more specific queries from the a prior knowledge of the specific technology. If the user restricts himself to such specific parameters and if these parameters are in a predefined association with the sensor models, the system can only utilize these associated sensor models for the simulation and can discard other sensor models. The extent of the simulation is thereby reduced and the simulation runs considerably faster. It is therefore meaningful if the symbols of the exemplary application situation 16 can only be activated when such a pre-filter has been run through.

[0053] Furthermore, another pre-filter 402 can be provided that corresponds to an expert function or advanced function. This pre-filter requires knowledge of the sensor models since it allows a reduction of the selection of possible sensor models. The expert user can thus directly select sensor models that the simulation should utilize. This in turn reduces the simulation effort and the processing time and, due to the aforesaid associations of the sensor demands with the sensor models, it can also reduce the set of the parameters to be input. This pre-filter is a kind of short cut to the desired technology for the advanced user. It is therefore possible to select one or more of the sensor models such as optical sensors or inductive sensors directly with this short cut. All the other sensor models are then no longer considered in the simulation.

[0054] After the simulation, a so-called post-filter can be selectable via a symbol 404. Further parameters such as the type of plug, pnp or npn output, line length and the like can be fixed with this post-filter. A further post-filter can also be provided with respect to features that no longer relate to the current application, but rather relate to non-sensor specific customer wishes such as product novelty, price, availability, special regional features and the like.