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Application Notes

Optoelectronic personal protection

OPEN SESAME

The fact that doors open and close by themselves in the supermarket, in the hotel lobby or on the suburban railway is now so commonplace that hardly anyone thinks about how they actually work. Sophisticated intelligent sensor technology is often behind this, which is not only convenient, but also prevents serious accidents - and LASER COMPONENTS supplies the optoelectronic components to ensure that everything works smoothly.

FROM THE SIMPLE LIGHT BARRIER TO THE LIGHT CURTAIN

SAH1L12-012S14 Si APD Array SAH1L12-012S14 Si APD Array

The simplest system is the well-known one-way light barrier, which recognises obstacles at a certain height: controlled by electronics, a light source constantly emits a beam that is received by an opposing detector. In the case of sliding doors, light sources with infrared radiation, which is invisible to the eye, are used for this purpose. The beam is usually located at ankle height. As soon as it is interrupted, the receiver gives the feedback signal "obstacle" and the door opens for a while. 


This safety device is usually sufficient for ground-level doors. In other situations, however, the light barriers are often combined with additional safety mechanisms. When boarding many trains, for example, a step has to be negotiated. Older passengers, in particular, hold on to the handrail before stepping onto the first step. If the light barrier is only installed at ankle height, the door may close prematurely and the passenger's arm may become trapped. Additional technologies such as pressure sensors or further light barriers can prevent such situations.


So-called light curtains are also increasingly replacing simple light barriers. Many transmitter and receiver units form a fine line grid so that nothing can get caught in a sliding door. Light curtains are also widely used in industry, where they ensure, for example, that machines are stopped as soon as someone enters the danger zone.

COMPLEX SENSORS FOR REVOLVING DOORS

Beyond Borders

Revolving Door Revolving Door

Revolving doors inhibit draughts and thus save energy costs. This is why they are often used in hotels or large office buildings. Here, the safety requirements stipulated in DIN18650 are considerably more complex than for sliding doors. Electronic distance measurement is intended to provide additional safety and prevent people from being trapped or getting stuck in the swing doors. Two optoelectronic methods are the most common: the cost-effective triangulation method and the use of complex laser scanners with time-of-flight measurement.

DISTANCE MEASUREMENT

by means of triangulation methods

The triangulation method is mainly used for automatically rotating revolving doors: If someone stops in a door leaf, the door stops turning.

The principle is similar to that of a light barrier, but sensors are used as receivers that make it possible to determine the position - for example PSDs (Position Sensitive Detectors) or CCD cameras.

In simple terms, the sensor continuously measures the distance to the ground. As soon as the measured distance decreases, an obstacle is recognised and the door system is stopped.

OBJECT RECOGNITION

WITH LASER SCANNERS

When maximum precision and speed are required, laser scanners come into play. They are used as anti-trap protection on revolving doors and in industrial applications to protect against machinery: the sensors detect intrusion into a dangerous area and trigger a (machine) stop.

Laser scanners work according to the principle of optical time-of-flight measurement. In the typical setup of industrial laser scanners, a rotating mirror is used to scan a two-dimensional surface in order to capture the surroundings (see illustration). The systems achieve a high angular resolution, which enables precise and detailed distance measurement.

Industrial laser scanners typically cover an angular range of up to 270°. The automotive industry even uses systems that cover 360° for autonomous vehicles. With a three-sided mirror, the scanning surface is scanned three times per rotation. If the mirror surfaces were tilted, it would even be possible to scan inclined planes instead of a purely two-dimensional surface.

SUITABLE TRANSMITTERS AND RECEIVERS

FROM A SINGLE SOURCE

Laser scanners are used to monitor very different distance ranges. Pulsed laser diodes (PLDs) are used as the light source. The shorter the distance to be measured, the smaller the pulse width. Typical versions are << 10 ns. At long distances, however, the pulse power must be high enough to be able to detect the returning signal.


LASER COMPONENTS manufactures customised pulsed laser diodes in Canada. For distance measurement, 905 nm PLDs are usually requested. Various detectors are used as receivers, including avalanche photodiodes (APDs). APDs also receive weak light signals and are therefore the preferred choice. The production facility for the photodiodes in Arizona is also strong in the development of customised detectors and the APD arrays, which are ideal for laser scanners, are outstanding.

Selecting the right components is a basic prerequisite for accurate and reliable distance measurement. What sounds simple can often become a pitfall: You can therefore rely on the specialists at LASER COMPONENTS - in addition to developing and manufacturing the components, our experts provide comprehensive advice and are also aware of the importance of the source and receiver circuitry.

Winfried Reeb
We offer advice on selecting the right components
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Pulsed Laser Diodes at 905 nm

Single emitters, stacks and multi-junction pulsed laser diodes up to 650 W

Quick selection! Click here to find the laser diode you need and check its data sheet.  Laser Diode Selector
FAC Package FAC Package
Pulsed Laser Diodes at 1550 nm

Pulsed laser diodes at 1550 nm up to 40 W

Quick selection! Click here to find the laser diode you need and check its data sheet.  Laser Diode Selector
SAE230NM8 SAE230NM8
Si Avalanche Photodiodes

SAPDs are suitable for the spectral range from 260 nm to 1100 nm.

Silicon avalanche photodiodes are used in the wavelength range from the UV to the near infrared. LASER COMPONENTS manufactures different series: highest quality for demanding systems, over customized version to components made for consumer products. 
IAG080S5 IAG080S5
InGaAs APDs
1100 - 1700 nm

Best efficiency thanks to excellent signal-to-noise ratio.

The IAG series avalanche photodiodes feature a particularly good signal-to-noise ratio and support an amplification of more than 30. The inexpensive IAL series is made for consumer products.

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Beyond Borders

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Winfried Reeb
Head of Business Unit Active Components
Winfried Reeb
LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH
82140 Olching
Pierre Chazan
Senior Business Development Manager
Pierre Chazan
LASER COMPONENTS S.A.S.
92190 Meudon
Svante Karlsson
Sales Account Manager
Svante Karlsson
Laser Components Nordic AB
41263 Göteborg - Sweden
Edward Williams
Technical Sales Engineer
Edward Williams
LASER COMPONENTS (UK) Ltd.
CM2 7PR Chelmsford Essex
Dr. Mike Hodges
Sales Account Manager / Active Components
Dr. Mike Hodges
LASER COMPONENTS Germany GmbH
82140 Olching
Harvey Washbrook
Sales Account Manager
Harvey Washbrook
Laser Components Nordic AB
41263 Göteborg - Sweden
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82140 Olching
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