Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Housings
Patent
1992-08-06
1993-12-14
Nelms, David C.
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Housings
25022711, H01J 502
Patent
active
052705412
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a multiple photoelectric switch apparatus including a plurality of photoelectric switches disposed therein in the form of a block.
2. Background Art
In a case where many photoelectric switches are necessitated, a multiple photoelectric switch apparatus including many photoelectric switches in the form of a block is utilized. The multiple photoelectric switch apparatus includes an apparatus body and a plurality of sensing sections connected to the body. The sensing sections are respectively disposed at locations where objects are to be sensed. The apparatus body is disposed at an appropriate position where the body does not hinder the operation.
There exist two kinds of multiple photoelectric switch apparatuses.
The first kind is called an amplifier separation type, and a light projecting and receiving circuit is disposed in the sensing section. The sensing section is electrically connected to the apparatus body by a lead wire. The light projecting and receiving circuit in the sensing section includes light projecting and receiving elements and an amplifier. In the apparatus body, there is disposed a photoelectric switch main circuit which generates a light projection signal to be supplied to the light projecting element in the sensing section and a switch signal based on a reception signal outputted from the light receiving element.
The second kind is called an optical fiber type, and all of the light projecting and receiving elements, the amplifier, and the main circuit are disposed in the apparatus body. Two optical fibers are drawn from the body to an external space and end portions thereof constitute a sensing section. A light illuminated from the light projecting element of the body is emitted via one of the optical fibers from the end portion thereof. A light incident to the end portion of the other one of the optical fibers is received via the optical fiber by the light receiving element.
In the multiple photoelectric switch apparatus of the amplifier separation type, the light projecting and receiving elements can be located in the proximity of an object to be sensed, which hence leads to an advantage of a high sensing precision. In contrast thereto, in the multiple photoelectric switch apparatus of the optical fiber type, since the optical signal is transmitted by use of the optical fibers, there is attained an advantage of strength against electric noises. Conventionally, depending on utilization states and environments, either one of the amplifier separation type and the optical fiber type has been selectively used.
However, there exists a case where both of the amplifier separation type and the optical fiber type are desired to be used. In such a case, there has conventionally been a problem that two multiple photoelectric switch apparatuses respectively of the amplifier separation type and the optical fiber type are required to be prepared.
It is an object of the present invention to enable an apparatus body to use both of the amplifier separation type and the optical fiber type.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A multiple photoelectric switch apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises an apparatus body, a photoelectric switch unit of a first type, and a photoelectric switch unit of a second type.
Said apparatus body includes a plurality of unit mounting sections in which said photoelectric switch units of the two types can be selectively and detachably mounted, a body-side connector disposed in each of said unit mounting section, and a plurality of signal processing circuits which are respectively connected to the connectors and which are commonly applicable to said photoelectric switch units of the two types.
Said photoelectric switch unit of the first type includes a first sensing head and a first connecting section connected thereto by a lead wire. Said first sensing head includes a light projecting and receiving circuit having a light projecting element and a light receiving element. Said first connecting sec
REFERENCES:
patent: 4993803 (1991-02-01), Suverison et al.
patent: 5202683 (1993-04-01), Hamer et al.
Nelms David C.
Omron Corporation
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