Patent ID: 11928874
Assignee: SICK AG
Field: Audio-visual technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC G  H

Claim 9:
10. A method for detecting objects (48) moving in a direction of movement (50), the method comprising:
using an image sensor (18) for recording image data of the objects (48) in a camera field of view (14, 56);
using an optoelectronic distance sensor (24) according to a principle of a time-of-flight method having a plurality of measurement zones (30a) for measuring a plurality of distance values to the objects (48) in a distance measurement field of view (58),
wherein the distance sensor (24) comprises a plurality of avalanche photodiodes (30a) operable in Geiger mode;
using signals from the image sensor (18) and the distance sensor (24) to measure distance values over a configuration time and to evaluate at least one of the distance values and a change of the distance values, a region where objects (48) move, and to automatically set a region of interest (60) for the distance sensor (24) within the distance measurement field of view (58) by determining an object region as the region where objects (48) move,
wherein the distance sensor (24) comprises a plurality of avalanche photodiodes (30a) operable in Geiger mode,
and wherein the region of interest (60) is adjusted by selectively activating the Geiger mode in avalanche photodiodes (30a) corresponding to the region of interest (60); and
adjusting the region of interest (60) by selectively activating the Geiger mode in avalanche photodiodes (30a) corresponding to the region of interest (60).