Patent ID: 7598484
Filing Date: 2009-10-06
Classification: F16P,G01S

Abstract:
1. A photoelectric sensor for detecting an object in a predetermined detection area and providing a control signal which is either enabling operation of an apparatus or disabling operation of the apparatus based on a result of the detecting, the photoelectric sensor comprising: setting means for defining a detection area in a predetermined plane area, and capable of setting a reference point in the plane area to a different area from the detection area; a memory for storing both the detection area and the reference point; an optical scanner for repeatedly and rotationally scanning around a rotational axis in the plane area including the detection area; a photoelectric transducer for receiving a scanning light reflected by an object located in the plane area, and generating a receiving signal based on the received scanning light, and control means for calculating a position of the object based on both an angle representing an emitting direction of the scanning light and a distance of the object corresponding to the receiving signal from the photoelectric transducer, determining, based on the object position, whether the object is present in the detection area or in the reference point, and providing a enable signal as the control signal when determining that the object is absent from the detection area but present in the reference point, and a disable signal as the control signal when determining that the object is present in the detection area and the object is absent from the reference point.