Detecting people with the triangulation technology – an alternative to cameras or thermal imaging
Detecting people and animals have very similar technical application requirements. People wear clothes in various colours or with varying structures, animals may have long or short fur or feathers; they can also be dirty or wet.
Here the triangulation technology offers a solution that combines a multitude of technical feats. The triangulation technology helps to detect objects independent of the colour, the material, and the surface structure.
The sensor”s emitter and receiver are incorporated together in one housing. The emitting element sends light that will be reflected diffusely on a surface and the reflected light will be captured by a receiving element in the sensor. Depending on the distance between the sensor and the object, the angle of the captured light changes, which in turn helps the sensor determine the distance. The sensor switches ON/OFF according to the distance measured and not according to the light quantity, as this may vary depending on the colour, appearance, or structure of the object to be detected.
The triangulation technology has been implemented by Panasonic in 3 different product series. Depending on the actual application, each series offers advantages regarding the sensing range and sensor size. EQ-500 is a multi-purpose sensor with a sensing range of up to 2.5 meters. Where the application requires a compact sensor, the series EQ-30 with the dimension of 68 x 40 x 20 mm is the best solution. The CX-400 series is very good at background suppression.
For a complete solution, combine the sensors with other Panasonic automation products. For example, the statistical information on customer flow in retail shops or fast food chains collected by the sensors can be transmitted automatically with the exact dates and times via internet to a central station for analysis; thus making it possible to take strategical decisions based on facts.
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