JP2010133765A - Abnormality notification method and abnormality notification apparatus in sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To identify an abnormality factor for an abnormality which has occurred in a sensor easily. <P>SOLUTION: A multi-optical-axis photoelectric sensor includes a light emitting unit 1 and a light receiving unit 2 which perform predetermined detecting operations and a plurality of indicating lamps 3A to 3H for indicating the operating states of the light emitting/receiving units 1, 2 and the setting states of functions possessed by the light emitting/receiving units 1, 2. The sensor is provided with a diagnosing circuit for monitoring and diagnosing the presence or absence of the occurrence of abnormalities for a plurality of abnormality factors which are supposed and a control circuit allowing any indicating lamp which is associated with an abnormality factor diagnosed as there is an abnormality by the diagnosing circuit to perform indication in a different manner from its original indication. The sensor is further provided with abnormality indicating lamps 4A, 4B which, when it has been diagnosed as there is an abnormality by the diagnosing circuit, notify the occurrence of the abnormality. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a sensor device having a detection unit that performs a predetermined detection operation and a plurality of indicator lamps that display an operation state of the detection unit and a setting state of a function of the detection unit. The present invention relates to an abnormality notification method and an abnormality notification device for notifying factors to the outside.

  In a factory, when working with a machine tool such as a press machine, there is a sensor device that detects the entry of an object in the work area so that the machine does not operate under the condition that an object such as a human body enters the work area. is set up. When the sensor device detects that an object has entered the work area, it can prevent the occurrence of an accident by stopping the machine urgently by outputting a detection signal that informs the external machine of the abnormality. Yes. As this type of sensor device, a multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is generally widely used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3724397

  The multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor includes a projector having a plurality of light projecting elements and a light receiver having the same number of light receiving elements as the light projecting elements. The light projector and the light receiver are paired with a light projecting element and a light receiving device. The elements are arranged at an appropriate distance so as to face each other one to one. The optical axes connecting the light projecting elements and the light receiving elements are parallel to each other, and a two-dimensional object detection area for detecting the presence or absence of an object is formed between the light projector and the light receiver. The light projector and the light receiver are connected via a communication line so that each light projecting element of the light projector sequentially emits light, and each light receiving element of the light receiver corresponding to each light projecting element performs a light receiving operation. Are sequentially detected. By narrowing the distance between the optical axes, even a small object such as an operator's finger can be detected with high accuracy.

  By the way, in general, a multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is provided with an indicator lamp for displaying a sensor operating state and a setting state of various functions of the sensor on a projector or a receiver. Alternatively, the operator can grasp the state of the sensor by turning off the light. In addition, the projector and the receiver have an abnormality detection function that detects the abnormality when an abnormality occurs inside the projector and the receiver or when an abnormality occurs in communication between the projector and the receiver. The abnormality content is notified to the user.

  In the conventional multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor, a plurality of error indicator lights for anomaly notification are provided on the projector and receiver separately from the above-mentioned indicator lamps, and lighting is performed with a plurality of error indicator lamps according to the content of the abnormality that has occurred. Alternatively, the abnormality content is notified by changing the combination of blinking displays. In addition, a numerical display consisting of 7 segments is provided, and the contents of abnormality are notified by numerical values to be displayed, and further, a character display made up of an LCD or the like is provided to notify abnormal contents by character notation. There are also things.

In the above-described method of notifying the abnormality content using the display patterns of the plurality of error indicator lights, the user needs to store all the display patterns in order to immediately recognize the abnormality content. However, when various types of abnormal contents are set, it is not easy for the user to memorize all display patterns. Although it is possible to identify the abnormal content while checking the display pattern by looking at the manual, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to identify the abnormal content.
In addition, in the method of notifying abnormality content by the numerical display and the character display as described above, it is possible to easily identify the abnormality content, but it is necessary to secure the mounting space. There is a problem of incurring an increase in size.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described problem, and an object thereof is to provide an abnormality notification method and an abnormality notification device in a sensor device that can easily identify an abnormality factor of an abnormality that has occurred. To do.

  An abnormality notification method according to the present invention is a sensor device including a detection unit that performs a predetermined detection operation and a plurality of indicator lamps that display an operation state of the detection unit and a setting state of a function of the detection unit. Monitor the presence or absence of abnormality for the cause, and when an abnormality occurs and the abnormality affects the operation or function of the detector, select the indicator that displays the operating state or function setting state, and display the original display The abnormality factor is notified by performing a display operation in a mode different from the operation.

  When an abnormality about a predetermined abnormality factor occurs in the sensor device configured as described above, when the abnormality affects the operation or function of the detection unit, the indicator lamp that displays the operation state or the function setting state is the original display operation. Since the display operation is different from the above, the user can check the display operation of each indicator light and know what indicator light is performing the display operation different from the normal operation. Therefore, it is possible to easily identify whether or not an abnormality has occurred, and it is not necessary to spend a great deal of labor or time to identify the cause of the abnormality.

  In the above-described configuration of the present invention, the “sensor device” to which the present invention is applied includes, for example, a multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor, but is not limited thereto, and the setting of the operation state of the detection unit and the function of the detection unit Any sensor device provided with an indicator lamp for displaying a state can be applied to various sensors including an object detection sensor.

The “indicator lamp” is composed of, for example, a light emitting diode (LED). In addition, the “display operation different from the original display operation” means a display operation in an aspect in which the display operation performed at the time of occurrence of abnormality can be distinguished from the display operation performed at the normal time. . For example, if the user is informed of the operating state of the detection unit and the setting state of the function of the detection unit by operating the indicator light, the abnormality is The occurrence of the error is notified to the user.
Each indicator lamp is configured to be able to display with at least two kinds of colors, and is configured to display with different colors (for example, green and red) between the original display operation and the display operation when an abnormality occurs. Thus, it is possible to notify the user of the occurrence of abnormality.

  An abnormality notification device according to the present invention is a sensor device including a detection unit that performs a predetermined detection operation, and a plurality of indicator lamps that display an operation state of the detection unit and a setting state of a function of the detection unit. Diagnostic means for monitoring and diagnosing whether or not an abnormality has occurred with respect to the factor, and control means for causing any indicator lamp associated with the abnormality factor diagnosed as abnormal by the diagnosing means to perform display operation in a manner different from the original display operation It is equipped with.

  According to the abnormality notification device having the above-described configuration, when the diagnosis unit determines that an abnormality has occurred in the sensor device with respect to the predetermined abnormality factor, the predetermined indicator lamp associated with the abnormality factor blinks by the control unit. Since the display operation is performed in a manner different from the original display operation, the user can easily identify the cause of the abnormality that has occurred in the sensor device only by checking the display operation by each indicator lamp.

  The abnormality notification device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes an abnormality indicator lamp that notifies the occurrence of abnormality when the diagnosis means diagnoses that there is an abnormality. The “abnormal indicator lamp” described above is configured by, for example, a light emitting diode (LED). According to this embodiment, the occurrence of the abnormality is notified by the display operation by the abnormal indicator lamp, and the abnormality factor is notified by the display operation by each indicator lamp, and the occurrence of the abnormality is caused by the combination of the indicator lamp and the abnormal indicator lamp. Can be more reliably notified to the user.

  In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the diagnosis means diagnoses that there is a certain abnormality factor among the abnormality factors, the control means displays all the indicator lights in a manner different from the original display operation. It is something to be made. According to this embodiment, for example, when an abnormality of an abnormal factor that cannot be recovered by a user at the site occurs, all the indicator lights can be displayed in a manner different from the original display operation. In addition, the user is surely notified of a failure requiring urgency.

  According to the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the sensor device and the abnormality affects the operation or function of the detection unit, the indicator lamp for displaying the operation state or the setting state of the function is the original display. Since the display operation is performed in a manner different from the operation, the user can easily identify the cause of the abnormality that has occurred simply by looking at the display operation using the indicator lamp. In addition, this can greatly reduce the time that the user stays in the work area of the machine to identify the cause of abnormality, and can improve the safety of the user during maintenance.

  Further, since the abnormality that has occurred is reported using the indicator lamp provided in advance in the sensor device, there is no need to provide a separate indicator lamp dedicated to the abnormality display, which increases the size and cost of the sensor device. There is no invitation.

  FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor to which the present invention is applied. The multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor of the illustrated example is configured by connecting a projector 1 and a light receiver 2 by a communication line 5 (shown in FIG. 3). A controller or personal computer (not shown) is connected to the projector 1 and the light receiver 2, and processing for setting various functions (such as a blanking function and a muting function) in the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is executed.

  The light projector 1 and the light receiver 2 are each formed by arranging a plurality of light projecting elements 11 and a plurality of light receiving elements 21 in a line at a predetermined pitch in the length direction inside the longitudinal casings 10 and 20. It is. A light emitting diode (LED) is used for each light projecting element 11, and a photodiode (PD) is used for each light receiving element 21.

  A plurality of light projection lenses (for projecting light from each light projecting element 11 and projecting it toward the light receiver 2 on the light projecting surface (hereinafter referred to as “front surface”) side of the housing 10 of the light projector 1. The light receiving surface (hereinafter referred to as “front surface”) side of the housing 20 of the light receiver 2 includes a plurality of light receiving elements 21 for receiving light from the light projecting elements 11 and receiving the light from the light receiving elements 21. A light receiving lens (not shown) is provided. The light projector 1 and the light receiver 2 are installed so that a pair of light projecting lenses and light receiving lenses face each other in a one-to-one relationship, so that the optical axes L of the light projecting elements 11 and the light receiving elements 21 are aligned. . A two-dimensional object detection area S for detecting the presence or absence of an object is formed between the projector 1 and the light receiver 2.

  The object detection area S is set, for example, in an area where a robot arm of an industrial robot works or an area where a die reciprocates in a press machine. The light receiver 2 detects the entry of an object (such as the worker's body) into the object detection area S based on the light shielding state for each optical axis L. If the entry of the object is detected, an abnormality occurs in the drive system on the machine side. A detection signal is output. A relay contact that is opened by receiving this abnormality detection signal is incorporated in the drive system on the machine side. Due to the action of this relay contact, processing such as an emergency stop of the drive of the machine is performed on the machine side.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, four indicator lights 3A to 3D and 3E to 3H and one abnormal indicator lamp 4A and 4B are provided on the rear surfaces of the housings 10 and 20, respectively. . Each of the indicator lamps 3A to 3H is configured using a light emitting diode (LED), and the corresponding indicator lamps 3A to 3A indicate the operating state of the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor and the setting states of various functions of the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor. The user is notified when 3H is turned on or off. Further, as will be described in detail later, when a predetermined abnormality occurs in the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor, any one of the indicator lamps 3A to 3H associated with the abnormality factor performs the above-described original display operation (turned on or off). By performing a display operation in a mode different from (operation), the cause of the abnormality that has occurred is notified to the user.
In this embodiment, the indicator lamps 3A to 3D are arranged in the projector 1, and the indicator lamps 3E to 3H are arranged in a line along the longitudinal direction of the housings 10 and 20, respectively.

  The abnormality indicator lamps 4A and 4B are for notifying the user of the occurrence of the abnormality separately from the indicator lamps 3A to 3H by turning on when some abnormality occurs in the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor. (LED) is used.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the projector 1 and the light receiver 2. The projector 1 includes a plurality of drive circuits 12 for individually driving the light projecting elements 11, an optical axis sequential selection circuit 13, in addition to the light projecting elements 11, the display lamps 3 </ b> A to 3 </ b> D, and the abnormality display lamp 4 </ b> A. The control circuit 14, the communication circuit 15 for communicating with the light receiver 2, the indicator lamp driving circuit 16 for driving the indicator lamps 3 </ b> A to 3 </ b> D, 4 </ b> A, the power supply circuit 17, the diagnostic circuit 30, and the like are incorporated. The light receiver 2 includes each light receiving element 21 paired with each light projecting element 11, the indicator lamps 3E to 3H, and the abnormal indicator lamp 4B, an amplifier 18 for each light receiving element 21, an analog switch 19, and an optical axis sequentially selected. A circuit 23, a control circuit 24, a communication circuit 25 for communicating with the projector 1, an amplifier circuit 22, a sample hold circuit 28, an A / D conversion circuit 29, and an indicator lamp driving circuit 26 for driving the indicator lamps 3E to 3H, 4B. A power circuit 27, a diagnostic circuit 31, an output circuit 32, and the like are incorporated.

  Each of the control circuits 14 and 24 is constituted by a microcomputer having a CPU and a memory. Each communication circuit 15, 25 controls the exchange of signals and data between the projector 1 and the light receiver 2 via the communication line 5. Each of the power supply circuits 17 and 27 is supplied with power from a common external power supply 6 (DC power supply), and supplies power to each unit in the projector 1 or the light receiver 2. The diagnostic circuits 30 and 31 of the light projector 1 and the light receiver 2 monitor and diagnose the presence or absence of abnormality of a plurality of abnormality factors assumed in the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor.

  The control circuit 14 of the projector 1 outputs a drive signal (hereinafter referred to as “light emission instruction signal”) that causes each light projecting element 11 to emit light at predetermined time intervals. The optical axis sequential selection circuit 13 is a gate circuit for sequentially connecting the drive circuit 12 of each light projecting element 11 to the control circuit 14. By the switching process in the optical axis sequential selection circuit 13, the light emission instruction signal from the control circuit 14 is sequentially given to each drive circuit 12, and each light projecting element 11 emits light in order. The control circuit 14 also outputs a light emission instruction signal to the light receiver 2 from the communication circuit 15.

  The control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 receives the light emission instruction signal from the projector 1 through the communication circuit 25 and outputs a signal synchronized with the light emission instruction signal to the optical axis sequential selection circuit 23 and the sample hold circuit 28. The optical axis sequential selection circuit 23 is a gate circuit similar to the optical axis sequential selection circuit 13 of the projector 1, and emits light by sequentially applying the synchronization signal from the control circuit 24 to each analog switch 19 to turn it on. A process of sequentially taking in via the amplifier 18 an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of light received from the light receiving element 21 corresponding to the light projecting element 11 is performed. The captured electric signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit 22 and then sampled and held in the sample hold circuit 28. Further, the sampled and held electric signal is digitally converted by the A / D conversion circuit 29 and input to the control circuit 24. The control circuit 24 determines whether or not each optical axis L is in a light shielding state by comparing the signal level of each input electric signal with a predetermined threshold set in advance.

When the signal levels of all the electrical signals exceed the threshold value, it is determined that none of the optical axes is shielded, and a drive permission signal is output to an external machine via the output circuit 32. Hereinafter, this is referred to as “turning on the safety control output of the sensor”.
On the other hand, if the signal level of any electrical signal is below the threshold value, it is determined that there is an object in the object detection area S, an object detection signal is generated, and this is output to an external machine. Forcibly stops driving. Hereinafter, this is referred to as “turning off the safety control output of the sensor”.

Each of the control circuits 14 and 24 performs control to display each of the indicator lamps 3A to 3H according to the operation state of the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor and the function set in the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor.
Of the indicator lamps 3A to 3D of the projector 1, the indicator lamp 3A is a power indicator lamp (indicated as “POWER” in FIG. 2), and when the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is turned on, the control circuit of the projector 1 14 turns on the indicator lamp 3A.

The indicator lamp 3B is an interlock indicator lamp (indicated as “INTLK” in FIG. 2). When the operation state of the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is in the interlock state, the control circuit 14 of the projector 1 lights the indicator lamp 3B. . Interlock refers to a function that maintains the OFF state until the light shielding state is canceled after any one of the optical axes of the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is in a light shielding state and the safety control output is turned OFF.
There are two methods for canceling the interlock state: “Auto-reset mode” in which the safety control output is automatically turned on when the light-blocking state is canceled, and when a predetermined release operation is performed when the light-blocking state is canceled. There are two methods of “manual reset mode” in which the safety control output is turned ON, and the user can select any mode by appropriately wiring an input line for selecting an interlock mode (not shown).

  The indicator lamp 3C is a blanking indicator lamp (indicated as “BLANKING” in FIG. 2). When the user sets a blanking function to the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor, the control circuit 14 of the projector 1 displays the indicator lamp 3C. Lights up. Note that the blanking function is to always invalidate a specific optical axis so that an object is detected only with an effective optical axis, and an obstacle always stays in the object detection area S and a specific light is detected. This is an effective function when the axis L is shielded from light (for example, when a machine exists in a part of the object detection area S).

  The indicator lamp 3D is an external test indicator lamp (indicated as “TEST” in FIG. 2), and when the user sets the external test function, the control circuit 14 of the projector 1 turns on the indicator lamp 3D. The external test function refers to the operation of the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor, such as whether or not the safety control output is correctly turned off when the light emission of each light projecting element 11 is stopped by an external signal when the power is turned on. This is a function to confirm.

  Next, among the indicator lamps 3E to 3H of the light receiver 2, the indicator lamp 3E is a safety control output indicator lamp (indicated as “ON / OFF” in FIG. 2). The indicator lamp 3E is composed of, for example, a two-color light emitting diode (LED) that emits red or green light. The control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 turns the indicator lamp 3E to green if the safety control output of the sensor is ON. If the safety control output of the sensor is in the OFF state, the indicator lamp 3E is turned on in red.

  The indicator lamp 3F is an external relay monitor indicator lamp (denoted as “EDM” in FIG. 2). If the operating state of the relay for controlling the drive system of the external machine such as the press machine is good, the light receiver 2 The control circuit 24 turns on the indicator lamp 3F.

  The indicator lamp 3G is a communication level indicator lamp (denoted as “COM” in FIG. 2), and if the communication state of data and signals between the projector 1 and the receiver 2 is normal, the control circuit of the receiver 2 24 lights the indicator lamp 3G.

  The indicator lamp 3H is a sensor configuration indicator lamp (indicated as “CFG” in FIG. 2), and the projector 1 and the receiver 2 constituting the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor have the same format (length, output type, optical axis pitch). If the communication line 5 between the projector 1 and the light receiver 2 is correctly wired or the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is correctly constructed, the control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 is The indicator lamp 3H is turned on.

  In the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor of this embodiment, during operation, each of the diagnostic circuits 30 and 31 of the projector 1 and the light receiver 2 periodically performs a plurality of abnormal factors shown in the following (1) to (7). Monitors the occurrence of abnormalities. In this embodiment, the diagnostic circuits 30 and 31 are incorporated in the projector 1 and the light receiver 2, but the diagnostic circuit may be incorporated in only one of the projector 1 or the light receiver 2.

(1) Power supply abnormality The diagnostic circuits 30 and 31 of the projector 1 and the light receiver 2 monitor the power supply voltage supplied from the external power supply 6 to the power supply circuits 17 and 27, and the power supply voltage is out of rating. If it is, it is determined that there is an abnormality, and a power supply abnormality is transmitted to the control circuits 14 and 24. The control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 transmits a control signal based on the diagnosis result by the diagnosis circuit 31 to the projector 1. When there is a power supply abnormality, as shown in FIG. 4, the control circuit 14 of the projector 1 informs that there is a power supply abnormality by blinking the indicator lamp 3A. At that time, the control circuits 14 and 24 turn on the abnormality indicator lamps 4A and 4B, respectively, and the control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 lights the safety control output indicator lamp 3E in red.

(2) Interlock wiring abnormality The diagnostic circuits 30 and 31 of the projector 1 and the light receiver 2 monitor the wiring state of the input lines for selecting the interlock mode, and the input lines are disconnected or short-circuited. If the wiring is not correctly performed, it is determined that there is an abnormality, and the interlock wiring abnormality is transmitted to the control circuits 14 and 24. The control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 transmits a control signal based on the diagnosis result by the diagnosis circuit 31 to the projector 1. When there is an abnormality in the interlock wiring, the control circuit 14 of the projector 1 informs that there is an abnormality in the interlock wiring by blinking the indicator lamp 3B. At that time, the control circuits 14 and 24 turn on the abnormality indicator lamps 4A and 4B, respectively, and the control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 lights the safety control output indicator lamp 3E in red.

(3) Blanking Abnormality When the blanking function is set, the diagnostic circuit 31 monitors the light incident state of each light receiving element 21 of the disabled optical axis and exists in the object detection area S. If the machine is misaligned and light from the light projecting element 11 is incident on the light receiving element 21, it is determined that there is an abnormality, and a setting abnormality of the blanking function is transmitted to the control circuit 24. The control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 transmits a control signal based on the diagnosis result by the diagnosis circuit 31 to the projector 1. The control circuit 14 of the projector 1 informs that there is an abnormality in the setting of the blanking function by blinking the indicator lamp 3C. At that time, the control circuits 14 and 24 turn on the abnormality indicator lamps 4A and 4B, respectively, and the control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 lights the safety control output indicator lamp 3E in red.

(4) Safety control output abnormality The diagnostic circuit 31 monitors the control output signal output from the output circuit 32 to an external machine, and feeds back the control output signal to the control circuit 24 for confirmation. It is diagnosed whether the output circuit 32 outputs a different signal. If it is determined that there is an abnormality, the abnormality of the output circuit 32 is transmitted from the diagnostic circuit 31 to the control circuit 24. The control circuit 24 informs that there is an abnormality in the output circuit 32 by blinking the indicator lamp 3E based on the diagnosis result by the diagnosis circuit 31. At that time, the control circuits 14 and 24 turn on the abnormality indicator lamps 4A and 4B, respectively.

(5) External relay monitor abnormality The diagnostic circuit 31 monitors the operating state of a relay interposed between the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor and an external machine drive system. If a malfunction has occurred in the relay, it is determined that there is an abnormality, and the abnormality of the external relay is transmitted to the control circuit 24. The control circuit 24 informs that there is an abnormality in the relay of the external machine by blinking the indicator lamp 3F based on the diagnosis result by the diagnosis circuit 31. The operation state of the relay can be detected by checking an input signal from the relay through an input line (not shown) connected to the light receiver 2, for example. At that time, the control circuits 14 and 24 turn on the abnormality indicator lamps 4A and 4B, respectively, and the control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 lights the safety control output indicator lamp 3E in red.

(6) Communication abnormality The diagnostic circuits 30 and 31 of the projector 1 and the light receiver 2 monitor the communication state of signals and data between the projector 1 and the light receiver 2. If a signal is not transmitted or there is an abnormality in the content of the signal due to a communication abnormality due to noise or the like, it is determined that there is an abnormality and the communication abnormality is transmitted to the control circuits 14 and 24. The control circuit 14 of the projector 1 transmits a control signal based on the diagnosis result by the diagnosis circuit 30 to the light receiver 2. When there is a communication abnormality, the control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 informs that a communication abnormality has occurred by blinking the indicator lamp 3G. At that time, the control circuits 14 and 24 turn on the abnormality indicator lamps 4A and 4B, respectively, and the control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 lights the safety control output indicator lamp 3E in red.

(7) Abnormal sensor configuration Each of the diagnostic circuits 30 and 31 of the projector 1 and the light receiver 2, for example, takes in the model of the light projector 1 or the light receiver 2 through communication and checks the format of each other. 2 is monitored. If the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is not correctly constructed due to a mismatch in format, wiring error or disconnection of the communication line 5, it is determined that there is an abnormality and the abnormality in the sensor configuration is transmitted to the control circuits 14 and 24. To do. The control circuit 14 of the projector 1 transmits a control signal based on the diagnosis result by the diagnosis circuit 30 to the light receiver 2. When there is an abnormality in the sensor configuration, the control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 notifies the fact that there is an abnormality in the construction of the sensor by blinking the indicator lamp 3H. At that time, the control circuits 14 and 24 turn on the abnormality indicator lamps 4A and 4B, respectively, and the control circuit 24 of the light receiver 2 lights the safety control output indicator lamp 3E in red.

  As described above, each of the diagnostic circuits 30 and 31 of the projector 1 and the light receiver 2 determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred with respect to various abnormal factors that hinder the operation and function of the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor described above. When the diagnosis circuit 30 and 31 diagnoses that an abnormality has occurred, each control circuit 14 and 24 selects the indicator lamps 3A to 3H that display the operation state or the function setting state, and originally The display operation is performed in a manner different from the display operation. At that time, the abnormality indicator lamps 4A and 4B are also turned on regardless of the type of abnormality that has occurred. In this way, the user can easily confirm what kind of abnormality has occurred in addition to any abnormality occurring in the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor simply by looking at the display on the indicator lamp. Can do.

  When the diagnosis circuits 30 and 31 detect the occurrence of abnormality for a plurality of abnormality factors, as shown in FIG. 5, the control circuits 14 and 24 display the indicator lamps associated with the corresponding abnormality factors. Make each blink. The illustrated example shows a display state when a power supply abnormality and a communication abnormality occur simultaneously.

  The diagnostic circuits 30 and 31 of this embodiment are used in the field such as a failure of internal circuits such as the drive circuit 12 and the optical axis sequential selection circuits 13 and 23 and a failure of the internal CPU and memory in addition to the above-described abnormal factors. The person monitors whether or not an abnormal factor that takes a lot of time and labor to recover is detected. When such an abnormality is detected, as shown in FIG. 6, the control circuits 14 and 24 of the projector 1 and the light receiver 2 cause all the indicator lamps 3A to 3H to blink and the abnormality indicator lamps 4A and 4B. The user is informed by turning on.

  Even when the above-described abnormality occurs in the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor, the safety control output is turned off, that is, the object detection signal is output to the external machine via the output circuit 32, and the machine is urgently stopped.

FIG. 7 schematically shows the flow of operation of the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor of the present invention.
First, when power is turned on to the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor, a start-up process is executed (ST1), and in the next ST2, whether or not an abnormality has occurred with respect to a predetermined abnormality factor assumed in the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is projected. In addition, a diagnosis process for diagnosis is executed by the control circuits 14 and 24 and the diagnosis circuits 30 and 31 of the light receiver 2.

  If an abnormality is recognized as a result of the diagnostic processing, the determination in ST3 is “YES”, the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is in a lockout state, the safety control output is turned off, and the state is maintained (ST4). At the same time, each of the abnormality indicator lamps 4A and 4B is turned on, and the indicator lamp associated with the abnormality factor of the abnormality that has occurred is blinked, thereby notifying the user of the occurrence of the abnormality and the abnormality factor (ST5). After that, the state is maintained until a reset process is performed such that the abnormality is resolved and the power is turned on again.

  If no abnormality is found as a result of the diagnosis processing, the determination in ST3 is “NO”, and the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is in a normal state, so the process proceeds to ST6, and the indicator lights 3A, 3F to 3H are turned on. The indicator lamp 3E is lit in green, and the display process of each indicator lamp is executed. Next, it progresses to ST7, a light projection / reception process is performed, and a diagnostic process is performed periodically (ST8). If no abnormality is recognized in the diagnostic process during operation, the determination in ST9 is “NO”, and the process returns to ST7 and the light emitting / receiving process is continuously executed. If an abnormality is recognized in the diagnostic process during operation, the determination in ST9 is “YES” and the process proceeds to ST4, the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is in a lockout state, the safety control output is turned off, and the state is maintained. At the same time, each of the abnormality indicator lamps 4A and 4B is turned on, and the indicator lamp associated with the abnormality factor of the abnormality that has occurred is blinked, thereby notifying the user of the occurrence of the abnormality and the abnormality factor (ST5).

  In the above-described embodiment, the indicator lights 3A to 3H are blinked at the time of abnormality notification. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the indicator lights 3A to 3H may be lit in colors different from the normal times. .

It is a perspective view which shows the example of installation of the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor to which this invention was applied. It is a front view which shows an indicator lamp. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of an indicator lamp. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of an indicator lamp. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of an indicator lamp. It is a flowchart which shows the display control procedure of an indicator lamp.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Emitter 2 Light receiver 3A-3H Indicator lamp 4A, 4B Abnormal indicator lamp 5 Communication line 11 Emitter element 13, 23 Optical-axis sequential selection circuit 14, 24 Control circuit 15, 25 Communication circuit 16, 26 Indicator lamp drive circuit 21 Light reception Element 30, 31 Diagnostic circuit 32 Output circuit

Claims (4)

In a sensor device including a detection unit that performs a predetermined detection operation, and a plurality of indicator lamps that display an operation state of the detection unit and a setting state of a function of the detection unit,
Monitor the presence or absence of an abnormality for multiple abnormality factors, and select an indicator to display the operating state or function setting state when an abnormality occurs and the abnormality affects the operation or function of the detector. An abnormality notification method in a sensor device, wherein an abnormality factor is notified by performing a display operation in a mode different from an original display operation. In a sensor device including a detection unit that performs a predetermined detection operation, and a plurality of indicator lamps that display an operation state of the detection unit and a setting state of a function of the detection unit,
Diagnostic means for monitoring and diagnosing the presence or absence of occurrence of abnormalities for multiple abnormality factors, and any display lamp associated with the abnormality factor diagnosed as abnormal by the diagnostic means is displayed in a manner different from the original display operation An abnormality notification device in a sensor device comprising control means for causing the abnormality to occur.   The abnormality notification device in the sensor device according to claim 2, wherein the abnormality notification device further includes an abnormality indicator lamp that notifies the occurrence of abnormality when the diagnosis unit diagnoses that there is an abnormality.   The abnormality notification device in the sensor device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein when a specific abnormality factor among the abnormality factors is diagnosed as having an abnormality by the diagnosis unit, the control unit inherently displays all the indicator lights. An abnormality notification device in a sensor device that performs a display operation in a mode different from the display operation.

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