US 11,988,531 B2
System including an optical waveguide for emitting light laterally and a sensor for detect the intensity of the laterally emitted light
Zhidong Hua, Bruchsal (DE); Josef Schmidt, Graben-Neudorf (DE); Thomas Schäfer, Karlsdorf-Neuthard (DE); and Andreas Wanjek, Waghäusel (DE)
Assigned to SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG, Bruchsal (DE)
Appl. No. 16/070,469
Filed by SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG, Bruchsal (DE)
PCT Filed Nov. 22, 2016, PCT No. PCT/EP2016/025152
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 16, 2018,
PCT Pub. No. WO2017/121453, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 20, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2016 000 224.7 (DE), filed on Jan. 14, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2019/0219423 A1, Jul. 18, 2019
Int. Cl. G01D 5/26 (2006.01)
CPC G01D 5/26 (2013.01) [G01D 5/268 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
an elongated optical waveguide having a lateral side and adapted to radiate light laterally from the lateral side;
at least one sensor system adapted to detect light intensity of the light radiated laterally from the lateral side of the elongated optical waveguide;
a grating arranged between the sensor system and the elongated optical waveguide;
wherein the grating includes (a) grating openings in an extension direction of the elongated optical waveguide, (b) grating openings that are spaced apart from one another at regular intervals, and/or (c) a first polarization filter adapted to polarize light emerging from the grating and being radiated in a direction of the sensor system, and has a single polarization direction;
wherein the sensor system includes a first sensor adapted to determine light intensity and a second sensor adapted to determine light intensity, a second polarization filter being arranged between the first sensor and the grating, a third polarization filter being arranged between the second sensor and the grating, a polarization direction of the second polarization filter having a non-zero angle of rotation with respect to the polarization direction of the third polarization filter and/or an angle of rotation of 90°;
wherein the sensor system includes a third sensor adapted to determine light intensity and to receive data for a contact-free data transmission; and
wherein no polarization filter is disposed between the optical waveguide and the third sensor.