MEMS based light curtain

Fraunhofer IPMS shows a system for infrared-optical room surveillance, based on a 1D micro scanner device which was developed at the institute. The module, designed by CTR Carinthian Tech Research AG, Villach/Austria, contains the scanning mirror as core component. This micro scanner spans a fan-like light curtain over the observing area. The light signal, back-scattered by the surrounding area is collected and directed to an optical detector and electronically processed. The penetration of an object into the scanning area is detected by a change within the received signal. Using particular developed filter techniques the system is highly insensitive to optical interfering signals e.g. emerging from changing the ambient light conditions. The demonstrator, consisting of transmitter, receiver and signal processing electronics, is placed in the volume of a cigarette box and has the potential for further miniaturization. Due to the very precise definition of the surveillance area, this laser scanner system is especially suitable from the safeguarding of danger zones to interior surveillance in automiotive applications, e.g. as detector system for the anti-trap protection.