2 System Overview
The Banner A-GAGE MINI-ARRAY Two-Piece Measuring Light Screen was
customized for vehicle separation applications. It incorporates the popular
MINI-ARRAY emitter and receiver design and ease of use, while simplifying
installation. This two-piece system does not require a separate controller.
A typical system consists of four components:
• Emitter
• Receiver
• Two interconnecting cables
Models are available in array lengths from 150 mm to 1830 mm in 150 mm
increments (6 inch to 6 feet in 6 inch increments). Beam spacing is 19.1 mm
(3/4 inch). Sensing range is 16.5 m (55 feet).
2.1 System Features
Built-in features simplify the operation of the MINI-ARRAY Two-Piece Light Screen system, which is customized to
specifically address the demanding requirements needed to reliably detect vehicle separation. Large optical lenses
provide strong optical excess gain, needed for demanding outdoor environments.
The system is pre-configured for an interlaced optical pattern, which provides the minimum object detection necessary to
detect a trailer hitch. A sensor scan involves individually enabling each emitter channel twice. In effect, each emitter
channel fires at both its opposing receiver element, and at the one beneath it. The result is an interlaced optical detection
pattern, as shown. This pattern can better detect objects within the middle third of the sensing area.
Along with using the interlaced pattern, the sensor processes the scan data in a method that is tailored for vehicle
separation applications: both for initial car detection and trailer detection. Several important features have been built into
the MINI-ARRAY Two-Piece system:
• Easy-to-understand diagnostic LEDs
• 2 discrete outputs
• EIA-485 serial communication
• Self-diagnostics to detect dirty lens and faulty or degraded sensor operation conditions
Emitter
Receiver
Red
Operational
LED
Green Alignment LED
Red Blocked LED
Amber Marginal
Alignment LED
Figure 1. System Features
Emitter
Receiver
Interlaced Scan improves the optical
resolution in the middle one-third of
the scanning range.
Figure 2. Interlaced Scan
A-GAGE
®
MINI-ARRAY
®
Two Piece Measuring Light Screen
www.bannerengineering.com - Tel: + 1 888 373 6767
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