Title
Light Curtain Scanner
DSP improves accuracy, performance and manufacturing costs while opening new markets
Technologies used

DSP

Industrial sector (PRODCOM code)
    332 Manufacture of instruments and appliances for measuring, checking, testing, navigating, exc. industrial process
Abstract
The company SITRONIC GmbH situated in Steyregg, Austria, produces and markets infrared light curtains (scanners) of various sizes and types, concentrating on development, final assembly, testing and quality management. Design and production of PCBs, mechanical parts including castings, etc. is outsourced.

The company was established in 1993 and has five employees. Two of them are electronic engineers.

The methods used for this AE can be implemented in practically all types of light curtains, however, first of all it has been aimed at the so-called INFRASCAN®2000 which is the main product. The technology used for this product was a PCB with standard logic and a microcontroller. This product is mainly used in the woodworking industry where ambient conditions can be very adverse, other fields of application can be found in the steel industry, glass industry, plastic industry and the transport industry. The envisaged improvement can open new fields in the sport industry, shape comparison and for road pricing applications.

In its present state the product was on the market for some 8 years and proved to be very reliable. It was used by system integrators and formed the measuring device in automation and optimisation systems.

The technology employed made the units the fastest and most versatile scanners on the market.. Nevertheless a requirement for more capabilities existed and a great step forward was the proposed method of improved signal processing using DSPs which, however, SITRONIC uses the first time.

The main motivation to innovate was to enter new and increase the market share of the sector covered currently. Therefore it was necessary to improve the quality of the evaluation of the signals as well as to improve the sensitivity concerning EMC.

The design of the prototype took 9 months with a total costs of 53,89 k€.

The product is expected to be introduced to the market within the next 6 months.

SITRONIC estimates for the product a sales life time of 10 years.

The ROI will come to about 260% over the 10 years of sales.

The payback period will be about 4 years.
Company
SITRONIC GmbH, Special Electronics
Weissenwolffstraße 14
A-4221 Steyregg
Austria
Detailed information
You can also benefit from microelectronics

DSP technology provided SITRONIC GmbH, Special Electronics with the means of improving its products and enhancing its market position. You can also achieve significant benefits by acquiring the right microelectronics technology and utilising it in your product or manufacturing process. You can get help from FUSE to realise this.

FUSE is a technology transfer programme, funded by the European Commission to stimulate the wider use of microelectronics technologies by European enterprises to increase their competitiveness and enhance their economic growth. The demonstrator described here is one of many examples in the public FUSE portfolio covering the whole spectrum of microelectronics technologies and spanning a wide range of applications and industry sectors.

FUSE provides you with:

  • Best practice in acquiring specific microelectronics technologies and conducting full development projects through the FUSE portfolio of real life demonstrator documents.
  • Local training and expert support to plan your innovation realistically and help you conduct your project successfully.

Further information and support relating to this and other demonstrators can be obtained from the addresses below.
Further information   Guiding Technology Transfer Node
For further information and support regarding this case study, please contact a Technology Transfer Node (TTN) in your region.
Homepage: http://www.fuse-network.com
Research Institute for Integrated Circuits
Altenberger Strasse 69
A-4040 Linz
Austria