Panasonic Digital Mark Sensor LX-101 - LX-100 Series

Panasonic Digital Mark Sensor LX-101 – LX-100 Series

Product Overview

The Panasonic LX-100 series is an amplifier-built-in digital mark sensor designed for high-precision detection of marks. The LX-101 model, for example, is equipped with newly developed R·G·B light-emitting elements all in one unit, allowing it to detect a wide range of markings. It utilizes a high-precision coaxial reflective optical system with a scratchproof glass lens for accurate sensing. The sensor also features a 4-digit digital display for numerical sensing control and minute settings, and large, easy-to-operate buttons.

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Key Features

Key Features that Make it Outstanding:

3-LED (R·G·B) Light Emitting Elements: The LX-100 series incorporates red, green, and blue LEDs in a single unit, enabling it to detect virtually any mark regardless of color. This eliminates the need for multiple sensors or frequent manual adjustments for different color combinations.

Automatic Optimal LED Selection Function: The sensor can automatically select the optimal LED color (red, green, or blue) to achieve the largest contrast (S/N ratio) between the mark and the base, ensuring stable and reliable detection. This simplifies setup and enhances detection accuracy for various materials and mark colors.

High Precision Coaxial Reflective Optical System: Panasonic’s unique coaxial reflective optics technology and a sharp $1 \times 5$ mm (0.039 $\times$ 0.197 in) spot size ensure very accurate sensing and stable mark detection. The use of a scratchproof glass lens also contributes to durability.

12-bit A/D Converter: This provides a high resolution of 1/4,000, enabling extremely precise mark sensing. This level of resolution is crucial for distinguishing subtle differences in color or intensity between marks and backgrounds.Two Detection Modes (Mark Mode & Color Mode):
- Mark Mode: Offers ultra high-speed response (45 µs or less) by automatically selecting a single optimal LED color for quick sensing.
- Color Mode: Provides high-precision color discrimination using the R·G·B reflective light ratio, allowing for effective detection of films with patterns around the mark area. This versatility allows the sensor to be adapted to different application requirements.

Digital Display and MODE NAVI Operation: A 4-digit digital display allows for numerical control and easy verification of received light and settings. The “MODE NAVI” with 6 indicators simplifies operation by clearly showing the sensor’s current mode.
IP67 Protection: The sensor has a waterproof construction, making it suitable for environments where washing machines and production lines with water are common.

Compact Design: The sensor boasts a compact size of W57 $\times$ D24 $\times$ H38 mm (W2.244 $\times$ D0.945 $\times$ H1.496 in), allowing for significant space savings and easy integration into existing facilities.

Specifications

Feature	Specification
Model Numbers	LX-101 (Cable type, NPN output)
	LX-101-P (Cable type, PNP output)
	LX-101-Z (Plug-in connector type, NPN output)
	LX-101-P-Z (Plug-in connector type, PNP output)
Sensing Range	10 ± 3 mm (0.394 ± 0.118 in)
Spot Size	1 × 5 mm (0.039 × 0.197 in) at 10 mm (0.394 in) setting distance
Supply Voltage	12 to 24 V DC ±10% Ripple P-P 10% or less
Current Consumption	Normal mode: 750 mW or less (30 mA or less at 24 V)
Current Consumption	ECO mode: 600 mW or less (25 mA or less at 24 V)
Output	NPN or PNP open-collector transistor
	Max sink/source current: 50 mA for Output 1, 100 mA for Output 2 (LX-101-Z/P-Z output 2 not incorporated)
	Short-circuit protection incorporated
Response Time	Mark mode: 45 µs or less
Response Time	Color mode: 150 µs or less
Protection	IP67 (IEC)
Ambient Temperature	-10 to +55 °C (+14 to +131 °F) (no dew condensation or icing)
Emitting Element	Combined Red/Green/Blue LEDs (Peak emission wavelength: 640 nm/525 nm/470 nm)

Top 5 Applications with Case Studies

Detecting Registration Marks on Packaging Film (High-Speed Marking):
- Case Study: A food packaging line requires precise cutting and sealing based on registration marks printed on transparent or semi-transparent film. The film moves at high speeds, and the marks can vary slightly in color or transparency due to printing variations.
- How Key Features Help: The LX-100’s Mark mode with its ultra high-speed response of 45 µs ensures that even rapidly moving marks are accurately detected. The “Automatic optimal LED selection function” is crucial here, as it automatically chooses the best LED (red, green, or blue) to achieve the highest contrast, effectively handling variations in film transparency and subtle mark color differences, which would be challenging for a single-color sensor. This prevents miscuts and ensures consistent packaging quality.

Color Discrimination on Pharmaceutical Blister Packs:
- Case Study: In pharmaceutical manufacturing, blister packs often have printed information or codes in various colors on different sections of the packaging. It’s critical to ensure the correct drug is being packed by identifying specific color patterns or codes on the blister.
- How Key Features Help: The Color mode’s “High precision discrimination” using the R·G·B reflective light ratio is ideal. The 12-bit A/D converter provides a resolution of 1/4,000 , enabling the sensor to differentiate even similar shades and accurately determine the consistency of the spot color. This allows the system to verify the correct product based on its specific color scheme, reducing errors and ensuring patient safety.

Controlling Cut-to-Length on Printed Materials with Varying Backgrounds:
- Case Study: A printing press needs to cut banners or labels at precise points, but the printed background might have subtle patterns or textures that could interfere with mark detection. The marks themselves might also be in a color that doesn’t strongly contrast with all background variations.
- How Key Features Help: The “Automatic optimal LED selection function” excels in this scenario. Instead of relying on a fixed color, the sensor dynamically selects the LED that maximizes the contrast between the mark and the varying background. This adaptability ensures stable detection regardless of the background print, leading to accurate cuts and minimizing material waste. The coaxial reflective optical system also contributes to accurate sensing, preventing false triggers from background elements.

Detecting Registration Marks on Glossy or Irregular Surfaces:
- Case Study: In the production of consumer electronics, parts might have registration marks on glossy plastic or uneven surfaces, which can cause specular reflection and unstable sensing with conventional sensors.
- How Key Features Help: The “High precision coaxial reflective optical system” is designed to minimize the impact of specular reflection, ensuring accurate sensing even on glossy materials. Additionally, the recommendation to slightly tilt the sensor’s beam axis by 10 to 15 degrees further reduces specular reflection and stabilizes detection on challenging surfaces, preventing missed marks and ensuring precise alignment during assembly.

Automated Quality Control for Labeling Machines:
- Case Study: A labeling machine applies pre-printed labels to products. Occasionally, labels might be misprinted, have incorrect colors, or be slightly off-center. The quality control system needs to identify and reject such faulty products.
- How Key Features Help: The Color mode of the LX-100, with its ability to perform “High precision mark color discrimination” using the R·G·B reflective light ratio, is highly effective. By teaching the sensor the acceptable color profile of a correct label, it can detect labels with incorrect colors or color variations that fall outside the specified tolerance. The “1-level teaching” in Color mode makes it easy to set up for this type of inspection, enabling automated rejection of faulty products and maintaining product quality.

Panasonic Digital Mark Sensor LX-101 – LX-100 Series