Abstract: A distance measuring optoelectronic sensor for detecting a target object in a monitored zone is provided that has a light transmitter for transmitting light pulses, a deflection unit for a periodic scanning of the monitored zone by the light pulses, a light receiver for generating a received signal from the light pulses reflected or remitted by objects in the monitored zone, and a control and evaluation unit that is configured to determine the distance of an object from a time of flight of a light pulse and to transmit light pulses of different intensity, For the detection of a target object having a specific reflection capability, the control and evaluation unit is here furthermore configured to transmit light pulses adapted to the reflection capability and to a range and to vary the light pulses in accordance with different ranges for the distinction between the target object and another object.

Abstract: A safe optoelectronic sensor is provided for securing a monitored zone comprising at least one machine, wherein the sensor has at least one light receiver for generating a received signal from received light from the monitored zone and a control and evaluation unit that is configured to determine distances from objects in the monitored zone from the received signal, and to treat gaps, i.e. safety relevant part regions of the monitored zone in which no reliable distance can be determined, as an object at a predefined distance. The predefined distance here corresponds to a height for securing against reach over.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for detecting objects in a monitored zone is provided having at least one light receiver for generating measurement data from received light from the monitored zone and having a safe evaluation unit that has at least two processing channels for a redundant processing of the measurement data and having a comparison unit for comparing processing results of the processing channels to uncover errors in a processing channel 30a-b. The processing channels are here each configured for a determination of a signature with respect to their processing results; and the comparator unit is configured for a comparison of the signatures.

Abstract: A distance measuring optoelectronic sensor for detecting a target object in a monitored zone is provided that has a light transmitter for transmitting light pulses, a deflection unit for a periodic scanning of the monitored zone by the light pulses, a light receiver for generating a received signal from the light pulses reflected or remitted by objects in the monitored zone, and a control and evaluation unit that is configured to determine the distance of an object from a time of flight of a light pulse and to transmit light pulses of different intensity, For the detection of a target object having a specific reflection capability, the control and evaluation unit is here furthermore configured to transmit light pulses adapted to the reflection capability and to a range and to vary the light pulses in accordance with different ranges for the distinction between the target object and another object.

Abstract: A method of configuring at least one hazard zone to be monitored by at least one three-dimensional (3D) sensor includes fixing outer surfaces, where the at least one hazard zone is a volume defined by the outer surfaces, and is a zone in which a machine to be secured is located. Additionally, a check is made during the configuration or after the configuration whether the outer surfaces are visible to the at least one 3D sensor.

Abstract: A method of securing at least one hazard zone comprising a hazardous machine is provided, wherein objects are detected in an environment of the hazard zone from measured data of at least one 3D sensor, and wherein a safety directed reaction of the machine takes place on an impending danger. A switch is made to at least one new hazard zone to be activated during the operation of the machine and a check is made whether the new hazard zone to be secured is free of objects.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for detecting objects in a monitored zone is provided having at least one light receiver for generating measurement data from received light from the monitored zone and having a safe evaluation unit that has at least two processing channels for a redundant processing of the measurement data and having a comparison unit for comparing processing results of the processing channels to uncover errors in a processing channel 30a-b. The processing channels are here each configured for a determination of a signature with respect to their processing results; and the comparator unit is configured for a comparison of the signatures.

Abstract: A method of securing at least one hazard zone comprising a hazardous machine is provided, wherein objects are detected in an environment of the hazard zone from measured data of at least one 3D sensor, and wherein a safety directed reaction of the machine takes place on an impending danger. A switch is made to at least one new hazard zone to be activated during the operation of the machine and a check is made whether the new hazard zone to be secured is free of objects.

Abstract: A method is provided of configuring at least one hazard zone to be monitored by at least one 3D sensor, wherein the hazard zone is a volume defined by outer surfaces in which a machine to be secured is located; and wherein the outer surfaces are fixed by the configuration. In this process, a check is made during the configuration or after the configuration whether the outer surfaces are visible to at least one of the 3D sensors.

Abstract: A safe optoelectronic sensor is provided for securing a monitored zone comprising at least one machine, wherein the sensor has at least one light receiver for generating a received signal from received light from the monitored zone and a control and evaluation unit that is configured to determine distances from objects in the monitored zone from the received signal, and to treat gaps, i.e. safety relevant part regions of the monitored zone in which no reliable distance can be determined, as an object at a predefined distance. The predefined distance here corresponds to a height for securing against reach over.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) for safe detection of objects (32, 34) of a minimum size in a monitoring area (12), the sensor (10) having an image sensor (16a-b) for acquiring image data of the monitoring area (12) and an evaluation unit (24) configured to detect, in the image data, both finely detected objects (34, 36) with a fine detection capability and coarsely detected objects (32) with a coarse detection capability, the coarse detection capability being coarser than the fine detection capability, and to ignore finely detected objects (36) which are not in a vicinity (38) of a coarsely detected object (32).

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) for safe detection of objects (32, 34) of a minimum size in a monitoring area (12), the sensor (10) having an image sensor (16a-b) for acquiring image data of the monitoring area (12) and an evaluation unit (24) configured to detect, in the image data, both finely detected objects (34, 36) with a fine detection capability and coarsely detected objects (32) with a coarse detection capability, the coarse detection capability being coarser than the fine detection capability, and to ignore finely detected objects (36) which are not in a vicinity (38) of a coarsely detected object (32).

Abstract: A method of configuring and of operating a monitored automated work cell, wherein the work cell has at least one dangerous machine and at least one monitoring device includes the following steps: transmitting machine space data defining at least one work space of the machine to a configuration apparatus for the monitoring device; generating protective space data by the configuration apparatus using the machine space data, with the protective space data defining at least one protective space of the monitoring device which encompasses the work space of the machine such that the protective space completely or partly corresponds to the work space or that the protective space is larger than the work space; and transferring the protective space data to the monitoring device so that the monitoring device monitors the protective space; and a configuration device for configuring a monitoring device monitoring an automated work cell.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring a monitored area with at least one camera and in which the monitored area has a contrast strip with at least one bright partial strip and/or at least one dark partial strip that extend in the longitudinal direction. A control unit recognizes the obscuration of a minimum area of the bright partial strip and/or the dark partial strip as the entry of an object into the monitored area. The control unit detects from an image of the camera the obscuration in columns which are oriented transverse to the contrast strip. A violation of the signature of the contrast strip is recognized when a first minimum number of bright pixels between the bright beginning and the bright end of the bright partial strip and/or a second minimum number of dark pixels between the dark beginning and the dark end of the dark partial strip in the respective columns, and the obscuration of the minimum area as the obscuration of a predetermined number of side-by-side columns have been detected.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) for monitoring a working area (42) is provided, the working area (42) being located within a detection area (20) of the sensor (10) and in a first distance from the sensor (10), wherein the sensor (10) comprises an illumination unit (22) with a light source (24) for at least partially illuminating the working area (42), and an object detection unit (30) for detecting forbidden objects in the working area (42), wherein an illumination control (28) of the illumination unit (22) is configured to, during a startup period, initially activate the illumination unit (28) with a lower power such that a provisional working area (40, 40a-c) in a second distance from the sensor (10) less than the first distance is illuminated at most with a predetermined maximum light output; test whether there is a forbidden object intrusion into the provisional working area (40, 40a-c); and if no forbidden object intrusion is detected, activate the illumination unit (28) with a higher power such that th

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) for monitoring a working area (42) is provided, the working area (42) being located within a detection area (20) of the sensor (10) and in a first distance from the sensor (10), wherein the sensor (10) comprises an illumination unit (22) with a light source (24) for at least partially illuminating the working area (42), and an object detection unit (30) for detecting forbidden objects in the working area (42), wherein an illumination control (28) of the illumination unit (22) is configured to, during a startup period, initially activate the illumination unit (28) with a lower power such that a provisional working area (40, 40a-c) in a second distance from the sensor (10) less than the first distance is illuminated at most with a predetermined maximum light output; test whether there is a forbidden object intrusion into the provisional working area (40, 40a-c); and if no forbidden object intrusion is detected, activate the illumination unit (28) with a higher power such that th

Abstract: A distance-measuring optoelectronic sensor for the monitoring of a working zone is provided which is located within a detection zone of the sensor and at a first distance from the sensor, wherein the sensor has a lighting unit having a light source to illuminate the working zone at least partly as well as an object detection unit by means of which unauthorized objects in the working zone can be detected. In this respect, an illumination control is designed, in a switching-on phase, first to activate the lighting unit with a lower power so that a provisional working zone at a second distance from the sensor less than the first distance is illuminated with at most a preset maximum power; to check by means of the object detection unit whether an unauthorized object intrusion is taking place into the provisional working zone; and if no unauthorized object intrusion is recognized, to activate the lighting unit at a higher power so that the working zone is illuminated with at most the preset maximum power.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus, in particular to a bending apparatus, including at least one movable apparatus part; an operating device for the operation of the apparatus, with at least one first signal for the actuation of the apparatus and one second signal for the stopping of the apparatus being able to be triggered via the operating device; a protection device for the monitoring of a protected zone of the apparatus; and a device for the selective adaptation of the protected zone before the actuation of the apparatus, with the device for the adaptation of the protected zone being able to be acted on by means of a third signal of the operating device. Alternatively, the device for the selective adaptation of the protected zone can include a voice input device.

Abstract: A distance-measuring optoelectronic sensor for the monitoring of a working zone is provided which is located within a detection zone of the sensor and at a first distance from the sensor, wherein the sensor has a lighting unit having a light source to illuminate the working zone at least partly as well as an object detection unit by means of which unauthorized objects in the working zone can be detected. In this respect, an illumination control is designed, in a switching-on phase, first to activate the lighting unit with a lower power so that a provisional working zone at a second distance from the sensor less than the first distance is illuminated with at most a preset maximum power; to check by means of the object detection unit whether an unauthorized object intrusion is taking place into the provisional working zone; and if no unauthorized object intrusion is recognized, to activate the lighting unit at a higher power so that the working zone is illuminated with at most the preset maximum power.

Abstract: A 3D sensor (10) having at least one image sensor (14) for the generation of image data of a monitored region (12) as well as a 3D evaluation unit (28) are provided, the evaluation unit (28) is adapted for the calculation of a depth map having distance pixels from the image data and for the determination of reliability values for the distance pixels. In this respect a gap evaluation unit (28) is provided which is adapted to recognize regions of the depth map with distance pixels whose reliability value does not satisfy a reliability criteria as gaps (42) in the depth map and to evaluate whether the depth map has gaps (42) larger than an uncritical maximum size.