Abstract: To safely avoid a collision of two transport units in the switch area during operation of a conveyor in the form of a long stator linear motor with a switch, a collision zone is provided in the switch area, wherein the collision zone extends from the beginning of the switch in each case a length on the respective conveyor section, and to define the collision zone, the transport units are considered as two-dimensional objects and a position of the first transport unit on the first conveyor section is determined, which the first transport unit is allowed to occupy, so that the second transport unit can be moved as a two-dimensional object along the second conveyor section without collision through the switch and a distance between this first position and the beginning of the switch is determined and at least this distance is used as the first length.

Abstract: Long-stator linear motor with vehicle arranged for movement along transport path. Motor includes holding structure(s) having drive coils, on which passive part of vehicle is arranged; and guide surface and guide track running along path. Passive part has first drive magnet(s) arranged parallel to guide surface with air gap. Vehicle has first profile member(s) arranged on guide track and positioned by pressing force acting in transverse direction onto guide track with respect to an ascending direction running normally to movement direction and transverse direction. First running member(s) support passive part on holding structure against attractive force acting between drive magnets and drive coils to ensure the air gap. Vehicle has first auxiliary guide member(s) which, interacting with an auxiliary guide on holding structure at least in divergence and/or convergence areas of path, delimits movement of vehicle in a positive and/or negative ascending direction at least on one side.

Abstract: For a flexibly configurable and easily expandable transport route of a long stator linear motor with transport route modules, it is provided that, in a two-sided route section with a transport route module on both sides, an intermediate space is provided between two transport route modules in transverse direction, and the transport unit is arranged at least partially in this intermediate space. In this way, a movement path is formed midway of this intermediate space in transverse direction that the transport unit follows during movement in longitudinal direction by the guidance on the transport route modules, and the movement path is arranged by the arrangement of the transport route module in transverse direction at a distance of (r·a) from the starting point and ending point, where r is an odd, whole number.

Abstract: To provide an illuminator, which offers reliable protection against undesirably high levels of emitted light intensity, there is provided on the illuminator according to the invention, in addition to a light source and a control unit, which supplies the light source with an electric current or an electric voltage and is equipped to regulate the intensity of an emitted light via the electric current or the electric voltage, a detector, which captures at least a performance variable of the light source. In addition, a diagnostic unit is provided, which compares the at least one performance variable against at least one specified limit value and triggers an action, which reduces the intensity independently of the control unit, as soon as the at least one performance variable reaches or exceeds the at least one limit value.

Abstract: In order to enable safe deceleration of a transport unit of a long-stator linear motor, wherein in a normal mode a plurality of drive coils of the long-stator linear motor are energized in such a way that a magnetic field coupled to a transport unit is moved along a direction of motion in order to move the transport unit along the direction of motion, according to the invention a switching to a controlled short-circuit mode is performed during the braking operation of the transport unit, in which at least some of the drive coils are short-circuited at least over a first time interval in said mode.

Abstract: In order to implement a transfer position in a long-stator linear motor, in which position a transport unit is magnetically steered in order to be deflected from a first transport sections to a second transport section, a stator current is impressed into the drive coils interacting with the transport unit on a first side of the transport unit in the transfer area in order to generate the steering effect on this first side, which stator current either generates only an electromagnetic lateral force or causes only a braking force against the movement direction of the transport unit, or only a combination thereof.

Abstract: Method and device for safe switching of a signal between a first and second point. Device includes a first branch having a first switch and second switch arranged between the first and second point, and a parallel second branch having a third switch and fourth switch. A testing device instructs a control unit, in a test sequence, to open the first switch for a first period of time, open the second switch for a second period of time, open the third switch for a third period of time, and open the fourth switch for a fourth period of time. Neither the first nor second periods of time overlap with the third or fourth period of time. A testing unit tests functioning of the switches during respective period of time, and generates an error signal in the event of a malfunction of at least one switch.

Abstract: Linear motor and method to determine absolute position of a rotor movable with respect to a stationary part in a direction of movement, without movement of rotor, without additional permanent magnets, without a close arrangement of position sensors, and also during large movements of rotor, at least one edge area of an arrangement of drive magnets is determined, and rough position of rotor is derived, and using known geometry of rotor, specific drive magnet of the arrangement of drive magnets is determined whose magnetic field is detected by at least one of the position sensors in the area of the arrangement of drive magnets. At least one position sensor determines a relative position of measured drive magnet with respect to the at least one position sensor, and absolute position of rotor is determined from known mounting position of this at least one position sensor and from determined relative position.

Abstract: To correct aberrations in the image plane of a camera while modifying selected, modifiable camera settings that influence aberrations quickly and simply, a plurality of features with different known feature positions is provided in space. For each selected, modifiable camera setting influencing the aberration, at least two defined setting specifications are provided for modifying respective camera settings. For each setting specification, the camera captures the plurality of features. The camera determines positions of features in the image plane. Via a known mathematical method, a connection between different known feature positions in space and corresponding image positions in the image plane of the camera is determined. For each of the setting specifications of the selected modifiable camera settings, correction parameters of at least one mathematical correction model are determined for correcting the aberration.

Abstract: For a kinematic modelled in a kinematics coordinate system by hingedly interconnected. single axles, a method calculates a braking region possibly covered by at least one of the single axles connected to an origin of the kinematics coordinate system and at least one of the single axles moving relative to the origin, in the event of a braking process, for a point that is coupled to a single axle, at least one virtual end position of the point is determined from an initial position of the point, a vectorial speed of at least one single axle, and a minimum deceleration of at least one single axle. The braking region of the point is determined using an envelope of the initial position and the at least one virtual end position, the extent of the envelope being calculated from the initial position and the at least one virtual end position.

Abstract: In a transition of a transport unit of a long stator linear motor from a first control zone to a following second control zone in a movement direction, a first segment control unit is responsible for controlling the movement of the transport unit and the first control zone is extended, in the movement direction, by a number of virtual drive coils. The first segment control unit, which is assigned to the first control zone, calculates manipulated variables for the virtual drive coils, and transmits the manipulated variables for the virtual drive coils to the second segment control unit, which is assigned to the second control zone. The second segment control unit uses the transmitted manipulated variables for the virtual drive coils in order to energize the drive coils of the second control zone for moving the transport unit.

Abstract: Light source (1) for industrial image processing for illuminating an image area (3), the light source (1) having at least one sensor (40) and the at least one sensor (40) being provided for capturing an actual relative position (6) of the light source (1) in relation to a reference plane (10), and that a comparison unit (11) connected to the sensor (40) is provided for comparing the actual relative position (6) of the light source (1) with a defined relative target position (7).

Abstract: To determine the temperature of a link capacitor (C) of a link converter (1) more accurately with less expenditure, a device and a method are described, in which the link capacitor (C) is modeled as a series interconnection of an equivalent capacitance (CS) and an equivalent series resistance (ESR), wherein a modeled capacitor current (iCm) flows across the equivalent series resistance (ESR). A modeled capacitor power loss (PC), from which the capacitor temperature (TC) is determined by means of a specified temperature model, is calculated from the modeled capacitor current (iCm) and the value of the equivalent series resistance (ESR) by means of a first relationship of the form PC=f(iCm, ESR). Direct measurement of the capacitor temperature (TC), of the capacitor current (iC), or of the capacitor power loss (PC) is not required. For example, a measurement of the capacitor voltage (uC) and a further calculation of the modeled capacitor current iCm and finally of the capacitor power loss (PC) are sufficient.

Abstract: To produce a real-time smart camera that can be flexibly configured in terms of hardware, a camera core is provided. The camera core is designed as a hardware arithmetic logic unit, and a real-time data bus interface, for connecting a real-time data bus, and a camera control unit are additionally provided in the camera core. The camera control unit is connected to both the real-time data bus interface and the image sensor interface, and the camera control unit is actuated via the real-time data bus interface to prompt the capture of an image. The camera control unit controls the image sensor interface.

Abstract: In order to specify a transport apparatus in the form of a long stator linear motor, by which the negative effects of a non-uniform magnetic flux in the joint region between two adjacent transport segments can be at least alleviated, according to embodiments, the spacing between the coil center of an end coil of a transport segment and the relevant end of the transport segment is smaller than half the tooth pitch of the two adjacent end coils of the transport segments, the tooth pitch of the two adjacent end coils corresponding to the tooth pitch of the drive coils of at least one of the transport segments.

Abstract: In order to make flexible, reliable lighting possible for industrial image processing, it is provided that a lighting unit (2), having a lighting device (5) comprising a number of light sources (6), receives a set value of the lighting via a data bus from a lighting control unit (10), that the lighting unit (2) captures a state variable (Z) of the lighting unit (2) and/or the surroundings of the lighting unit (2), and that the lighting unit (2) adjusts the set value in a closed control loop separately and independently from the lighting control unit (10) in that a control variable for at least one light source (6) is calculated in the lighting unit (2) and adjusted at the at least one light source (6).

Abstract: According to the invention, in order that the asynchronous bandwidth available in a real-time capable Ethernet data network protocol can be better utilized without collision at least one slave (S1, . . . , Sn) which wishes to transmit asynchronous data informs the master (M) in a transmission cycle (Z(m)) by means of a request data packet (DPa) how much asynchronous data this slave (S1, . . . , Sn) wishes to transmit asynchronously and by means of an invitation data packet (DPe) the master (M) informs the slave (S1, . . . , Sn) as to the time (tas) within a following transmission cycle (Z(m+k+l)) at which the slave (S1, . . . , Sn) should transmit the asynchronous data in an asynchronous data packet (DPas).

Abstract: To make it possible to operate a conveyor installation (1) in the form of a long stator linear motor in a simple manner, a first trigger point (Tx) is defined in at least one first position (Px) on the conveying track (2) and a first program code (Fx) which can be executed in the system controller (6) and with which a transport unit (TEn) is moved along a track section of the conveying track (2) in accordance with a defined movement profile is assigned to the first trigger point (Tx), and this program code (Fx) is executed for each transport unit (TEn) that reaches the first trigger point (Tx).

Abstract: To provide a simple and flexibly usable transport device in the form of a long stator linear motor, which enables a movement of a transport unit of the transport device in several different planes, it is provided according to the invention that a transition segment including a continuous-flow conveyor having a longitudinal axis is provided, adjoining the starting point or the ending point of the transport track in the longitudinal direction, for transporting the transport unit in a direction of movement extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein the continuous-flow conveyor is provided to move the transport unit in the direction of movement at least sectionally in a conveying plane deviating from the movement plane of the transport track.

Abstract: To provide an illumination means, which offers reliable protection against undesirably high levels of emitted light intensity, there is provided on the illumination means according to the invention, in addition to a light source and a control unit, which supplies the light source with an electric current (i) or an electric voltage and is equipped to regulate the intensity of an emitted light via the electric current or the electric voltage, a detection unit, which captures at least a performance variable of the light source. In addition, a diagnostic unit is provided, which compares the at least one performance variable (G_ist) against at least one specified limit value and triggers an action, which reduces the intensity independently of the control unit, as soon as the at least one performance variable reaches or exceeds the at least one limit value.