Abstract: A sensor device including a source for electromagnetic radiation, a plurality of receivers for the electromagnetic radiation, and an electronics unit designed to transmit electromagnetic radiation by means of the source and to determine a distance which the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the source travels from the reflection surface of an object to respective receivers by evaluation of the delay time of the electromagnetic radiation and/or the phase of an oscillation modulated on to the electromagnetic radiation. The electronics unit for the detection of reflective objects, which are like floating parts and are distributed in three dimensions in a medium, is able to determine from the measured distances a first group of distances which fit a predetermined distribution, and, if there is more than one group member, to emit a signal which is associated with the detection of reflective objects which are like floating parts.

Abstract: A sensor device having a sensor arrangement for detecting moving objects that includes a sensor and an electronic unit. The sensor arrangement is designed to detect an object and to subsequently investigate whether there are present within the surface of the object regions that move at a different speed and/or acceleration. The sensor arrangement can also investigate whether the object is accelerating.

Abstract: A safety switch device for switching a power supply for a load on and off, having at least one driveable switching element, in particular a relay, and a safety circuit for checking a switching state of the switching element. The switching element is in the form of a changeover switch in such a manner that a first contact is electrically connected to either a second contact or a third contact by means of a switching operation. A method for operating a safety switch device is also provided.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus for detecting an overhang on a load of a carrier device, having a sensor arrangement with at least one transmitter and a receiver and also an electronic unit for control purposes. According to the invention, the sensor arrangement senses two regions of the carrier device with a load during a movement of the carrier device such that evaluation of the geometrical position of the regions in relation to one another is made possible, wherein the first region relates to the carrier device and the second region relates to the load. Furthermore, the electronic unit is designed for generating a signal for each region and linking the signals such that it is possible to ascertain an overhang from this.

Abstract: The invention proposes a sensor array having a plurality of sensor devices comprising a source of electromagnetic radiation, a receiver for the electromagnetic radiation and a control device, the control device being designed to use the source to emit electromagnetic radiation and being designed to determine a distance covered by electromagnetic radiation, which is emitted by the source, from a reflection surface of an object to the receiver by evaluating the reflected radiation. According to the invention, the sensor devices of the plurality of sensor devices operate at different frequencies or using time-division multiplexing. The invention also proposes a sensor device for a sensor array, the control device being designed to measure the distance at different frequencies or using time-division multiplexing.

Abstract: A sensor device including a source for electromagnetic radiation, a receiver and a control device, the control device being designed for emitting electromagnetic radiation by means of the source and for determining a distance that is covered by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source from a reflection surface of an object to the receiver, doing so by evaluating a propagation time of the radiation or a phase of an oscillation modulated onto the radiation. According to the invention, the control device provides an economy mode in which the power of the source is lower in a prescribed time interval by comparison with a normal object detection mode, means being provided to ensure switching back into the normal object detection mode in the event of a predefined object situation.

Abstract: A plug-in module for mounting on a mounting device is provided, the plug-in module including a housing with a rear mounting face and plug regions on the front face. At least one additional plug region is formed between the front face and the rear mounting face on the housing.

Abstract: A sensor device including a source for electromagnetic radiation, a plurality of receivers for the electromagnetic radiation, and an electronics unit designed to transmit electromagnetic radiation by means of the source and to determine a distance which the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the source travels from the reflection surface of an object to respective receivers by evaluation of the delay time of the electromagnetic radiation and/or the phase of an oscillation modulated on to the electromagnetic radiation. The electronics unit for the detection of reflective objects, which are like floating parts and are distributed in three dimensions in a medium, is able to determine from the measured distances a first group of distances which fit a predetermined distribution, and, if there is more than one group member, to emit a signal which is associated with the detection of reflective objects which are like floating parts.

Abstract: A device for controlling a driven moving element including an electronic unit with an object sensor. According to the invention, the electronic unit is designed, by means of the object sensor, to determine an object distance between the driven moving element and an object in the region of the moving element and to control the movement of the moving element depending on said object distance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the contactless measurement of an object in at least one dimension. An object is scanned in a spatially restricted effective zone of a scanning beam field and the size of the object in terms of the measured dimension is deduced by the detection of one or more interruptions in the scanning beams. The scanning beam field is constructed from a number of directly addressable individual beams. The beam-assisted scanning of the spatially restricted effective zone of the scanning beam field is carried out according to a predefinable pattern of steps, using a non-linear soiling method.

Abstract: The described safety mechanism is embodied for elevator systems with an elevator car, which can be displaced in an elevator shaft. The entrances to the elevator shaft and to the elevator car each have at least one sliding door, which is automatically operable by a drive mechanism, preferably arranged on the elevator car. At least one detector device is provided at each sliding door, which is placed in the area of a pinching edge between a sliding door and a door jamb, and/or between two adjoining sliding door panels. Depending on the detected state of the monitored areas, the detector device generates a door release signal, or provides the interruption of the drive mechanism for opening the sliding door. The signals from the detector devices at the sliding doors of the elevator shaft can be received as a function of the position of the elevator car.

Abstract: To properly align support elements (17,19), typically support bars or strips of a light curtain formed by a plurality of light beams (21), transmitted between transmitters (13) and receivers (15) on the respective support bars (17,19), a separate alignment light source, typically a laser (29), is provided. The laser (29) projects a light beam (33) to a receiver (35) from one (17) of said bars to the other (19). A counter-directed beam (33') is projected from the other (19) of the bars to the first bar (17). The counter-directed beam (33') spaced from the first direct beam (33), can be generated by a second laser (29'), or by deflecting the received direct beam (33) on or in the second bar (19) by 180.degree. to provide the counter-directed return beam to the first bar (17). This permits rapid alignment of the respective bars, even with respect to five directions of freedom of movement of the respective bars.