Abstract: Metal face inductive proximity sensors and methods are presented for sensing the presence or absence of a target object in a target sensing area in which a coil system is operated to generate a magnetic field extending outward from the sensing face at a frequency in a range that maximizes a relative target effect for the sensing face area, material, and thickness, and a target material from which the target object is made to allow the protective advantages of metal sensing face materials while enhancing sensing distance by optimizing the ratio of the target energy loss to the energy loss in the metal face.

Abstract: A method monitors whether the switching threshold of a switching sensor lies within a predefined tolerance region. An input signal is applied to the sensor's signal input, and a signal output emits a switch output signal that takes a first value when the input signal exceeds the switching threshold and, otherwise, takes a second value. A modulator generates a modulator signal used as an input signal that changes continuously or cyclically between an output value defining the upper limit and a smaller test value defining the lower limit of the tolerance region. The switch output signal pulses synchronously with the modulator signal between the first and second values when the switching threshold lies within the tolerance region and otherwise does not pulse. An evaluation device monitors the pulsation, an alarm signal being triggered when the switch output signal does not pulse for at least a predefined test period.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical sensor based on the transit time principle, comprising a light source for the emission of emergent light pulses into an observed region, comprising a rotating device for rotating a beam direction of the emergent light pulses about a rotation axis orientated transverse to the beam direction, and comprising a detector for the detection of light pulses reflected by objects in the observed region, comprising a housing for keeping the sensor interior separate from the environment and including a partitioning screen that is transparent to the emergent light pulses and to the reflected light pulses, comprising a test device for testing the translucence of the partitioning screen, and comprising a control and evaluation unit for controlling the light source, for evaluating the light pulses detected by the detector, and for determining the distance away of an object on the basis of the measured transit time of the light pulses, which control and evaluation unit cooperates wi

Abstract: An oscillator circuit according to the invention comprises an oscillator with a toggle circuit having an output and an inverting input, whereby the output is connected to the inverting input via a feedback resistor, the inverting input is connected, for example, to the ground, via a first oscillator capacitor, and also connected, for example, to the ground, via a second oscillator capacitor and via a control resistor whose value can be adjusted or electrically controlled, so that the frequency of the oscillator can be varied by increasing or decreasing the value of the control resistor. In order to control the value of the control resistor, preferably a modulated 1-bit signal is used that is integrated by an integrator. Preferably, the oscillator is an integral part of a closed-loop control circuit in which the frequency of the oscillator forms the actual value and a predefined target frequency forms the target value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a slot antenna, more particularly to a transmitting antenna for RFID, comprising an antenna contour board having a plurality of antenna slots and at least one control circuit for enabling the antenna contour board to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic radiation. The slot antenna is characterized in that in at least one antenna slot of the antenna contour board there is inserted a circuit board carrying a control circuit. The invention further relates to an RFID method involving the use of the slot antenna of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a code carrier that has a code carrier coil, whereby the code carrier coil is configured as a ring shaped like a triangle or the projection of the code carrier coil in the direction of the coil axis is shaped like a triangle. The code carrier coil or the code carrier, including the code carrier coil, is part of a cap that can be placed onto a corner of a cuboidal object and that functions as a physical corner protector, whereby the coil axis intersects the planes encompassed by the side surfaces of the object, all at an angle between 5° and 85°, and a body diagonal of the object pierces the triangle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the monitored conveying of sheet metal plates, particularly into a working or forming plant, in which a plate is taken up by a feeder from a first position and the plate and feeder are moved to a second position. According to the invention, during feeder movement to the second position a first sensor element located at the feeder, as well as a second sensor element located in the second position, are brought into a signal-based arrangement, and that on the basis of a measurement signal transmitted between the sensor elements the number of plates at the feeder and/or the second position is determined. The invention also relates to a device for the monitored conveying of plates, particularly into a forming plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a separation, spacing or distance of an object from an ultrasonic sensor, in which ultrasonic pulses are emitted by a transducing or sensing element and in which ultrasonic pulses reflected by the object are detected by the same transducing element. According to the invention, the method is characterized in that there is a spectral analysis of the signal detected by the transducing element, that the multiple echo frequency attributed to multiple echoes of the ultrasonic pulses is determined in the spectrum of the detection signal and that on the basis of the multiple echo frequency the separation of the object from the ultrasonic sensor is determined. The invention also relates to an ultrasonic sensor for determining the separation of an object.

Abstract: A device for detecting soiling, having a light source, which emits a light beam, and an opaque layer having a first boundary surface and a second boundary surface, whereby the light beam emitted by the light source first impinges on the first boundary surface, and part of a light beam fraction, which is scattered at the second boundary surface, impinges on a receiver and forms a measuring signal, and hereby the first boundary surface is set up to scatter part of the incident light beam, and the part impinging on the receiver of the light beam, scattered at the first boundary surface, forms a reference signal, and the device is set up further to determine a measure for the soiling of the second boundary surface from the comparison of the reference signal and measuring signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the detection of a predamping state of an inductive sensor. The sensor has at least one oscillator with a resonant circuit and an oscillation amplifier. According to the method the oscillatory response of the oscillator is analyzed with an operating amplification or gain. According to the invention the method is further developed in that the oscillatory behavior of the oscillator is additionally analyzed for an analysis amplification or gain, which is chosen lower than the operating amplification. The analysis amplification is also chosen in such a way that the oscillatory response of the oscillator reacts sensitively to objects or articles located in close proximity to the sensor. The invention also relates to an inductive sensor with predamping detection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inductive proximity switch with an oscillator having a resonant circuit and an amplifier and with an evaluating and control device for evaluating an impedance of the resonant circuit and for outputting a switching signal. According to the invention, the proximity switch is characterized in that a frequency measuring device is provided for measuring the oscillation frequency of the oscillator and for eliminating ambiguities of the evaluation result of the evaluating and control device. The invention also relates to a method for operating an inductive proximity switch.

Abstract: An electrical circuit comprising a power supply, a load and an incendive arc prevention means comprising a monitoring means and an isolation means, in which the monitoring means monitors the electrical circuit by means of a reactor means, in which if a short circuit with the potential to cause an incendive arc occurs in the electrical circuit the reaction of the reactor means is detected by the monitoring means and the isolation means fully or partially isolates the power supply from said short circuit, such that an incendive arc cannot occur, in which if an event with a current and/or voltage pattern which is characteristic of a propagating non-incendive arc occurs in the electrical circuit between the power supply and the load, the reaction of the reactor means is detected by the monitoring means, and the isolation means fully or partially isolates the power supply from said event, such that an incendive arc cannot occur.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a transducer unit for an angular switching device, in which a transducer element is inserted and fixed in an angled bush. The inventive method is characterized in that the transducer element is brought into aligned engagement with a transducer receptacle formed in a tool, that subsequently for the precise positioning with respect to the transducer element the bush is brought into an aligned, at least partial positive engagement with a bush receptacle appropriately constructed in the tool and that for completing the transducer unit the transducer element is fixed in the bush. In further aspects the invention relates to an angular transducer unit, an angular switching device and an object detection device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the optical display of n switching states of a switching device or sensor, with a plurality of differently coloured lighting devices for the optical display of the information to be transmitted and each lighting device has at least one lighting element. The device is characterized in that, for receiving the lighting elements, a transparent casing part is provided that for avoiding optical cross-talk, particularly in the case of simultaneously active lighting elements, the transparent casing part is subdivided into segments by optical interfaces and in which the lighting elements are received, and that the transparent casing part with the segments and lighting devices is so constructed and positioned that the lighting devices are visible to a user from any azimuth angle within a polar angle range.

Abstract: A method and device for the contactless detection of flat objects, particularly in sheet form, such as paper, films, foils, plates, labels, splices, break points, tear-off threads and similar flat materials or packs. A sensor device, such as a receiver-following evaluating device, is supplied with at least one correction characteristic, by means of which a measuring signal input voltage characteristic in the receiver is simulated as a function of the gram weight or weight per unit area of the flat objects as a target characteristic in such a way that there is obtained a linear or almost linear dependence or a characteristic approximated to the ideal single sheet detection characteristic in the form of a target characteristic.

Abstract: A method and device for the contactless detection of flat objects, particularly in sheet form, such as paper, films, foils, plates, and similar flat materials or packs. At least one correction characteristic is supplied to an evaluating device downstream of a sensor device, specifically a receiver, by means of which the characteristic of an input voltage of a measuring signal in the receiver is so simulated as a function of the gram weight or weight per unit area of flat objects as a target characteristic that there is a linear or almost linear dependence or a characteristic approximated to the ideal characteristic for single sheet detection in the form of a target characteristic.

Abstract: Data signal isolation apparatus comprising a first media converter adapted to convert outgoing electrical data signals into outgoing optical data signals, an optical data signal transmission means adapted to transmit said outgoing optical data signals, a second media converter adapted to convert said outgoing optical data signals back into outgoing electrical data signals, and an intrinsically safe power supply, in which the optical data signal transmission means comprises an electrical isolation gap, and in which the second media converter is powered by the intrinsically safe power supply.

Abstract: The invention relates to a casing (i.e., housing) for receiving an electrical device, particularly a switching device or sensor, having at least one indicating apparatus for indicating different electrical states, particularly switching states, of the device. The casing is characterized in that each indicating apparatus has a plurality of indicating devices and that the indicating devices of one indicating apparatus are positioned facing one another on the casing in such a way that, from each viewing direction, at least one indicating device of each indicating apparatus can be seen.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for sensing or measuring capacitive or inductive reactance or changes in reactance in which the sensed reactance is coupled with a known resistance in a sensor circuit and a start signal is provided to the sensor circuit, and a programmable delay line is used to generate a programmable delay signal. The outputs of the programmable delay and the sensor circuits are compared to ascertain which transitions first, and the programmable delay value is adjusted in successive approximation fashion to identify a programmable delay that best represents the delay time of the sensor circuit from which the sensed reactance value can be determined.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a switching device with a sensor unit located at a measurement end of a casing sleeve and connected to an electronic circuit located on a support received in the casing sleeve, and with a connection part located at a rear end of the casing sleeve. The method is characterized in that the sensor unit, support and connection part together with a shielding sleeve surrounding the support are assembled to form a dimensionally stable module and the latter is subsequently inserted in the casing sleeve, where it is received in fixing manner. According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a module for a switching device.