Abstract: A spatial area is monitored by means of at least a first and a second image recording unit that have a common viewing area. At least one virtual protection zone is defined within the common viewing area. A first and a second image of the spatial area are recorded by means of the first and a second image recording unit. The images are compared with one another in order to identify mutually disjoint image regions in the images. An alarm signal is generated when a disjoint image region covers the virtual protection zone.

Abstract: An installation comprises at least one sensor for providing sensor data representing a real system state of the installation and at least one actuator for acting on the real system state. A controller for controlling the installation comprises a data memory for storing the sensor data and a program memory for storing a machine code program. A programming tool for programming the controller includes a program editor, a debugging tool and a compiler. A machine code program is executed on the controller while the debugging tool is activated, and the debugging tool determines a reverse relationship between the machine code running on the controller and at least one high level control instruction shown in the program editor, thereby linking at least one high level control instruction to a real system state during the execution of the machine code program.

Abstract: A safety controller designed to control an automated installation having a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators. A method for generating a user program for the safety controller comprises the step of generating a source code having a number of control instructions for controlling the actuators and having a number of diagnosis instructions for producing diagnosis reports. Safety-related program variables are processed in failsafe fashion during execution of the control instructions. A machine code is generated on the basis of the source code. At least one checksum is determined for at least some of the machine code. The diagnosis instructions are ignored for the determination of the checksum.

Abstract: A new method and to a new programming tool for creating a user program for a safety controller is disclosed. The new method and programming tool exploit a matrix-type organization of occurring programming tasks. Itemized software components allocated to specific hardware components are combined with aspect blocks that enable programming grouped according to functional control aspects of the system to be controlled.

Abstract: A safety switch for generating a system enable signal depending on the position of a movable guard door which is used for safeguarding a hazardous area of a machine installation. At least one part of the machine installation can only be operated when the system enable signal is present. The safety switch has a door part to be fastened to the movable guard door and a frame part to be fastened to a mating door piece. The safety switch also has a bolt which can be moved between a first position and a second position, a recess in which the bolt can engage in the second position, and a locking element designed to block the bolt in the second position. In addition, the safety switch comprises a first position sensor designed to clearly detect at least one of the positions of the bolt in order to generate the system enable signal. Moreover, the safety switch comprises a door release request unit configured to generate a door release request signal in addition to the system enable signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining an overtravel time of a machine, which has a moveable machine part and an optoelectronic protection device, has a light source designed to produce a defined light spot. The protection device for the machine comprises a camera having an observation area in which at least one protection zone having a protection zone boundary is defined. The protection device produces a stop signal when an object enters the protection zone. The light spot simulates an object within the protection zone. The light source is supported by a support element designed to position the light source in the area of the protection zone boundary. An evaluation and control unit of the apparatus is designed to switch on the light source at a defined starting time, and to determine a time interval between the defined starting time and the reception of an “end” signal indicating that the machine part has come to rest.

Abstract: A safety controller for controlling an automated installation has a control unit to which a plurality of control input signals are supplied from the sensors of the installation. The control unit produces a plurality of control output signals on the basis of the control input signals in accordance with a user program running in said control unit in an automatic mode. The plurality of control output signals actuate the actuators. The safety controller also has a diagnosis evaluation unit that ascertains which one of a plurality of operating states is present at a defined instant of time and produces an operating state signal which represents the ascertained operating state. A diagnosis selection unit generates a diagnosis report as a function of the operating state signal and as a function of a user access authorization signal and/or a special operating mode signal.

Abstract: A safety controller for controlling an automated installation which has a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators, comprises a control unit to which a plurality of control input signals are supplied by the sensors. The control unit produces a plurality of control output signals in an automatic mode on the basis of the control input signals in accordance with a user program running in said control unit. The plurality of control output signals is used to actuate the plurality of actuators. The safety controller also has a diagnosis evaluation unit to which a number of diagnoses input signals are supplied. The diagnosis evaluation unit takes the diagnosis input signals as a basis for ascertaining which of a plurality of operating states is present at a defined instant of time. The diagnosis evaluation unit produces an operating state data record which represents an ascertained operating state. The safety controller also has an interface for a display unit in order to display diagnosis reports.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for detecting a safe installation state of an automated installation has an input circuit designed to receive a first input signal and at least one further input signal. The first input signal depends on the safe installation state to be detected. The further input signal depends on a further operational state. The sensor arrangement also has a first output and at least one second output and an evaluation unit for outputting a first output signal and a second output signal at the first and second outputs, respectively. The evaluation unit is designed to evaluate the first input signal in a failsafe manner and on the basis thereof produce a redundant signal pair at the first and second outputs to signal a safe installation state, and to evaluate the further input signal and on the basis thereof generate non-redundant output signals different from the redundant signal pair.

Abstract: A method for creating a user program for a safety controller designed to control an automated installation having a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators involves several programming steps. The user program comprises a first program portion, in which safety-related program variables are processed in failsafe fashion, and comprises at least one second program portion, in which non-safety-related program variables are processed, wherein failsafe processing is not necessary for the non-safety-related program variables within the second program portion.

Abstract: A bus-based control system comprises a plurality of bus subscribers which are connected to one another by means of a communication medium. The bus subscribers are assigned logical subscriber addresses. Next, the assigned subscriber addresses are verified. For this purpose, the bus subscribers use a defined mathematical operation to calculate a common first check value which is compared with a second check value. The mathematical operation begins with a defined starting value and comprises a number of operation steps which use a number of defined operands. Each of the subscriber addresses to be verified forms a different operand, and each bus subscriber executes at least one operation step.

Abstract: A safety circuit arrangement for failsafe connection or disconnection of a hazardous installation has a control device, which is designed to connect or interrupt, in failsafe fashion, a power supply path to the installation. The safety circuit arrangement also has a signaling device, which is connected to the control device via a two-wire line having a first core and a second core. The signaling device has an actuator, which can change between a defined first state and a second state. Between the two cores is a substantially constant voltage when the actuator is in the second state. A pulse generator in the signaling device causes a voltage dip between the first core and the second core in order to generate a defined pulsed signal comprising a plurality of signal pulses on the lines, when the actuator is in the defined first state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for matching an object model to a three-dimensional point cloud, wherein the point cloud is generated from two images by means of a stereo method and a clustering method is applied to the point cloud in order to identify points belonging to respectively one cluster, wherein model matching is subsequently carried out, with at least one object model being superposed on at least one cluster and an optimum position of the object model with respect to the cluster being determined, and wherein a correction of false assignments of points is carried out by means of the matched object model. A classifier, trained by means of at least one exemplary object, is used to generate an attention map from at least one of the images. A number and/or a location probability of at least one object, which is similar to the exemplary object, is determined in the image using the attention map, and the attention map is taken into account in the clustering method and/or in the model matching.

Abstract: An arrangement for wirelessly networking sensors, actuators and at least one shared control unit in automation technology, has a first connection point for receiving an RF transmit signal from an RF transmitter and for providing an RF receive signal from an antenna. The arrangement has a second connection point, which leads to the antenna, and a signal coupler, arranged between the first connection point and the second connection point. The signal coupler transmits the RF transmit signal from the first connection point to the antenna, and transmits the RF receive signal from the antenna to the first connection point. The signal coupler has a variable coupling attenuation with a low first attenuation factor and at least one higher second attenuation factor. The signal coupler transmits the RF receive signal using the low first attenuation factor and transmits the RF transmit signal using the higher second attenuation factor.