Abstract: A sensor (200, 300, 400) for the measurement of distances or of distance changes in accordance with the signal transit time principle having a transmitter (12) for the transmission of an electromagnetic signal as well as having a transmission controller (18, 20) by means of which the signals can be transmitted by the transmitter (12) at presettable transmission times and having a receiver (16) for the reception of the signal remitted in a monitored zone, wherein an evaluation unit (18, 22) of the sensor (200, 300, 400) is made to trigger the transmission of the signal at a transmission time in a respective measurement period (100) and to sample the received signal as well as to accumulate a histogram (110, 114) of such received signals over a plurality of measurement periods (100) to determine the reception time from the histogram (100, 114) and the transit time from said reception time.

Abstract: A safety controller (10) is set forth having at least one input (18) for the connection of a sensor (20), at least one output (22) for the connection of an actuator (24), at least one communications interface (30) for the connection of a further safety controller (10a-d) to exchange control-relevant information and having a control unit (14) which is made to carry out a control program which generates a control signal with reference to presettable logic rules at the outputs (22) in dependence on input signals at the inputs (18) and/or in dependence on the control-relevant information. In this respect, the control program, when it determines that an expected safety controller (10a-d) is not connected, uses predefined information instead of the safety-relevant information to be transferred from the expected safety controller (10a-d).

Abstract: An object geometry measurement apparatus (10, 20) for the dynamic generation and transmission of geometrical data of objects (14) moved on a conveying device (12) is set forth, wherein the apparatus has a first optoelectronic sensor (10) which is made for the detection of the object geometry in a section of the object (14) with reference to intervals and/or of the remission behavior, as well as a first control (20) which can calculate geometrical data from the object geometry of each section and can output them via a first interface. In this respect, the first control (20) is made to adapt the information density of the output geometrical data to a measure for changes of the object geometry from section to section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for the failsafe monitoring of an electromotive drive (10) without additional sensors. The apparatus comprises a drive having a three-phase control of an electric motor, means (20) for detecting the current and voltage profiles of each of the three phases U(, V, W), as they are forwarded to the motor (10) by drive electronics (12), means (26) for determining the load speed (nL) while using the detected current and voltage values, wherein the determination of the load speed (nL) takes place by calculating an observer model with reference to the detected current, to the detected voltage, to the frequency fFU preset by the control and to the characteristic data of the motor (10) and means (28) for generating a failsafe switch signal (30) for the motor (10) when the calculated load speed (nL) does not correspond to a preset desired speed within the framework of preset tolerances.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for the failsafe monitoring of an electromotive drive (10) without additional sensors. The apparatus comprises a drive having a three-phase control of an electric motor, means (20) for detecting the current and voltage profiles of each of the three phases (U, V, W), as they are forwarded to the motor (10) by drive electronics (12), means (26) for determining the load speed (nL) while using the detected current and voltage values, wherein the determination of the load speed (nL) takes place by calculating an observer model with reference to the detected current, to the detected voltage, to the frequency fFU preset by the control and to the characteristic data of the motor (10) and means (28) for generating a failsafe switch signal (30) for the motor (10) when the calculated load speed (nL) does not correspond to a preset desired speed within the framework of preset tolerances.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety scanner for the securing of the environment of a vehicle, in particular of a driverless transport system, comprising a light transmitter, a light deflection unit for the deflection of the light into a protected field to be monitored, a receiver for the provision of received signals in dependence on light remitted at objects present in the field of view of the scanner, an evaluation unit for the evaluation of the received signals and of the incremental encoder signals and for the provision of a safety signal, a first input connected to a vehicle speed determination unit for the reception of first signals which are representative of a vehicle speed and comprising switchover means for the safe switching over between at least two different protected fields in dependence on the vehicle speed.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor arrangement (1), with a plurality of optical transmitters (21, 22) positioned side by side in an optical transmitter strip (12), such that each optical transmitter (21, 22) transmits the light of a transmitted cone (?1, ?2) into a surveillance area (50), and with a plurality of optical receivers (31, 32) positioned side by side in an optical receiver strip (14), which optical receivers (31, 32) receive the light of a received cone (?1, ?2) from the surveillance area (50), where each receiver (31, 32)comprises a spatially-resolving element (41, 42), such that each optical transmitter (21, 22) and optical receiver (31, 32) form an optical receiver/transmitter pair, and a control unit contains means for determining the optical incident point (L1, L1?, L2, L3) on one of the optical receivers (31, 32) of the transmitted cone (?1, ?2) of each optical transmitter (21, 22) and/or of a foreign light source (G1).

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.

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 disclosure relates to a safety switching device for a hazardous area defined by motor-driven components, the device being switchable into at least two control stages, wherein in a first control stage at least some of the motor-driven components can be switched into a state of reduced risk potential and in at least one second control stage at least some of the motor-driven components can be shut off, and wherein the safety switching device comprises an apparatus for determining the position of the safety switching device inside the hazardous area.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical range finder comprising a light transmitter for the transmission of measurement light into a monitored space, a light receiver for the reception of measurement light reflected or remitted by an object in the monitored space, and an evaluation circuit to determine the time of flight of the measurement light from the output signal and to determine the distance of the object therefrom. In accordance with the invention, a PIN diode circuit is provided between the light receiver and the evaluation circuit and is electrically connected to them, with the PIN diode circuit damping the current output signal of the light receiver. The invention furthermore relates to an optical range finding method which can be carried out with the optical range finder in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inductive proximity sensor with a sensor element which includes a resonant circuit which provides an output signal which depends on the damping by an electrically conductive object. In accordance with the invention, the inductive proximity sensor has a ?? modulator for the evaluation of an output signal of the resonant circuit. The invention furthermore relates to a method for the determination of the presence and/or of the spacing of a metallic object with the help of an inductive proximity sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to an identification device, in particular for the linear detection of a code arranged in an object plane. In this respect, an optical receiving system is present in the identification device with which the object plane is imaged on a spatially resolving light receiver. The optical receiving system is movably journaled with a link journaled in a swivel joint along a path of an arc of a circle for the focusing of differently far away object planes on the light receiver. To change the spacing between the optical receiving system and the light receiver, i.e. to change the focus, the position of the link and thus the optical receiving system is changed by a positioning element. In this respect, the pivot is oriented in parallel for the linear detection of the code so that a displacement of the detection region caused by the circular movement of the optical receiving system on the object plane only takes place in the direction of the linear detection of the code.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roller (10?) for a roller conveyor, having an outer cylinder (12?) that is rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft (14?) and which may be driven by a motor (16), the roller (10?) having an optoelectronic sensor system (20?) comprising a light transmitter (22?) and a light receiver (24?). The optoelectronic sensor system (20?) is positioned relative to the outer cylinder (12?) in such a way that a light beam (22a?) emitted by the light transmitter (22?) extends along the exterior of the outer cylinder (12?), essentially parallel to a surface line of the outer cylinder (12?), and the light transmitter (22) is provided inside the outer cylinder (12?), and optical deflection means are provided for guiding the light beam (22a?), emitted by the light transmitter (22?), to the exterior of the outer cylinder (12?).

Abstract: A motion sensor which has a coil that surrounds a ferromagnetic core and at least one magnet that is longitudinally movable along the coil. The magnet causes a magnetic saturation of the ferromagnetic core in an associated zone that covers a portion of the length of the coil. An evaluation unit generates a position signal in dependence on the position of the movable magnet along the longitudinal extent of the coil. The coil has at least two superimposed winding layers that surround the ferromagnetic core and are wound in opposite directions. The windings of adjacent segments generally have about the same width over which the winding density remains constant. Thus, the winding density of the segments of one of the winding layers increases linearly over the length of the sensor while the winding density of the segments in the other winding layer linearly decreases over the sensor length.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor includes at least one light transmitter for the transmission of light signals into a monitored zone and at least one light receiver for the reception of transmitted light signals. In this respect, the received light signals are converted into electrical received signals in the light receiver. The light signals transmitted by the light transmitter are each generated on the basis of an output signal spread in accordance with a frequency spreading technique (spread spectrum) and provided with an offset applied for the generation of a unipolar signal. The electrical received signals can be supplied to a high-pass filter in the light receiver. Means for interference suppression are provided to automatically measure repeatedly or continuously respective then current interference; to analyze it in the time domain and/or in the frequency domain; and to compensate it at least substantially in dependence on the respective result of the interference analyses.

Abstract: A connector module for the connection of a sensor, such as an optoelectronic sensor, to a fieldbus, having a sensor interface for the connection of the connector module to an interface of the sensor, a bus interface for the connection of the connector module to an interface of a fieldbus and a circuit for the exchange of data to receive data from the sensor interface and to convert them with respect to their format and to output the converted data at the bus interface. The circuit for the exchange of data includes a memory for the intermediate storage of a sensor-specific control file or description file received from the sensor interface, with the control file or description file being able to be processed in the circuit such that the connector module shows the behavior of the respective connected sensor with respect to the fieldbus.

Abstract: The invention relates to n optoelectronic sensor having a transmitter (12) for the transmission of a transmitted light beam (22) which is extended perpendicular to the detection direction by means of an optical transmission system (24) and a receiver (14) for the reception of received light (28) and for the provision of an electronic received signal, and an evaluation unit (16) for the recording of the received signal and for the outputting of an object detection signal, wherein at least the transmitter (12) and the optical transmission system (24) are arranged in a sensor housing (18) having a front screen (20). To provide an improved sensor which is inexpensive and nevertheless generates a linear transmitted light of high quality, it is proposed that the front screen (20) is overlaid with patterns (40) of light absorbing material for light intensity homogenization in a region (21S) through which the transmitted light (22) passes and/or in a region (21E) through which the received light (28) passes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor having a transmitter (12) for the transmission of transmitted light (22), a receiver (14) for the reception of the transmitted light (28) and for the provision of an electronic received signal (I), an evaluation unit (16) for the recording of the received signal (I) and for the outputting of a detection signal when an opaque object (36) to be detected enters into the transmitted light beam.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided having a transmitter (12) for operating light, a light receiver (14) for the generation of an electrical received signal from incident light and an evaluation unit (16) which can detect an object in the beam path from the transmitter (12) for operating light to the light receiver (14) from the received light, wherein a first alignment light transmitter (13a) is provided. In this respect, a second alignment transmitter (13b) is provided, with the first alignment light transmitter (13a) and the second alignment light transmitter (13b) being able to be individually activated and the evaluation unit (16) being designed to determine alignment information on the adjustment of the sensor (10) from a received first alignment signal of the light receiver (14) with an activated first alignment light transmitter (13a) and from a received second alignment signal of the light receiver (14) with an activated second alignment light transmitter (13b).