Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a side-mounted field-installable indication module (SMFIIM) configured to reflect a status of a manufacturing area (e.g., a status of a machine, status of a light curtain). In an illustrative example, the SMFIIM may include a light emitting module configured to emit a visual indicium corresponding to the status of the manufacturing area, and a coupling member configured to be releasably captured within a longitudinally extending channel of a housing of a light curtain. After installation, for example, the SMFIIM may be disposed on a side of and substantially parallel to the housing. The light emitting module may emit the visual indicium in an emitting plane oriented at an angle less than 90° to a plane tangential to a mounting surface of the light curtain housing. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a wide viewing angle of the light emitting module around the lighting curtain.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a stretchable cover assembly permeable to electromagnetic signals formed within an enclosed device envelope to increase the resilience of the actuator body envelope against high-pressure fluid. In an illustrative example, a cover assembly is configured to encapsulate an electronic device. For example, the cover assembly may include a unitary envelope formed from a translucent, radio permissive, and ultraviolet light reflective material. An internal cavity defined by the unitary envelope may repeatedly receive substantially an entire exposed surface of the electronic device. The cover assembly may include an elastic opening that, in a relaxed state, the elastic opening is configured to be sealingly pressed against the enclosed electronic device forming a seal around the entire elastic opening to form a dust-tight and watertight cover.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a side-mounted field-installable indication module (SMFIIM) configured to reflect a status of a manufacturing area (e.g., a status a machine, status a light curtain). In an illustrative example, the SMFIIM may include a light emitting module configured to emit a visual indicium corresponding to the status of the manufacturing area, and a coupling member configured to be releasably captured within a longitudinally extending channel of a housing of a light curtain. After installation, for example, the SMFIIM may be disposed on a side of and substantially parallel to the housing. The light emitting module may emit the visual indicium in an emitting plane oriented at an angle less than 90° to a plane tangential to a mounting surface of the light curtain housing. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a wide viewing angle of the light emitting module around the lighting curtain.

Abstract: An indicator module includes first electrodes disposed on a first support surface, each of the first electrodes having a flexible portion having a sloped section forming an oblique angle with the first support surface, a second electrodes disposed on a second support surface spaced apart from the first support surface along a longitudinal direction, a set of conductors elongated substantially in the longitudinal direction, each of the first electrodes being electrically connected to the a respective one of the second electrodes via a respective one of the conductors, and an indicator circuit, such as a set of LEDs, electrically connected to one or more of the conductors and adapted to generate a human perceptible signal when the indicator circuit receives electrical power from the one or more of the conductors.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to an array of individually readable distance sensors disposed along a first axis on a platform and configurable to detect penetration of a first plane containing the first axis, and an array of individually controllable light emitting indicators disposed on the platform along at least a second axis and configurable to emit visual indicia to a user out of the first plane. The visual indicia may, for example, be associated with the detected penetration. A reconfigurable predetermined detection window may, for example, be generated by associating adjacent sensors detecting input during a teaching operation. The detection window may, for example, be further generated by determining at least one distance threshold profile as a function of input received from the adjacent sensors during the teaching operation. Various embodiments may advantageously enable efficient configuration of generic sensing and indication units.

Abstract: An indicator module includes first electrodes disposed on a first support surface, each of the first electrodes having a flexible portion having a sloped section forming an oblique angle with the first support surface, a second electrodes disposed on a second support surface spaced apart from the first support surface along a longitudinal direction, a set of conductors elongated substantially in the longitudinal direction, each of the first electrodes being electrically connected to the a respective one of the second electrodes via a respective one of the conductors, and an indicator circuit, such as a set of LEDs, electrically connected to one or more of the conductors and adapted to generate a human perceptible signal when the indicator circuit receives electrical power from the one or more of the conductors.

Abstract: An indicator module includes first electrodes disposed on a first support surface, each of the first electrodes having a flexible portion having a sloped section forming an oblique angle with the first support surface, a second electrodes disposed on a second support surface spaced apart from the first support surface along a longitudinal direction, a set of conductors elongated substantially in the longitudinal direction, each of the first electrodes being electrically connected to the a respective one of the second electrodes via a respective one of the conductors, and an indicator circuit, such as a set of LEDs, electrically connected to one or more of the conductors and adapted to generate a human perceptible signal when the indicator circuit receives electrical power from the one or more of the conductors.

Abstract: An indicator module includes first electrodes disposed on a first support surface, each of the first electrodes having a flexible portion having a sloped section forming an oblique angle with the first support surface, a second electrodes disposed on a second support surface spaced apart from the first support surface along a longitudinal direction, a set of conductors elongated substantially in the longitudinal direction, each of the first electrodes being electrically connected to the a respective one of the second electrodes via a respective one of the conductors, and an indicator circuit, such as a set of LEDs, electrically connected to one or more of the conductors and adapted to generate a human perceptible signal when the indicator circuit receives electrical power from the one or more of the conductors.

Abstract: An indicator module in one example has a mounting portion to removably attach the module to another module or base. The indicator module also has a first set of electrodes disposed to be in contact with respective electrodes in the attached module or base. The indicator module further includes an indicator circuit, and a switch module configurable to selectively connect the indicator circuit to one of the electrodes in the indicator module. The indicator module can further include a second set of electrodes connected respectively to the first set of electrodes by conductors. The two sets of electrodes are located at respective ends of the module attach to another module at each end. In visual indicator modules, the conductors can be disposed in a more interior region of the module as compared to the visual indicator elements such as LEDs, which can be distributed near the periphery of the module.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to status indicator devices having a first releasably connectable electrical interface (RCEI) and second RCEI defining an axis from which an illumination module illuminates in substantially all radial directions with respect to the axis. In an illustrative example, an indicator device may include an illumination module and a detection module between the first RCEI and the second RCEI. An electrically conductive path along the axis may connect the first RCEI and the second RCEI. The detection module may be configured such that when the first RCEI receives a signal, the detection module may cause, in accordance with predetermined signal criteria, the illumination module to illuminate. In some examples, the status indicator may advantageously provide instantaneous remote visual indication of the predetermined signal criteria from substantially any viewing angle and at any point along a cable.

Abstract: An indicator module in one example has a mounting portion to removably attach the module to another module or base. The indicator module also has a first set of electrodes disposed to be in contact with respective electrodes in the attached module or base. The indicator module further includes an indicator circuit, and a switch module configurable to selectively connect the indicator circuit to one of the electrodes in the indicator module. The indicator module can further include a second set of electrodes connected respectively to the first set of electrodes by conductors. The two sets of electrodes are located at respective ends of the module attach to another module at each end. In visual indicator modules, the conductors can be disposed in a more interior region of the module as compared to the visual indicator elements such as LEDs, which can be distributed near the periphery of the module.

Abstract: An indicator module in one example has a mounting portion to removably attach the module to another module or base. The indicator module also has a first set of electrodes disposed to be in contact with respective electrodes in the attached module or base. The indicator module further includes an indicator circuit, and a switch module configurable to selectively connect the indicator circuit to one of the electrodes in the indicator module. The indicator module can further include a second set of electrodes connected respectively to the first set of electrodes by conductors. The two sets of electrodes are located at respective ends of the module attach to another module at each end. In visual indicator modules, the conductors can be disposed in a more interior region of the module as compared to the visual indicator elements such as LEDs, which can be distributed near the periphery of the module.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a cover assembly having a plurality of ribs integrally formed within an actuator body envelope to increase the resilience of the actuator body envelope against high-pressure water cleaning. In an illustrative example, the actuator body envelope defines an actuator body chamber while an actuator envelope integrally formed with the actuator body envelope defines an actuator chamber. The actuator chamber and the actuator body chamber may adapt to receive an actuator via an insertion aperture at a proximal end of the body envelope. In some implementations, the plurality of ribs may advantageously increase the service life of the cover assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a cover assembly having a plurality of ribs integrally formed within an actuator body envelope to increase the resilience of the actuator body envelope against high-pressure water cleaning. In an illustrative example, the actuator body envelope defines an actuator body chamber while an actuator envelope integrally formed with the actuator body envelope defines an actuator chamber. The actuator chamber and the actuator body chamber may adapt to receive an actuator via an insertion aperture at a proximal end of the body envelope. In some implementations, the plurality of ribs may advantageously increase the service life of the cover assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to status indicator devices having a first releasably connectable electrical interface (RCEI) and second RCEI defining an axis from which an illumination module illuminates in substantially all radial directions with respect to the axis. In an illustrative example, an indicator device may include an illumination module and a detection module between the first RCEI and the second RCEI. An electrically conductive path along the axis may connect the first RCEI and the second RCEI. The detection module may be configured such that when the first RCEI receives a signal, the detection module may cause, in accordance with predetermined signal criteria, the illumination module to illuminate. In some examples, the status indicator may advantageously provide instantaneous remote visual indication of the predetermined signal criteria from substantially any viewing angle and at any point along a cable.

Abstract: An indicator module in one example has a mounting portion to removably attach the module to another module or base. The indicator module also has a first set of electrodes disposed to be in contact with respective electrodes in the attached module or base. The indicator module further includes an indicator circuit, and a switch module configurable to selectively connect the indicator circuit to one of the electrodes in the indicator module. The indicator module can further include a second set of electrodes connected respectively to the first set of electrodes by conductors. The two sets of electrodes are located at respective ends of the module attach to another module at each end. In visual indicator modules, the conductors can be disposed in a more interior region of the module as compared to the visual indicator elements such as LEDs, which can be distributed near the periphery of the module.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a fork sensor including an emitter, a receiver, and at least one lens assembly wherein the width of the effective beam does not depend upon the size of the emitter or the receiver. One aspect of the present invention is a method for detecting or counting the number of objects interrupting the effective beam of the fork sensor. Another aspect of the present invention is a method for measuring the dimensions of objects using the fork sensor.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a fork sensor including an emitter, a receiver, and at least one lens assembly wherein the width of the effective beam does not depend upon the size of the emitter or the receiver. One aspect of the present invention is a method for detecting or counting the number of objects interrupting the effective beam of the fork sensor. Another aspect of the present invention is a method for measuring the dimensions of objects using the fork sensor.