Abstract: A target acquisition system for a photoelectric control unit which helps avoid interference problems due to optical and electrical noise. The system provides for the interpulse interval between light pulses transmitted by the photoelectric control unit to be varied in accordance with pseudo-random jitter factors during the target acquisition process. Noise which may be on frequency with the normal repetition rate of the photoelectric control unit is then eliminated from the detection process pursuant to synchronous detection procedures.

Abstract: A photoelectric control unit including an electronic system having a system architecture which is adapted for allowing the unit to readily and accurately determine its own operating margin. This architecture system includes a pair of variable gain modules which operate in conjunction with a pair of separate signal channels. The signal channels have comparators for comparing signal amplitudes on their respective channels with a common reference level. Operating margin values are determined by varying the gain of the amplification modules and tracking the output from the comparators on the signal channels. The photoelectric control unit can then use operating margin values to automatically set the system gain and thereby adjust the sensitivity of the unit for optimum performance.