Abstract: The present invention provides a connected sensor system which can be easily used by the user and which can give an external input to each sensor unit without making the wiring complicated, and also provides a network unit and a sensor unit used for the connected sensor system. A cyclic communication memory of a network unit is arranged with an external input request region, and an external input signal is stored to a corresponding memory in a host control apparatus. By performing cyclic communication between the network unit and the host control apparatus, the external input signal is stored to the cyclic communication memory of the network unit. Accordingly, the external input signal is transmitted to each sensor unit connected to the network unit, and each sensor unit executes the external input function.

Abstract: A continuously-arranged sensor system is provided that can recognize a time of a determination signal provided by each sensor unit so that a host control apparatus can use the time to perform timing control. The continuously-arranged sensor system includes a network unit and a plurality of sensor units, which are connected by a serial transmission line. In accordance with a command sent from the network unit, each sensor unit transmits the determination signal to the network unit via the serial transmission line. The network unit stores the time information and the determination information to a table memory.

Abstract: A continuously-arranged sensor system is provided that can eliminate a shift in timing between a determination signal of each sensor unit and sensor information relating to the determination signal. The continuously-arranged sensor system includes a network unit and a plurality of sensor units, which are connected by a serial transmission line and a parallel transmission line. In accordance with a command sent from the network unit, each sensor unit transmits the determination signal and the sensor information, provided at the same time as the determination signal, to the network unit via the serial transmission line. Therefore, the network unit can obtain the determination signal and the sensor information exhibited at the same time.

Abstract: A photoelectric switch can be widely applied with a function to sensuously and intuitively display a light-receiving amount as an artificial numeric value in a given range. A preset display value “100” is set to an average value of sampled light-receiving amounts (S2). A preset display value “0” is allocated to a light-receiving amount of “0” already held by the photoelectric switch (S3), to obtain a preset display conversion factor (S4). When an operation based on this preset display conversion formula is disadvantageous, an average value of the sampled actual light-receiving amounts is set to a preset display value “0 (zero)” (S23), and a preset display conversion formula, obtained by substituting the above actual light-receiving amount for the light-receiving amount with respect to the preset display value “0” in the already created preset display conversion formula, is created (S22).

Abstract: The present invention provides a connected sensor system which can be easily used by the user and which can give an external input to each sensor unit without making the wiring complicated, and also provides a network unit and a sensor unit used for the connected sensor system. A cyclic communication memory of a network unit is arranged with an external input request region, and an external input signal is stored to a corresponding memory in a host control apparatus. By performing cyclic communication between the network unit and the host control apparatus, the external input signal is stored to the cyclic communication memory of the network unit. Accordingly, the external input signal is transmitted to each sensor unit connected to the network unit, and each sensor unit executes the external input function.

Abstract: The present invention provides a penetration detecting apparatus which is applicable for various kinds of applications. Although an interval between processing machines and the conveying of an object W is suspended to wait for processing, a muting function of the penetration detecting apparatus is effective. Another feature of the present invention is to provide a penetration detecting apparatus which can avoid the muting function continuously being activated when a trigger sensor for initiating the muting function is malfunctioning.

Abstract: A continuously-arranged sensor system is provided that can recognize a time of a determination signal provided by each sensor unit so that a host control apparatus can use the time to perform timing control. The continuously-arranged sensor system includes a network unit and a plurality of sensor units, which are connected by a serial transmission line. In accordance with a command sent from the network unit, each sensor unit transmits the determination signal to the network unit via the serial transmission line. The network unit stores the time information and the determination information to a table memory.

Abstract: A continuously-arranged sensor system is provided that can eliminate a shift in timing between a determination signal of each sensor unit and sensor information relating to the determination signal. The continuously-arranged sensor system includes a network unit and a plurality of sensor units, which are connected by a serial transmission line and a parallel transmission line. In accordance with a command sent from the network unit, each sensor unit transmits the determination signal and the sensor information, provided at the same time as the determination signal, to the network unit via the serial transmission line. Therefore, the network unit can obtain the determination signal and the sensor information exhibited at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention can be used in a multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor indicating an operating status thereof to a non-safety control device. The present invention allows the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor so as to become a easier operation. The multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor has a control unit to providing a safety control signal representing a result of a distinguish portion in a normal operating status, a safety control signal representing operation non-allowable in an abnormal status and a safety control signal representing operation allowable in a special operating status. The multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor also has an operating status indication portion for determining an operating status of the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor from the normal operating status, the abnormal status and the special operating status, and providing the operating status to an external device via the same output line regardless of the result of the determination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a penetration detecting apparatus which is applicable for various kinds of applications. Although an interval between processing machines and the conveying of an object W is suspended to wait for processing, a muting function of the penetration detecting apparatus is effective. Another feature of the present invention is to provide a penetration detecting apparatus which can avoid the muting function continuously being activated when a trigger sensor for initiating the muting function is malfunctioning.

Abstract: The present invention can be used in a multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor indicating an operating status thereof to a non-safety control device. The present invention allows the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor so as to become a easier operation. The multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor has a control unit to providing a safety control signal representing a result of a distinguish portion in a normal operating status, a safety control signal representing operation non-allowable in an abnormal status and a safety control signal representing operation allowable in a special operating status. The multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor also has an operating status indication portion for determining an operating status of the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor from the normal operating status, the abnormal status and the special operating status, and providing the operating status to an external device via the same output line regardless of the result of the determination.

Abstract: First, it is confirmed that the contactor 1a is not damaged. Next, an initial preset signal PR is supplied at the state in which the contactor 1a is contacted to the master work MW. For this reason, CPU stores the reference value in EEPROM. If the timing signal is supplied at the state in which the contactor 1a is contacted to the non-defective object W, the CPU obtains the measurement value and corrects the measurement value by the reference value. When the difference between the reference value obtained during the measurement of the actual object W and the previous reference value stored in EEPROM is more than a predetermined value, it is judged that the contactor 1a is damaged, and warning signal is output. As this warning signal, the judgment signal Hi and the judgment signal Lo become from a low level to a high level.

Abstract: First, it is confirmed that the contactor 1a is not damaged. Next, an initial preset signal PR is supplied at the state in which the contactor 1a is contacted to the master work MW. For this reason, CPU stores the reference value in EEPROM. If the timing signal is supplied at the state in which the contactor 1a is contacted to the non-defective object W, the CPU obtains the measurement value and corrects the measurement value by the reference value. When the difference between the reference value obtained during the measurement of the actual object W and the previous reference value stored in EEPROM is more than a predetermined value, it is judged that the contactor 1a is damaged, and warning signal is output. As this warning signal, the judgment signal Hi and the judgment signal Lo become from a low level to a high level.

Abstract: A photoelectric switch device for detecting an object within a field of detection on the basis of a position of the object is presented. The position is determined on the basis of a value relating to light that is reflected by the object. The photoelectric switch device has a light projecting and receiving optical arrangement disposed on a front wall of a box shaped casing, a display unit and a push type of adjusting switch disposed on a rear wall of the box shaped casing. The photoelectric switch device also has a push type of selecting/fixing/setting switch and an indicator disposed on one of walls of the box shaped casing, except the front and rear walls, and an output cable extending from a corner between the rear wall and another wall opposite to the one wall. The selecting/fixing/setting switch is used to select types of information that is to be displayed on the display unit in order to set and fix the value. The adjusting switch is used to adjust the value of information displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: A flow sensor comprises a detection section and a main unit section. The detection section comprises a casing, a through water pipe line, a transmitter which transmits an ultrasonic wave, a receiver which receives the ultrasonic wave from the transmitter, and a flow indicator having light emission sections. The main unit section comprises a display section for displaying the flow quantity value. The casing and the through water pipe line have a width perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the through water pipe line, and the width of the casing is approximately equal to the width of the through water pipe line. One of the faces of the casing consists of the light emitting sections and a planar face whereby the width of the casing can be minimized. The detection section further comprises an alarm detector and a compute unit performs different processing when the alarm signal is on.

Abstract: A photoelectric switch device for detecting an object within a field of detection on the basis of a position of the object is presented. The position is determined on the basis of a value relating to light that is reflected by the object. The photoelectric switch device has a light projecting and receiving optical arrangement disposed on a front wall of a box shaped casing, a display unit and a push type of adjusting switch disposed on a rear wall of the box shaped casing. The photoelectric switch device also has a push type of selecting/fixing/setting switch and an indicator disposed on one of walls of the box shaped casing, except the front and rear walls, and an output cable extending from a corner between the rear wall and another wall opposite to the one wall. The selecting/fixing/setting switch is used to select types of information that is to be displayed on the display unit in order to set and fix the value. The adjusting switch is used to adjust the value of information displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: A photoelectric switch device for detecting an object within a field of detection on the basis of a position of the object is presented. The position is determined on the basis of a value relating to light that is reflected by the object. The photoelectric switch device has a light projecting and receiving optical arrangement disposed on a front wall of a box shaped casing, a display unit and a push type of adjusting switch disposed on a rear wall of the box shaped casing. Tthe photoelectric switch device also has a push type of selecting/fixing/setting switch and an indicator disposed on one of walls of the box shaped casing, except the front and rear walls, and an output cable extending from a corner between the rear wall and another wall opposite to the one wall. The selecting/fixing/setting switch is used to select types of information that is to be displayed on the display unit in order to set and fix the value.

Abstract: Pluralities of sensor blocks are provided to one system. A photoelectric sensor management system is connected selectively to a communication unit of one sensor block via a cable. A photoelectric sensor management program in the photoelectric sensor management system displays a set window and a monitor window on a screen. The set window is displayed to set the information such as set values of amplifiers included in a plurality of sensor blocks. The monitor window is displayed to monitor the information such as current set values, current values, etc. of respective amplifiers included in the sensor block that is connected currently.

Abstract: A multifunctional photoelectric switch comprises a display section for displaying a first display information and a second display information. The first display information includes a plurality of items concerning a threshold value and the second display information includes a plurality of items concerning functions of the photoelectric switch. A switch is provided for switching information to be displayed on the display section between each type of display information. A selection menu for the user to select either “Easy” or “Pro” is displayed in the progress of making a transition from a “light reception amount and/or threshold value display” mode of the basic display information to an “operation function setting” mode of the second display information. The user selects and sets either “Easy” or “Pro” on the selection screen. In the “Pro” mode, the set items concerning all functions are displayed; in the “Easy” mode, only the basic items are displayed.

Abstract: A transmitter transmits an ultrasonic wave. A receiver receives the ultrasonic wave from the transmitter. An output signal of the receiver is amplified. A phase comparator outputs a voltage corresponding to the phase difference based on a high frequency signal generated by a high frequency signal oscillator and an output signal of a high frequency signal amplifier. A low frequency amplifier amplifies the output voltage of the phase comparator. A comparator compares the output signal of the low frequency amplifier with a reference voltage and outputs a pulse indicating the comparison result. A frequency divider divides the output pulse. A decoder decodes the output signal of the frequency divider for turning on light emission sections of a flow indicator in green in order.