Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device includes: an illumination component that emitting a light beam toward a viewing space; a receiving lens element receiving reflected light and directing the reflected light to a photo-receiver array; and a processor. The processor is configured to generate distance information for a pixel corresponding to an object in the viewing space based on time-of-flight analysis of the reflected light; record a variation of an intensity of the reflected light from the object over time to yield intensity variation information; record a variation of the distance information for the pixel corresponding to the object over time to yield distance variation information; and apply a correction factor to the distance information in response to a determination that the intensity variation information and the distance variation information do not conform to an inverse-square relationship.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor used with light curtains for monitoring a sensing field. The optoelectronic sensor includes at least one optical unit having at least one radiation emitting element and at least one radiation receiving element and a control unit for processing an output signal generated by said radiation receiving element and for generating a defined sensor signal based on the output signal. The optical unit has a diagnostic unit including a monitoring unit operable to monitor at least one parameter indicative of an operational status of the optical unit. The diagnostic unit includes a processing unit operable to generate a communication signal indicative of said operational status, and the diagnostic unit is arranged in a separately housed, detachable plug-in module. The processing unit comprises a wireless communication interface for wirelessly receiving and transmitting communication signals.

Abstract: Sensor apparatus for an elevator with a hanging position measuring tape for detecting a critical change in length of the position measuring tape comprising a carrier, comprising a carriage on the carrier, comprising a tape holder on the carriage, comprising a tensioning device between the carrier and the carriage in order to be able to tension a secured positioning tape, comprising a detection device for detecting a critical displacement of the carriage on the carrier on the basis of a critical change in length of a position measuring tape to be mounted, and comprising an adjusting device.

Abstract: The method according to the invention is a method for safeguarding the car of an elevator, which is provided to form regular unlocking zones in the region around the envisaged stopping points at the stories, against unintended movement. The method monitors the speed of the car, the height position of the car in the elevator shaft and the status of the locking of the car door, and identifies possible stopping of the car, the height position of the car outside a regular unlocking zone, and a possibly unlocked state of the car door. A first sub-method of the method forms a temporary unlocking zone when the car stops outside a regular unlocking zone with the car door unlocked, and it assigns the temporary unlocking zone an upper and a lower boundary above and below the position where the car stops.

Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device includes: an illumination component that emitting a light beam toward a viewing space; a receiving lens element receiving reflected light and directing the reflected light to a photo-receiver array; and a processor. The processor is configured to generate distance information for a pixel corresponding to an object in the viewing space based on time-of-flight analysis of the reflected light; record a variation of an intensity of the reflected light from the object over time to yield intensity variation information; record a variation of the distance information for the pixel corresponding to the object over time to yield distance variation information; and apply a correction factor to the distance information in response to a determination that the intensity variation information and the distance variation information do not conform to an inverse-square relationship.

Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided with features for correcting distance measurement offset errors caused by such factors as temperature, dynamic reflectivity ranges of objects in the viewing space, or other factors. In various embodiments, the TOF sensor device generates corrected distance values based on comparison of two different distance values measured for an object by two different measurement techniques, including but not limited to phase shift measurement, pulsed TOF measurement, distance measurement based on the focal length of the TOF sensor's lens, and comparison of distance variations with light intensity variations. In addition, some embodiments of the TOF sensor device perform self-calibration using internal waveguides or parasitic reflections as distance references.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor used with light curtains for monitoring a sensing field. The optoelectronic sensor includes at least one optical unit having at least one radiation emitting element and at least one radiation receiving element and a control unit for processing an output signal generated by said radiation receiving element and for generating a defined sensor signal based on the output signal. The optical unit has a diagnostic unit including a monitoring unit operable to monitor at least one parameter indicative of an operational status of the optical unit. The diagnostic unit includes a processing unit operable to generate a communication signal indicative of said operational status, and the diagnostic unit is arranged in a separately housed, detachable plug-in module. The processing unit comprises a wireless communication interface for wirelessly receiving and transmitting communication signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety photoelectric barrier for monitoring a protective field and to a corresponding method. A safety photoelectric barrier (100) comprises a single-sided transceiver bar with a housing (102), a plurality of transceiver modules (104) each having a radiation emitting unit (112) for emitting radiation towards a reference target (108), a radiation detecting unit (114) for detecting radiation incident on the transceiver module (104), and a signal processing unit for evaluating the detected radiation regarding a distance information and an intensity information and for generating a binary output signal indicating the presence or absence of an object within the protective field. A controller module (126) evaluates the binary output signals and generates a safety signal in response to the evaluated output signals. The radiation detecting unit comprises at least a first and a second photosensitive element (114) for redundantly evaluating the distance and intensity information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety photoelectric barrier for monitoring a protective field and to a corresponding method. A safety photoelectric barrier (100) comprises a single-sided transceiver bar with a housing (102), a plurality of transceiver modules (104) each having a radiation emitting unit (112) for emitting radiation towards a reference target (108), a radiation detecting unit (114) for detecting radiation incident on the transceiver module (104), and a signal processing unit for evaluating the detected radiation regarding a distance information and an intensity information and for generating a binary output signal indicating the presence or absence of an object within the protective field. A controller module (126) evaluates the binary output signals and generates a safety signal in response to the evaluated output signals. The radiation detecting unit comprises at least a first and a second photosensitive element (114) for redundantly evaluating the distance and intensity information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to light curtains, in particular safety light curtains, for monitoring a protective field. Furthermore, the present invention relates to optical units which are part of such a light curtain according to the present invention, an optical unit comprises a plurality of radiation emitting and/or radiation receiving elements for transmitting and/or receiving radiation beams forming said light curtain, and an elongated support element forming an outer housing of said optical unit said support element having two opposing peripheral regions which are formed to allow an abutting assembly with another identical optical unit. Said radiation emitting and/or radiation receiving elements are arranged within said support element to form a row, and wherein at least one peripheral one of said radiation emitting and/or radiation receiving elements is located directly adjacent to an outer wall of at least one of said peripheral regions of the support element.

Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided with features for correcting distance measurement offset errors caused by such factors as temperature, dynamic reflectivity ranges of objects in the viewing space, or other factors. In various embodiments, the TOF sensor device generates corrected distance values based on comparison of two different distance values measured for an object by two different measurement techniques, including but not limited to phase shift measurement, pulsed TOF measurement, distance measurement based on the focal length of the TOF sensor's lens, and comparison of distance variations with light intensity variations. In addition, some embodiments of the TOF sensor device perform self-calibration using internal waveguides or parasitic reflections as distance references.

Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided with features for correcting distance measurement offset errors caused by such factors as temperature, dynamic reflectivity ranges of objects in the viewing space, or other factors. In various embodiments, the TOF sensor device generates corrected distance values based on comparison of two different distance values measured for an object by two different measurement techniques, including but not limited to phase shift measurement, pulsed TOF measurement, distance measurement based on the focal length of the TOF sensor's lens, and comparison of distance variations with light intensity variations. In addition, some embodiments of the TOF sensor device perform self-calibration using internal waveguides or parasitic reflections as distance references.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for synchronizing the optical units of a photoelectric barrier and to such a photoelectric barrier. The synchronization method comprises the steps of transmitting radiation forming a synchronization signal from a first optical sender of the first optical unit; controlling a plurality of the optical receivers of the at least one second optical unit to monitor whether the synchronization signal has been received and performing a synchronization step if the synchronization signal has been received. The method further performs the step of defining at least one of said plurality of optoelectronic components to be used for the synchronization step.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein describes an optical sensor used in a safety system. The sensor includes two pixel matrices on a single substrate. Each of the pixel matrices are arranged in a row and column format, and pixels from one matrix are interspersed with pixels from the other matrix such that alternating pixels in each row and column belong to separate matrices. Two sets of selection logic allow each matrix to be enabled separately. Additional monitoring logic is included to detect shorted pixels and/or shorted selection lines. In addition, the frames generated by each pixel array may be compared to detect variation in performance between arrays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transceiver element for an optical unit of a photoelectric barrier to such a photoelectric barrier. In particular, a transceiver element comprises at least one optical sender, at least one optical receiver and a control element, wherein said control element comprises a driver unit for driving said at least one optical sender to emit radiation and at least one receiver unit for sensing and evaluating electrical signals generated by said optical receiver.

Abstract: An industrial-enabled mobile electronic device, such as a personal mobile phone or tablet computer, allows a user to wirelessly interact with industrial devices for a variety of purposes. The mobile electronic device can communicate with an industrial device to read and write configuration settings, read and view log data, send commands to the industrial device, and other such functions. The mobile electronic device can perform various types of analysis on images and video of the industrial device captured by the mobile electronic device, including identifying and translating a model or device number printed on the device, or translating error codes displayed by the industrial device. The mobile electronic device can also retrieve additional information about the industrial device or the device's stored data via interaction with a remote technical support service, and can be used to facilitate dialog with a remote technical support person.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety photoelectric barrier for monitoring a protective field and to a corresponding method. A safety photoelectric barrier (100) comprises a single-sided transceiver bar with a housing (102), a plurality of transceiver modules (104) each having a radiation emitting unit (112) for emitting radiation towards a reference target (108), a radiation detecting unit (114) for detecting radiation incident on the transceiver module (104), and a signal processing unit for evaluating the detected radiation regarding a distance information and an intensity information and for generating a binary output signal indicating the presence or absence of an object within the protective field. A controller module (126) evaluates the binary output signals and generates a safety signal in response to the evaluated output signals. The radiation detecting unit comprises at least a first and a second photosensitive element (114) for redundantly evaluating the distance and intensity information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to light curtains, in particular safety light curtains, for monitoring a protective field. Furthermore, the present invention relates to optical units which are part of such a light curtain according to the present invention, an optical unit comprises a plurality of radiation emitting and/or radiation receiving elements for transmitting and/or receiving radiation beams forming said light curtain, and an elongated support element forming an outer housing of said optical unit said support element having two opposing peripheral regions which are formed to allow an abutting assembly with another identical optical unit. Said radiation emitting and/or radiation receiving elements are arranged within said support element to form a row, and wherein at least one peripheral one of said radiation emitting and/or radiation receiving elements is located directly adjacent to an outer wall of at least one of said peripheral regions of the support element.

Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided with features for correcting distance measurement offset errors caused by such factors as temperature, dynamic reflectivity ranges of objects in the viewing space, or other factors. In various embodiments, the TOF sensor device generates corrected distance values based on comparison of two different distance values measured for an object by two different measurement techniques, including but not limited to phase shift measurement, pulsed TOF measurement, distance measurement based on the focal length of the TOF sensor's lens, and comparison of distance variations with light intensity variations. In addition, some embodiments of the TOF sensor device perform self-calibration using internal waveguides or parasitic reflections as distance references.

Abstract: A lens carrier and an optical module for forming a light curtain associated with monitoring a protective field. The lens carrier includes at least one lens for focussing a radiation beam forming said light curtain and a lens mask having at least one opening for shaping the radiation beam to have a predetermined aperture. The lens carrier is formed by overmolding said lens mask with a transparent material. The optical module has such a lens carrier and a module body for mounting a radiation transmitter/receiver carrier that comprises at least one transmitter and/or receiver for transmitting and/or receiving said radiation.