Abstract: A sensor controller system, comprising a plurality of sensors for producing detection signals, and a sensor controller for receiving outputs form said sensors and producing an evaluation signal for an external circuit. To detect any fault in the sensors, the outputs from the sensors are compared with certain standard values stored in the sensor controller so that any fault in any one of the sensors may be detected as a disagreement between actually obtained outputs from the sensors and the stored standard values. Optionally, a diagnostic signal may be used to simplify the comparing process. Because the states of the sensors may be centrally monitored and the standard outputs can be centrally modified, the versatility of the sensor system may be increased and the reliability of the sensor system may be improved.

Abstract: An inspection controller for an object includes a plurality of sensors for providing a set of input signal states representing characteristics of the object, a plurality of output terminals, a memory for storing a set of output signal states corresponding to each possible set of input signal states of the sensors, and a control device for selecting a set of output signal states stored in the memory and producing a set of output signal states at the output terminals corresponding to a set of the input states.