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.

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.

In an inspection system that uses terahertz waves, in order to improve the inspection precision for objects and the like, the inspection system has an illumination unit having a plurality of illumination elements that radiate terahertz waves; a camera unit that captures images of the terahertz waves that have been reflected off of an object that has been irradiated by the plurality of illumination elements; and a control unit that performs control so as to make the light emission timings for the plurality of illumination elements different.

In an inspection system that uses terahertz waves, in order to improve the inspection precision for objects and the like, the inspection system has an illumination unit having a plurality of illumination elements that radiate terahertz waves; a camera unit that captures images of the terahertz waves that have been reflected off of an object that has been irradiated by the plurality of illumination elements; and a control unit that performs control so as to make the light emission timings for the plurality of illumination elements different.

Disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods for preventing unintentional laser emission via an integrated foot controller having an electronic shroud that is implemented using electronics and software. The risk of unintentional laser emission is reduced by permitting laser emission via the pedal of the foot controller only at defined stages of surgical procedures, and by requiring that the user initiate control of laser emission by actuating existing switches on the foot controller in a specified sequence, such as a passcode unique to a particular user. Additionally, disclosed embodiments include one more proximity sensors useful to detect data indicative of the presence of the user's foot on the foot controller. Such data may be useful in determining whether the system should remain in a ready state for laser emission or whether the system should be taken out of ready state to reduce the risk of unintentional laser emission when the user's foot is not present.

Disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods for preventing unintentional laser emission via an integrated foot controller having an electronic shroud that is implemented using electronics and software. The risk of unintentional laser emission is reduced by permitting laser emission via the pedal of the foot controller only at defined stages of surgical procedures, and by requiring that the user initiate control of laser emission by actuating existing switches on the foot controller in a specified sequence, such as a passcode unique to a particular user. Additionally, disclosed embodiments include one more proximity sensors useful to detect data indicative of the presence of the user's foot on the foot controller. Such data may be useful in determining whether the system should remain in a ready state for laser emission or whether the system should be taken out of ready state to reduce the risk of unintentional laser emission when the user's foot is not present.

The present invention relates to a method for determining the door position in a door system which has a rail for guiding a movable door element and a sensor element (10) for detecting a free movement path of the door element (50), the method comprising the steps of: detecting the state of the at least one sensor element (10), which can either be free of the door element (50) or covered by the door element (50), such that, in the event of a change in the state of the sensor element (10), the arrangement position of the sensor element (10) corresponds to the door element (50), and a door control lines the door position with the aid of this information.

The present invention relates to a method for determining the door position in a door system which has a rail for guiding a movable door element and a sensor element (10) for detecting a free movement path of the door element (50), the method comprising the steps of: detecting the state of the at least one sensor element (10), which can either be free of the door element (50) or covered by the door element (50), such that, in the event of a change in the state of the sensor element (10), the arrangement position of the sensor element (10) corresponds to the door element (50), and a door control lines the door position with the aid of this information.

A multi-optical axis sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a light-transmitting unit comprising a plurality of light-transmitting elements; a light-receiving unit comprising a plurality of light-receiving elements which are arranged to respectively face the light-transmitting elements and respectively receive light from the light-transmitting elements; and an indicator light indicating a light incidence state or a light blockage state of the light-receiving unit, wherein, before a muting state that invalidates the detection function of the multi-optical axis sensor is detected, the light-transmitting unit or the light-receiving unit may operate the indicator light in a light incidence/blockage mode indicating the light incidence state or the light blockage state, and when the muting state is detected, the light-transmitting unit or the light-receiving unit may switch the operation mode of the indicator light from the light incidence/blockage mode to the muting mode indicating the muting state.

A multi-optical axis sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a light-transmitting unit comprising a plurality of light-transmitting elements; a light-receiving unit comprising a plurality of light-receiving elements which are arranged to respectively face the light-transmitting elements and respectively receive light from the light-transmitting elements; and an indicator light indicating a light incidence state or a light blockage state of the light-receiving unit, wherein, before a muting state that invalidates the detection function of the multi-optical axis sensor is detected, the light-transmitting unit or the light-receiving unit may operate the indicator light in a light incidence/blockage mode indicating the light incidence state or the light blockage state, and when the muting state is detected, the light-transmitting unit or the light-receiving unit may switch the operation mode of the indicator light from the light incidence/blockage mode to the muting mode indicating the muting state.