To ensure omnidirectional visibility of a proximity sensor with high luminance using a single light emitting element. A proximity sensor (1) includes a substrate (14) on which a control unit (20) is formed and in which a normal direction of the substrate is perpendicular to an axial direction of a coil section (13), a light emitting element (15) which emits light in the axial direction on the substrate, a light diffusion section (16a) which diffuses emitted light in a direction other than the axial direction, and a light guide section (16b) which guides diffused light to a display section (21) on a side surface.

A touch switch includes a touch input section, a metal piece provided to the touch input section at a surface thereof, and at least two induction-type proximity sensors so provided as to face the metal piece. The induction-type proximity sensors are arranged in parallel to each other and each have an LC oscillation circuit that output signals that changes in accordance with the distance to the metal piece. A duplicated touch switch that requires no stroke and achieves switch duplication is thus provided.

A proximity sensor capable of reducing the influence of periodic noise is provided. A proximity sensor according to an embodiment of the disclosure detects a detection object using a magnetic field, and includes a detection coil for generating the magnetic field, an excitation circuit for repeatedly supplying a pulsed excitation current to the detection coil, a detection circuit for detecting the detection object based on a voltage generated across both ends of the detection coil during a predetermined period after the supply of the excitation current is cut off, and a control circuit for controlling the excitation circuit so that a timing of cutting off the supply of the excitation current to the detection coil becomes aperiodic.

An apparatus comprises: a first comparator configured to: receive an input proximity signal indicating a proximity of a target device, receive a second reference signal associated with a second distance, make a first comparison of the input proximity signal to the second reference signal, and provide a first output proximity signal based on the first comparison; and a second comparator configured to: receive the input proximity signal, receive the first output proximity signal, make a second comparison of the input proximity signal using the first output proximity signal, and provide a second output proximity signal based on the second comparison.

A device that will increase an inductive proximity sensor's detection distance and detection position is disclosed. The device uses a housing in combination with a sensor and axially magnetized magnet and a target magnet to achieve the increased detection distance and position. The device can be defined as universal because it allows different manufacturers and sizes of sensors to be used and calibrated. An optional threaded end section of the device allows connection of standard conduit fittings.

Traffic control systems and methods to improve safety are disclosed. The systems, in some example aspects, include a first magnetic field generator mounted over an aisle for generating a first zone magnetic field defining a first zone. The methods, in some example aspects, include generating a first zone magnetic field defining a first zone by a first magnetic field generator mounted over an aisle. Other aspects include generating, and/or including a controller to generate, control signals to reduce the speed of a vehicle, and/or reduce the size of a danger zone.

Disclosed is a factor 1 and inductive sensor device including an LC resonant circuit powered by a suitable generator, an operational chain of units for acquisition by sampling and processing of the response signal, and a functional set of units for evaluating at least one temporarily set value of the processed signal and supplying detection or non-detection information. The acquisition and processing unit includes analog a unit for filtering and/or amplifying the sampled response signal, and a unit for compensating the temperature drift of the response signal by correcting the sampled signal following the digital conversion thereof, associated with or including a temperature sensor.

A sensor arrangement for determining at least one physical parameter of a sensor unit which is activated by at least one periodic excitation, comprising a detection region in which changes of the parameter in the surroundings of the sensor unit lead to an output signal from the sensor unit. The sensor unit is wired such that if there is no change of the parameter in the detection region the output signal is a zero signal at the output of the sensor unit, whereas if there are changes of the parameter in the detection region the output signal is a signal that is not zero and which has a specific amplitude and phase. By means of a closed-loop control, the non-zero signal in the receive path is adjusted to achieve an adjusted state at zero even in the presence of changes of the parameter in the detection region. Inherent in the control signal used for this adjustment is a deviation (x, y) of the control signal from the adjusted state, which deviation represents information about the parameter. To create a sensor arrangement and a method in which values of a physical parameter in a detection region can be clearly determined, in a four-quadrant representation of the deviation (x, y) in the form of a vector analysis in a phase space of the control signal, the angle of an imaginary vector (2.6) relative to the x axis of an x, y coordinate system, said vector leading from the origin (2.7) of the x, y coordinate system to a measuring point (2.5) and said origin corresponding to the adjusted state, represents a measurement for the change of the parameter along a direction, and/or the magnitude of the imaginary vector (2.6) represents a measurement for the change of the parameter along a further direction.

A magnetic sensor circuit includes: a first Hall element configured to output a first signal and a second signal; a second Hall element configured to output a third signal and a fourth signal; a signal switching unit configured to select signals among the first to the fourth signal to provide at least two different types of signals as first output signals, by selecting signals each having the signal component having the opposite phase when the offset components each have the same phase, and by selecting signals each having the signal component having the same phase when the offset components each have the opposite phase; and a signal processing unit configured to output second output signals in which the respective offset components of the first output signals are reduced.

Traffic control systems and methods to improve safety are disclosed. The systems, in some example aspects, include a first magnetic field generator mounted over an aisle for generating a first zone magnetic field defining a first zone. The methods, in some example aspects, include generating a first zone magnetic field defining a first zone by a first magnetic field generator mounted over an aisle. Other aspects include generating, and/or including a controller to generate, control signals to reduce the speed of a vehicle, and/or reduce the size of a danger zone.