Front-end circuits that combine inductive and capacitive sensing are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of inductive elements, an inductive measurement circuit, and a frequency divider circuit. The inductive measurement circuit is to output a first signal with a first frequency. The first signal is associated with an inductance change of one of the inductive elements. A feedback circuit can maintain the sinusoidal operation of the first signal. The frequency divider circuit can generate a second signal with a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency.

A proximity sensor includes a transmission circuit that supplies a current to each of detection coils, a reception circuit that detects voltages generated at both ends of the coils or currents flowing in the coils due to the supply of the current for each of the coils, a control unit that senses the presence or position of a detection object using a detection result of the reception circuit, and an output unit that outputs a sensing result of the control unit. The control unit extracts a first component caused by a mounting fitting for mounting the proximity sensor on a support member and a second component caused by the detection object from the detection result of the reception circuit. The control unit compensates the second component using the first component. The control unit senses the presence or position of the detection object on the basis of the compensated second component.

A method for shielding an inductive sensor includes arranging an annular shielding coil outside an annular detection coil, the shielding coil surrounds the detection coil, and the radial thickness of the shielding coil is smaller than that of the detection coil. An inductive sensor adopting the above method for shielding the inductive sensor, in which the shielding coil is arranged outside the detection coil of the inductive sensor, magnetic fields generated by the two coils are opposite in direction and partially cancel out each other. When interference exists, the magnetic fields generated by the two coils are influenced at the same time and are attenuated or increased by identical strength. Therefore, the summed magnetic field strength can be kept constant, resonance voltages cannot be attenuated, the interference rejection of the inductive sensor is improved, and the sensitivity of the inductive sensor is not influenced.

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 safety switch (1) having a reading head (2) and an actuator (3) having a transponder (4) and being movable relative to the reading head (2). Encoded signals of the transponder (4) are detectable by means of the reading head (2). As a means for detecting encoded signals, the reading head (2) has a resonant circuit (6) controlled by a processor unit, with the distance between the actuator (3) and reading head (2) being determined by means of an amplitude evaluation of the signals of the transponder (4) detected with the resonant circuit (6). Control signals are generated as a function of the distance signals thus determined.

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.

An electronic operated safety switch has a switching device which houses a switch. The switch is operatively connected to a control or service circuit. The electronic operated safety switch also has an operating device configured for engaging the switch. The switching device comprises a head housing a sensor, and a case housing a lock. The operating device is adapted to send a signal to the sensor, thereby controlling the switch. The switch comprises an actuator housed in the case, the actuator configured to operate on the lock upon the receiving by the sensor of the signal.

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.

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.

A bushing of an electrical conductor through a wall which separates two regions from one another, wherein the conductor extends through a passage in the wall, at a distance from said wall, characterized in that a sleeve, which is electrically insulated from the passage and is hermetically sealed, preferably extends approximately coaxially through the passage, and in that the electrical conductor extends through the sleeve and is incorporated in the sleeve in a hermetically sealed, preferably integral, manner.