An apparatus for identifying when an individual is in proximity to an object having a length has a sensor portion having a wire loop through which electric current runs and creates an electromagnetic field that emanates about the wire loop. The wire loop extending along at least a third of the length of the object. The apparatus has a personal alarm device that is worn by the individual which detects the presence of the magnetic field emanating from the wire loop when the personal alarm device is in the magnetic field and produces a signal indicating the personal alarm device is within the magnetic field. Alternatively, the sensor portion extends from a contiguous boundary up to 500 meters, where the boundary has a geometry that is linear or meandering. A head piece for an individual's head. A method for identifying when an individual is in proximity to an object. A field extension module. A proximity device.

A proximity sensor is provided with coils (11, 12) disposed in a pre-set positional relationship, a first distance calculation unit (31) and a second distance calculation unit (32) for calculating first distance information (d1) and second distance information (d2), respectively, from the coils (11, 12) to a detection object (W) on the basis of reception results (voltages V1, V2) of the coils (11, 12), and a position estimating unit (33) for estimating the position, such as distance and azimuth, of the detection object (W) on the basis of the first distance information (d1), the second distance information (d2), and the positional relationship of the coils (11, 12).

Apparatus and techniques for an integrated circuit (IC) package to automatically detect, through an input/out pin, external component parameters and parasitics. An example IC package generally includes a pin for coupling to a component external to the IC package, and at least one of a resistance detector, an inductance detector, or a capacitance detector coupled to the pin, and configured to detect at least one of a resistance, an inductance, or a capacitance, respectively, of a lumped parameter model for the component external to the IC package. The resistance detector, inductance detector, or capacitance detector may also be configured to detect parasitics associated with at least one of the component, the pin, or a connection between the component and the pin.

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 for identifying when an individual is in proximity to an object having a length has a sensor portion having a wire loop through which electric current runs and creates an electromagnetic field that emanates about the wire loop. The wire loop extending along at least a third of the length of the object. The apparatus has a personal alarm device that is worn by the individual which detects the presence of the magnetic field emanating from the wire loop when the personal alarm device is in the magnetic field and produces a signal indicating the personal alarm device is within the magnetic field. Alternatively, the sensor portion extends from a contiguous boundary up to 500 meters, where the boundary has a geometry that is linear or meandering. A head piece for an individual's head. A method for identifying when an individual is in proximity to an object. A field extension module. A proximity device.

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.

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 system for interfacing an LC sensor includes a starter configured to selectively start an oscillation of the LC sensor. The system also includes an analog peak detector configured to determine a signal being indicative of a peak voltage of the oscillation of the LC sensor and a detector configured to determine a state of the LC sensor as a function of the signal determined by the analog peak detector.

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 proximity sensor or switch having a sensing coil, an oscillator connected to the coil, a comparator connected to the oscillator, a reference voltage module connected to the comparator, and an output driver connected to the comparator. The voltage module may incorporate a resistor having an end connected to a high side of a power source, and a digital potentiometer having a first end connected to another end of the resistor and to the comparator, and having a second end connected to a ground side of the power source. The digital potentiometer may have a resistance that is varied with a signal. A variation of the resistance for the digital potentiometer may result in a change of a voltage from the reference voltage module which further changes a switching distance of the proximity switch to a predetermined value.