A system for sensing a position of a locking bolt of an industrial locking switch includes an inductive circuit, a converter, and a master controller. The inductive circuit includes an inductive coil and a capacitor electrically connected in parallel. The inductive coil is positioned to receive a locking bolt of an industrial locking switch when the locking bolt is transitioned to a lock position. The converter is configured to convert a frequency of a current signal on the inductive circuit to a digital frequency value. The master controller is configured to generate a bolt detection signal in response to determining that the digital frequency value changes by an amount equal to or substantially equal to a defined frequency shift corresponding to a frequency shift induced by the inductive coil in response to presence of the locking bolt within the inductive coil's magnetic field.

An oscillating sensor device, particularly for a proximity sensor, for sensing a dynamic change of attenuation caused by a measurable physical effect includes an oscillator including a resonance circuit and an amplifier fed back to the resonance circuit and configured to maintain oscillation of the oscillator, and a control unit configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator. The amplifier comprises a non-linear gain characteristics defining an operating point at a preset amplitude of oscillation. The control unit is configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator so that the operating point is set to a preset amplitude of the oscillation.

A device for measuring disruptions in a controlled magnetic field and generated by the device itself surrounding a sole conductive element, antenna or electrode and comprising, at least: a controlled magnetic field sensor comprising, in turn, an oscillator circuit connected to at least one electrode, a digital module; and a processor connected to the digital module. The applications of the device that is the object of the invention are all those requiring the detection of an object prior to it resulting in the violation of the restricted space. Amongst these applications we can highlight the following: the localisation of people, industrial security applications, robotics, domestic security applications, military applications and vehicle security applications.

A system for sensing a position of a locking bolt of an industrial locking switch includes an inductive circuit, a converter, and a master controller. The inductive circuit includes an inductive coil and a capacitor electrically connected in parallel. The inductive coil is positioned to receive a locking bolt of an industrial locking switch when the locking bolt is transitioned to a lock position. The converter is configured to convert a frequency of a current signal on the inductive circuit to a digital frequency value. The master controller is configured to generate a bolt detection signal in response to determining that the digital frequency value changes by an amount equal to or substantially equal to a defined frequency shift corresponding to a frequency shift induced by the inductive coil in response to presence of the locking bolt within the inductive coil's magnetic field.

A device for measuring disruptions in a controlled magnetic field and generated by the device itself surrounding a sole conductive element, antenna or electrode and comprising, at least: a controlled magnetic field sensor comprising, in turn, an oscillator circuit connected to at least one electrode, a digital module; and a processor connected to the digital module. The applications of the device that is the object of the invention are all those requiring the detection of an object prior to it resulting in the violation of the restricted space. Amongst these applications we can highlight the following: the localisation of people, industrial security applications, robotics, domestic security applications, military applications and vehicle security applications.

An industrial locking switch includes an inductive sensing circuit that uses a non-contact technique to detect when the switch's locking bolt has transitioned to the lock position. The inductive sensing circuit can comprise an inductive coil, a capacitor, and a converter that converts a frequency of a current signal through the inductive coil to a digital frequency value. A controller detects when the locking bolt has advanced to the lock position by monitoring the digital frequency value for frequency shifts indicative of a disturbance of the induction coil's magnetic field by the locking bolt. To validate operation of the inductive sensing system without requiring actuation of the locking bolt, a diagnostic switch connects a diagnostic capacitor to the inductive circuit to simulate the frequency shift caused by the locking bolt, and the inductive sensing system is validated if the expected frequency shift is detected.

An oscillating sensor device, particularly for a proximity sensor, for sensing a dynamic change of attenuation caused by a measurable physical effect includes an oscillator including a resonance circuit and an amplifier fed back to the resonance circuit and configured to maintain oscillation of the oscillator, and a control unit configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator. The amplifier comprises a non-linear gain characteristics defining an operating point at a preset amplitude of oscillation. The control unit is configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator so that the operating point is set to a preset amplitude of the oscillation.

A proximity sensor is provided with multiple channels and a proximity sensor chip (IC) connected to the multiple channels through a sensing line. The proximity sensor chip (IC) includes an internal temperature sensor, senses a first sensing value through the multiple channels, senses a second sensing value through the internal temperature sensor, and compensates the first sensing value through addition or subtraction of the second sensing value with respect to the first sensing value. The internal temperature sensor includes: a clock signal generator including a first oscillator and generating first clock signals variable according to temperature characteristics; and a temperature compensator generating second clock signals according to a setting condition corresponding to the first clock signals generated from the clock signal generator and outputting the second sensing value by counting the second clock signals through a second oscillator generating reference clock signals independent of temperature change.