A proximity sensor, including light emitters and light detectors mounted on a circuit board, two stacked lenses, positioned above the emitters and the detectors, including an extruded cylindrical lens and a Fresnel lens array, wherein each emitter projects light through the two lenses along a common projection plane, wherein a reflective object located in the projection plane reflects light from one or more emitters to one or more detectors, and wherein each emitter-detector pair, when synchronously activated, generates a greatest detection signal at the activated detector when the reflective object is located at a specific 2D location in the projection plane corresponding to the emitter-detector pair, and a processor sequentially activating the emitters and synchronously co-activating one or more detectors, and identifying a location of the object in the projection plane, based on amounts of light detected by the detector of each synchronously activated emitter-detector pair.

In a relay unit, a sensor-side communication controller acquires setting information from a synchronization line and stores the acquired setting information in a storage unit in response to reception of a backup instruction from a communication master by a master-side communication controller. The sensor-side communication controller outputs the setting information stored in the storage unit to the synchronization line via a branch line in response to reception of a restoration instruction from the communication master by the master-side communication controller. The sensor-side communication controller periodically or aperiodically compares the setting information transmitted through the synchronization line with the setting information of the storage unit so as to detect presence or absence of a difference. The master-side communication controller outputs a notification signal to the communication master in response to detection of the difference.

A photoelectric switch includes first and second shell halves respectively having first and second coupled surfaces which confront each other along an axis in either a horizontal direction or an upright direction. The coupled surfaces respectively have first and second recessed regions aligned with each other to confine a rolling chamber for a roller to be rollable therein, and define left and right holes at two opposite ends of the rolling chamber, and emitter and receiver accommodating chambers outwardly of the left and right holes for accommodating a light emitter and a light receiver such that a light passage is defined by the left and right holes and the rolling chamber.

A configuration is implemented that can adjust a stroke of an operation section of a switch required to cause predetermined processing to be executed. The present disclosure includes an operation section that can move in a predetermined direction from an initial position by a user operation, a position adjustment section that adjusts, in the predetermined direction, an amount of movement of the operation section from the initial position to a detection position, a position detection section that detects a position of the operation section with respect to the detection position, and a control section that controls execution of processing corresponding to the detection position based on a detection result from the position detection section.

Touchless control panel systems and methods are disclosed. A touchless control panel may include a housing and one or more user inputs. The individual user inputs can include an aperture extending through the housing, a primary sensor disposed to detect objects inserted a first distance into the housing through the aperture and to generate a first signal when an object is detected, and a haptic device configured to provide haptic feedback to objects inserted through the aperture. Processing circuitry in communication with the one or more user inputs can be configured to, for each of the one or more user inputs, receive the first signal from the primary sensor, transmit a control signal based on the first signal, and cause the haptic device to provide haptic feedback based on the first signal. The disclosed touchless control panels may be installed as elevator control stations.

A keyswitch includes a circuit board, a bottom board abutting against the circuit board, a cap, a light receiver and a light emitter disposed on the circuit board and opposite to each other, a base disposed on the circuit board, a cover disposed on the base, a first elastic member disposed through the cover and the base, a support device, and a second elastic member fixed to the base and having a flexible rod. The support device is movably connected to the cap and bottom board and has a sheet structure. When the cap is pressed, the sheet structure blocks light transmission between the light emitter and the light receiver to generate a triggering signal. When the cap is pressed to make the flexible rod deform downward with the sheet structure and then cross the sheet structure, the flexible rod is released to collide with the cover to make sound.

A photoelectric sensor including a light emitter and a light receiver is provided. The light emitter includes a light emitting unit configured to emit a light beam, and a power supply circuit configured to receive supply of electric power through a first power supply line leading to an outside of the light emitter and to supply required electric power to the light emitting unit. The light receiver includes: a first switching element, the first switching element serving to output a first output signal; a second switching element serving to output a second output signal; and a detection circuit. A third power supply line is provided such that one end of the third power supply line is electrically connected to the first power supply line inside the light emitter, and the other end is electrically connected to the second power supply line outside the light receiver.

A sensor switch includes abase unit having bottom, top and intermediate layer assemblies cooperatively defining a receiving space. One of the bottom, top and intermediate layer assemblies has a mounting surface. A sensor unit is disposed in the receiving space and includes a light emitter, a light receiver, and a rolling member for changing the amount of light received by the light receiver. A conducting unit includes a power supply section, a power supply conducting element disposed on the mounting surface, and a signal conducting element disposed on the mounting surface and spaced apart from the power supply conducting element.

A photoelectric sensor including a light emitter and a light receiver is provided. The light emitter includes a light emitting unit configured to emit a light beam, and a power supply circuit configured to receive supply of electric power through a first power supply line leading to an outside of the light emitter and to supply required electric power to the light emitting unit. The light receiver includes: a first switching element, the first switching element serving to output a first output signal; a second switching element serving to output a second output signal; and a detection circuit. A third power supply line is provided such that one end of the third power supply line is electrically connected to the first power supply line inside the light emitter, and the other end is electrically connected to the second power supply line outside the light receiver.

Safety systems for operating equipment have a source of visible light, a first signal light transmitter, a first signal light receiver, preferably a second signal light transmitter and second signal light receiver. A fiber optic bundle with at least one section of illuminated cable emits the visible light and carries the signal light. The signal light follows an optical circuit through the fiber optic bundle from the signal light transmitters to the signal light receivers. The signal light receivers are connected to suitable controls of the system such that if a predetermined light signal is not received by the signal light receiver(s), the operating equipment will stop and/or alarms will be generated. The fiber optic bundle is connected to optical pull switches which interrupt the light circuit if a person applies a predetermined pull force to the optical fiber bundle.