Optical proximity switch i.e. energetic light push button, for one-way or reflex light barrier in control engineering field, has receiver comparing signals of outputs summed over length of pseudo-random number code with threshold level

摘要

The switch has a transmitter (10) e.g. LED, for sending a light signal modulated with a pseudo-random number code, preferably a 32-bit-code into a monitored area (20) i.e. reflector. A correlation receiver (30) receives the modulated light signal, and a microcontroller (40) generates a binary switching signal. The correlation receiver comprises a photonic mixer device pixel. Outputs of the correlation receiver are connected with the microcontroller. The correlation receiver compares difference signals of the outputs summed over a length of pseudo-random number code with a threshold level. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating an optical proximity switch.