IP Library Granted Patent US 12710309
Granted Patent B2
US 12710309 · App. 18/817,004 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Photoelectric sensor having indicator lamps on multiple surfaces providing coordinated indication of on-off state and workpiece detection state

Inventors: Jumpei Nakamura (Kyoto, JP); Yuta Ikusaka (Kyoto, JP); Ryosuke Tsuzuki (Kyoto, JP); Heita Nada (Kyoto, JP); Takehisa Hirose (Kyoto, JP); Kazunari Komai (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: OMRON Corporation
G01J1/0271G01S7/51G01S17/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12710309
App. No.
18/817,004
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A photoelectric sensor includes an indicator lamp that is easily visible in any direction. A photoelectric sensor ( 1 ) includes a housing ( 10 ) having a first surface (e.g., a top surface 15 ) and a second surface (e.g., a bottom surface 16 ) opposite to the first surface, and a first indicator lamp ( 31 ) and a second indicator lamp ( 32 ) that redundantly indicate information about a state of the photoelectric sensor ( 1 ). The first indicator lamp ( 31 ) is located on the first surface, and the second indicator lamp ( 32 ) is located on the second surface. The first surface and the second surface are parallel to each other. The information indicated redundantly is at least one of an on-off state of a power supply or a workpiece detection state.

Claims (30)

1 . A photoelectric sensor, comprising:

a housing having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface being a top surface with a display and/or operation buttons, and the second surface being a bottom surface to which a power cable is connectable;

the housing further comprising a third surface, the third surface being a front surface having a window through which light passes to and from the photoelectric sensor; and

a first indicator lamp and a second indicator lamp configured to redundantly indicate information about a state of the photoelectric sensor,

wherein:

the first indicator lamp is located on the first surface, and the second indicator lamp is located on the second surface, and

the information indicated redundantly by the first indicator lamp and the second indicator lamp includes an on-off state of a power supply to the photoelectric sensor and a workpiece detection state of the photoelectric sensor.

2 . The photoelectric sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

the first indicator lamp protrudes from the first surface, and

the second indicator lamp protrudes from the second surface.

3 . The photoelectric sensor according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a display board on which the display is mounted; and

a power supply board connectable to the power cable to supply power to an electronic component in the housing,

wherein the first indicator lamp includes a light source mounted on the display board, and

the second indicator lamp includes a light source mounted on the power supply board.

4 . The photoelectric sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

the first indicator lamp and the second indicator lamp redundantly indicate the information at a same time.

5 . The photoelectric sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

the photoelectric sensor is configured to selectively turn off the first indicator lamp and/or the second indicator lamp.

6 . The photoelectric sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

the photoelectric sensor is configured to selectively turn off light with a specific wavelength for the first indicator lamp and/or the second indicator lamp.

7 . The photoelectric sensor according to claim 1 , further comprising a fourth surface and a fifth surface opposite to the fourth surface, the fourth surface being a left side surface and the fifth surface being a right side surface, wherein the fourth surface and the fifth surface are configured as attachment surfaces for fastening the photoelectric sensor to an external attachment member.

8 . The photoelectric sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the first indicator lamp includes a power-communication indicator lamp and an operation indicator lamp,

the power-communication indicator lamp being configured to indicate the on-off state of the power supply, and

the operation indicator lamp being configured to indicate the workpiece detection state of the photoelectric sensor; and

the second indicator lamp is configured to alternately indicate the on-off state of the power supply and the workpiece detection state of the photoelectric sensor, redundant with the power-communication indicator lamp and the operation indicator lamp, respectively.

9 . The photoelectric sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the first indicator lamp includes a power-communication indicator lamp and an operation indicator lamp,

the power-communication indicator lamp being configured to indicate the on-off state of the power supply, and

the operation indicator lamp being configured to indicate the workpiece detection state of the photoelectric sensor; and

the second indicator lamp is configured to simultaneously indicate the on-off state of the power supply and the workpiece detection state of the photoelectric sensor, redundant with the power-communication indicator lamp and the operation indicator lamp, respectively.