(Machine Safety) A guard (barrier) or safeguarding device used to protect personnel from hazards by preventing or restricting access, or by detecting the presence of an individual.

(Machine Safety) Measures (including guards, safeguarding devices, awareness devices, safeguarding methods, or safe work procedures) used to protect personnel from hazards which cannot reasonably be eliminated, or from the risks which cannot be sufficiently reduced by inherently safe design measures.

(Machine Safety) A device that detects or prevents inadvertent access to a hazard (i.e. not a guard or a barrier). Also known as a Protective Device.

(Machine Safety) The calculated distance between a hazard and its associated safeguard.

(Machine Safety) A safeguarding device consisting of a sensing edge and a control, used to detect individuals who comes into contact with the sensing edge.

(Machine Safety) A switch on a guard barrier used to detect if the guard is opened. Designed to prevent intentional defeat. Electromechanical safety interlock switches use positive opening contacts. Other forms of safety interlock switch include magnetic, RF tag, optical, or inductive.

(Machine Safety) See safety light screen.

(Machine Safety) A safeguarding device comprising an LED array emitter element and a receiver element which creates a sensing field or plane. When an individual or object interrupts this sensing field, the light screen detects the interruption and initiates a stop command. Also known as Active Opto-electronic Protective Device -AOPD, presence sensing safeguarding device, safety light curtain, light devices and optical guards.

(Machine Safety) A safeguarding device consisting of a sensing surface and a control. The sensing surface is capable of detecting the presence of individual(s) on its surface by contact.

(Machine Safety) A device that performs a specific safety function and consists of monitored, multiple mechanically-linked relays, or monitored safety outputs. Commonly confused with a single, discrete mechanically-linked "safety" relay. Also known as safety interface module or safety relay module.

(Machine Safety) An electromechanical relay with mechanically-linked contacts which allow the monitoring of a safety device’s circuit to check relay status.

(Machine Safety) Removal of power to the Machine Primary Control Elements that allow for an orderly cessation of motion for safeguarding purposes. Also known as a "Protective Stop."

(Machine Safety) An interface which provides the means to integrate external devices to effect a stop command. It consists of two input channels (A&B), which are compatible with devices that have two normally open hard contacts or relay outputs.

(Wireless) The rate at which the Node samples the sensor’s I/O for changes.

The voltage drop appearing across a switching transistor that is fully turned on.

Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. Process control system that collects data from sensors or machines in remote areas and sends them to a central computer for control and management.

(Measurement and Inspection) The separate and systematic detection of multiple optical beams from one end of an array to another in a light screen system.

(Machine Safety) The sequential verification of all optical beams, including all relevant tests.

(Measurement and Inspection) The regular operation of a light screen array. Other modes include alignment mode and SETUP mode.

(Measurement and Inspection) The time required to sequentially detect and verify all optical beams in an light screen array.

The irregular dispersal of electromagnetic energy as it deflects off an object.

(Vision Sensing) The entire area under inspection by the camera. See also: Field of View

Abbreviation for silicon-controlled rectifier. Three terminal active device that acts as a gated diode. The gate terminal is used to turn the device on allowing current to pass from cathode to anode.

(Machine Safety) A device which, in a lock-out condition, performs a back-up safety function by going to the OFF-state and initiating an appropriate machine control action.

(Machine Safety) A circuit with the capability to verify that all of its own critical safety circuit components, along with their redundant backups, are operating properly.

Self-contained describes a sensor that contains the sensing element, amplifier, power supply, and output switch in a single package.

(Wireless) Network that can tolerate transmission failure within its signal path. See Mesh Network.

Certain elements in nature, such as silicon, perform like semiconductors when chemically combined with other elements. A semiconductor is halfway between a conductor and an insulator. When charged with electricity or light, semiconductors change their state from nonconductive to conductive or vice versa. The most significant semiconductor is the transistor, which is simply an on/off switch.

Term used to describe the end of any fiber optic cable at which sensing takes place. Sensing ends are manufactured in many mounting styles and the sensing end of glass fiber optic assemblies may be shaped to match the profile of the object to be sensed.

The method or way in which a sensor detects an object.

An adjustment made to a sensor’s amplifier that determines the sensor’s ability to discriminate between different levels of received sensing energy (e.g. between two light levels reaching a photoelectric receiver). The control is usually a potentiometer located either on the sensor (if self-contained) or on a remote amplifier. Sometimes called the "gain control" or "threshold adjustment."

A device that senses a change in a physical quantity, such as light intensity, and converts that change into a useful control signal.

(Machine Safety) The calculated distance between a hazard and its associated safeguard.

A socket that receives a standard connector and protocol connecting external devices to a computer's serial interface.

The connection of components end to end in a circuit, to provide a single path for the current.

A circuit in which loads or other components are connected so that the same current flows through out the circuit.

An actuation or adjustment feature on some Banner sensors, which simplifies the process of setting the sensor's threshold. With a single user input, the sensor automatically sets the operating sensitivity below, above or to either side of the threshold.

Severity of harm addresses the degree of injury or illness that could occur. Per ANSI B11.TR3, the following are one example of severity levels, other estimation methods may be equally acceptable.
Catastrophic – death or permanently disabling injury or illness (unable to return to work)
Serious – severe debilitating injury or illness (able to return to work at some point)
Moderate – significant injury or illness requiring more than first aid (able to return to same job)
Minor – no injury or slight injury requiring no more than first aid (little or no lost work time)

An object's physical and optical characteristic, often refers to its spatial contours.

An outer covering that protects optical fibers. Can be made of stainless steel flexible conduit, PVC, or some other type of flexible tubing.

A method of delaying an output for a set number of inspections.

A transient force of short duration.

The ability of a solid-state output device or circuit to endure operation in a shorted condition indefinitely, or for a defined period of time, with no damage.

A device on a camera that, by opening and closing, controls the duration of a photographic exposure.

The ratio of the maximum value of an output signal to the standard deviation amplitude of the noise on the signal.

(Machine Safety) Concurrent events, actions, or actuations occuring within a specific time frame. This time frame is 0.5 second in a Two-Hand Control or Two-Hand Trip applications per ANSI B11.19, ANSI/RIA R15.06 and ISO 13851 (Note: ISO 13851 defines this as synchronous actuation).

A uniform wave created by a single frequency.

(Machine Safety) Systems that contain a single path or means such that the system may fail to danger in the event of a single fault within the system. Fault exclusion, reliable and well-tried components, and well-tried safety principles are methods to increase the integrity of the safety function.

(Wireless) Transmission link between one device and another, usually a Master and Slave device.

(Machine Safety) A machine limited by antirepeat control to one complete work-performing cycle for each machine actuation, even if the actuator is continuously operated.

(Machine Safety) See full-revolution devices.

The output of a DC device that switches ground (DC common) to a load. The load is connected between the output of the device and the positive side of the power supply.

(Wireless) Implementation methodology employed by Banner to accomplish Radio Signal Strength Indication (RSSI).

An object's physical dimension, proportion or magnitude.

An alignment technique used in diffuse, retroreflective, and convergent-mode photoelectric sensing to increase the optical contrast ratio. In diffuse and convergent sensing, it's done to reduce background reflections. In retroreflective sensing, skewing the sensor is done to reduce the amount of light reflected directly back from the object that is supposed to break the beam established beween the sensor and the retro target.

Describes an environment in which there is a slight build-up of dust, dirt, oil, moisture, etc. on lenses and reflectors. Lenses are cleaned on a regular basis.

A magnetic switch that closes a circuit, often used as a relay.

Any element that can control current without moving parts, heated filaments, or vacuum gaps.

A solid-state device where switching is accomplished by a solid-state element such as a transistor or SCR.

The output of a DC device that switches positive DC to a load. The load is connected between the output of the device and the ground (DC common) side of the power supply.

This term is used in analog sensing and control to describe the maximum voltage (or current) in an analog output range. Analog sensors have an adjustment for setting the span value

Abbreviation for Single Pole Double Throw. Refers to a three terminal switch or a relay (electromechanical or solid-state) having one normally open (Form A) contact and one normally closed (Form B) contact that have an electrically common point (complementary switching). Also known as Form C.

A detailed and exact description of design criteria, defining materials, dimensions, and quality of work for something to be manufactured or installed.

(Machine Safety) an opaque object of sufficient size used to block a light beam to test the operation of a safety light screen system. When inserted into any part of the defined area, it will place a system into a Trip or Latch condition.

Frequencies emitted by a particular light source (often expressed in color).

The range of wavelengths that characterize a specific type of electromagnetic radiation.

Describing a mirror-like finish that returns of light energy at an equal and opposite angle from the angle of incident light.

(Wireless) A technique in which the transmitter sends (or spreads) a signal over a wide range of frequencies. The receiver then concentrates the frequencies in order to recover the information.

Abbreviation for "Single Pole Single Throw." Refers to a switch or a relay contact (electromechanical or solid-state) with a single contact that is either normally open or normally closed.

(Machine Safety) Abbreviation for Secondary Switching Device. An output which, in a lock-out condition, performs a back-up safety function by going to the OFF-state and initiating an appropriate machine control action.

(Machine Safety) Abbreviation for Safety Stop Interface. An interface which provides the means to integrate external devices to effect a stop command. It consists of two input channels (A&B), which are compatible with devices that have two normally open hard contacts or relay outputs.

(Machine Safety) A specification, criterion or benchmark that is widely used, accepted or is sanctioned and codified by a standards agency. Safety standards are minimum requirements for product and machine design, manufacture, use and evaluation.

(Measurement and Inspection) The distance from the face of the sensor to the midpoint of the measuring range.

(Wireless) A network topology where all nodes are connected to a central node. This central node is responsible for gathering and distributing data among the other nodes. See Master/Slave.

(Measurement and Inspection) A scanning method where all the beams in a light screen are detected in sequence from the cable end to the far end of the array.

Brief flashes of light for observing an object during a short interval of time. Used when image blur occurs due to movement of the part.

A electronic circuit used for storage with a large amount of storage capability relative to its size. Used to bolster battery capacity when used in conjunction with a battery.

(Machine Safety) Additional safeguarding device(s) or hard guarding, used to prevent a person from reaching over, under, through or around the primary safeguard or otherwise accessing the guarded hazard.

(Machine Safety) An individual, corporation, partnership or other legal entity or form of business who provides equipment or services.

A measure of the efficiency of any material surface as a reflector of light, as compared to a Kodak white test card which is arbitrarily rated at 90% reflectivity. Relative reflectivity is of great importance in photoelectric proximity modes (diffuse, divergent, convergent, fixed-field, and adjustable-field), where the more reflective an object is, the easier it is to sense.

A sudden current or voltage change in a circuit.

The transistor, a solid-state device designed to switch DC current, can be either NPN or PNP. Some sensors offer Bipolar output, both NPN and PNP or Bi-Modal output, either NPN or PNP.

The signal level at which the sensor's output turns on or off. Often used interchangeably with threshold.

(Machine Safety) See Simultaneity.