Method for the optical monitoring of a monitored zone and light sensor

Abstract

In a method and a light sensor for the optical monitoring of a monitored zone, light is transmitted into the monitored zone and light reflected back or remitted back from the monitored zone is detected by first and second light receivers, each having two spatial detection zones for the scanned zone and the background zone of the monitored zone. A first output signal of the first light receiver is produced depending on whether the center of the light reflected back/remitted back is located in the first or in the second detection zone of the first light receiver, with the first output signal only being able to adopt one of two possible states. In a similar way, a second output signal of the second light receiver is produced. The first and the second output signals are logically linked to one another to produce an object determination signal.