Safety Sensor Topic: Effective Aperture Angle (Directional Angle)

FAQ No. FAQ02300

Question

What is an effective aperture angle (directional angle)?

Answer

The effective aperture angle is the angle where the control output changes from ON (see note) to OFF when a Safety Sensor/Safety Light Curtain is rotated.
The angle is measured against the rotation around the optical axis center line and the pivot rotation direction.

Note: Control outputs for OMRON Safety Sensors/Safety Light Curtains are always ON when light is incident.

Example: When Using an F3SN-A Series Safety Light Curtains

F3SN-A Series effective aperture angle (directional angle) listed in the catalog specifications is within ±2.5° when the sensing distance for the emitter and receiver is at least 3m. This means that the effective aperture angle when the control output changes from ON to OFF when the optical center line is used as the axis of rotation (fig. 1) or the pivot point is used as the axis of rotation (fig. 2) is within ±2.5°.

Fig. 1 Using the Optical Axis Center Line as the Axis of Rotation

Using the Optical Axis Center Line as the Axis of Rotation

Fig. 2 Using the Pivot Point as the Axis of Rotation

Using the Pivot Point as the Axis of Rotation

Table of OMRON Safety Sensor/Safety Curtain Effective Aperture Angles (Directional Angles)

Effective aperture angle (directional angle)
F3SN-A-series Safety Light Curtains ± 2.5° or less
F3SN-B-series Safety Light Curtains ± 5° or less
F3SH-series Multi-beam Safety Sensor ± 2.5° or less
F3SS-AT60P Single Beam Safety Sensor with Long-distance Sensing ± 2.5° or less

Other Safety Sensor FAQs

What is FMEA?

How do you release lockouts with the F3SN/F3SH?

What is a safety distance?