Attachment for placement onto an optical sensor and method of operating an optical sensor

An attachment for placement onto a scanner having a scan region or onto a part thereof, wherein the scanner having a transmission unit for the transmission of detection light into a detection region;

• a receiver for receiving light reflected or remitted from the detection region or for receiving light transmitted through the detection region;
• and an evaluation unit for evaluating the received light, wherein the attachment comprises the following:
• a housing having an inlet opening for the entry of at least a part of the detection light into the attachment;
• a test light receiver for receiving detection light incident as test light and for the power measurement of the detection light incident as test light at the test light receiver;
• and
• a signal outputting device for outputting an output signal correlated with the test light power;
• wherein the attachment is designed to be arranged in a scan region of a scanner such that at least a part of the detection light arrives through the inlet opening of the attachment at the test light receiver at a point in time during a scanning procedure, wherein the scan region of the scanner is defined by the spatial region which is covered by the detection light during a scanning process.

A combination of a scanner and an attachment for placement onto the scanner or onto a part thereof comprising a transmission unit, wherein the attachment comprises the following:

• a housing having an inlet opening for the entry of at least a part of a detection light into the attachment;
• a test light receiver for receiving detection light incident as test light and for the power measurement of the detection light incident as test light at the test light receiver;
• and
• a signal outputting device for outputting an output signal correlated with the test light power;
• wherein the attachment is designed to be arranged in a scan region of a scanner such that at least a part of the detection light arrives through the inlet opening of the attachment at the test light receiver at a point in time during a scanning procedure, wherein the scan region of the scanner is defined by the spatial region which is covered by the detection light during a scanning process.

A method of operating a scanner, wherein

• detection light is transmitted into a detection region and light reflected or remitted from the detection region or light transmitted through the detection region is evaluated for the generation of a detection signal;
• at least a part of detection light is guided in an attachment which is arranged in the optical path of the detection light as test light to a test light receiver which test light receiver is designed for the reception and for the power measurement of the test light;
• and
• an output signal correlated with the test light power is output by the attachment
• wherein the the attachment is arranged such that the detection light enters the attachment through an inlet window at a predefined point in time during a scanning process and is incident there on the test light receiver.