Sensor assembly, actuator, control system, electrically adjustable piece of furniture and method for operating an electrically adjustable piece of furniture

A method for operating an electrically adjustable piece of furniture comprising at least one actuator for adjusting an adjustable component of the piece of furniture and at least one sensor assembly, the at least one sensor assembly having a light transmitter (210) and a light receiver (220) which are coupled to one another via an optical light path (215), as well as an aperture element (240) which is configured to at least partially cover the light path (215) and which is mounted in a movable manner with respect to the light path (215) in such a way that a change in a position of the aperture element (240) results in a change in the covering of the light path (215), the method comprising:

• transmitting a first quantity of light from the light transmitter (210) via the light path (215) to the light receiver (220);
• generating, by means of the light receiver (220), a reception signal based on a second amount of light received via the light path (215);
• converting a deformation or movement of the adjustable component into a change in the position of the aperture element (240) relative to the light path (215);
• controlling the first amount of light by means of a control signal that results from minimizing a difference between the reception signal and a reference signal;
• generation of a deformation signal based on the control signal or on a signal derived from the control signal;
• detecting, based on the deformation signal, in particular based on a change in the deformation signal, a collision of the adjustable component;
• and
• terminating a movement of the at least one actuator and/or switching a direction of movement of the at least one actuator in case of a detected collision.