Method for monitoring a detection region of a working element

A method for monitoring a detection region of a working element, the method comprising the following steps:

• monitoring continuously a detection region with at least one camera;
• reading image information, in the form of color values, generated in the camera during the monitoring into an evaluation unit wherein the image generated by the camera is read into the evaluation unit in the form of a pixel matrix with different color values;
• distinguishing endangered objects from non-endangered objects with the evaluation unit based on the color values;
• disabling the working element with the evaluation unit, if at least one endangered object is detected within at least one protection zone in the detection region;
• and
• enabling the working element with the evaluation unit if no endangered object is located in the protection zone,
• wherein the distinguishing step includes assessing the color values with a threshold-value unit;
• and creating binary images based on the assessment with the threshold-value unit and wherein the assessing step comprises:
• associating three color values of the base colors of red, green and blue with each pixel of the image read into the evaluation unit;
• assigning the color values predetermined weight factors;
• creating a linear combination from the color values using the weight factors;
• and assessing the linear combination of color values with the threshold-value unit using a threshold value.