Field installable light curtain status module

An apparatus of a cascade-connectable light curtain configured to operatively receive a field installable light curtain status module, the apparatus comprising:

• a light curtain module configured to connect proximally to one or more upstream light curtain modules in a cascade arrangement, and configured to connect distally to one or more downstream light curtain modules in a cascade arrangement, and operative to receive status information representing a status condition in an upstream-connected light curtain module and, in response to the received status information, generate status control signals that cause a field installable light current status module, when connected downstream of the light curtain module, to visibly indicate the status condition in the upstream-connected light curtain module, wherein the field installable light curtain status module comprises:
• a housing extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end;
• an electrical interface disposed at a proximal end of the housing and including a connector for making pluggable electrical connection to a cascading electrical output port that is disposed in a seal member sealably attached to the light curtain module, wherein the electrical interface is configured to pluggably make or break operative connection to the cascading electrical output port while the seal member is sealably connected to the light curtain module;
• at least one control terminal in the electrical interface, wherein when the electrical interface is pluggably connected to the cascading electrical output port, the control terminal is adapted to receive a status control signal indicative of a status condition of the light curtain module;
• a light generation module operably connected to the electrical interface to receive the status control signal, wherein in response to the status control signa the light generation module generates a predetermined illumination output signa indicative of the status condition of the light curtain module;
• and,
• a translucent window at the distal end of the housing and configured to permit the predetermined illumination to be visible from within the window to substantially any direction that lies in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, wherein the light generation module is disposed within an interior volume defined by the housing and the translucent window.

A method of operating a cascade-connectable light curtain configured to operatively receive a field installable light curtain status module, the method comprising:

• providing a light curtain module configured to connect proximally to one or more upstream light curtain modules in a cascade arrangement, and configured to connect distally to one or more downstream light curtain modules in a cascade arrangement, and operative to receive status information representing a status condition in an upstream-connected light curtain module and, in response to the received status information, generate status control signals that cause a field installable light current status module, when connected downstream of the light curtain module, to visibly indicate the status condition in the upstream-connected light curtain module, wherein the field installable light curtain status module comprises:
• providing a housing extending along a longitudinal axis between a proxima end and a distal end;
• making pluggable electrical connection, from a connector in an electrica interface disposed at a proximal end of the housing, to a cascading electrica output port that is disposed in a seal member sealably attached to the light curtain module, wherein the electrical interface is configured to pluggably make or break operative connection to the cascading electrical output port while the sea member is sealably connected to the light curtain module;
• receiving a status control signal indicative of a status condition of the light curtain module at at least one control terminal in the electrical interface when the electrical interface is pluggably connected to the cascading electrical output port;
• providing a light generation module operably connected to the electrica interface to receive the status control signal;
• in response to the status control signal, generating with the light generation module, a predetermined illumination output signal indicative of the status condition of the light curtain;
• and,
• providing a translucent window at the distal end of the housing and configured to permit the predetermined illumination to be visible from within the window to substantially any direction that lies in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, wherein the light generation module is disposed within an interior volume defined by the housing and the translucent window.