Patent ID: 7348537

Claim:
A multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor and a plug piece to be used in combination with the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor, wherein the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor has a pair of columnar housings, an electric cord is pulled out from one end of at least one of the columnar housings in the longitudinal direction, while a plug-in type socket is provided at the other end thereof in the longitudinal direction, and an end plug of an electric cord pulled out from the columnar housing of another multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is detachably attachable to the socket of the columnar housing, the columnar housing at least includes: a light projecting circuit for performing an operation of projecting light by means of light projecting element arrays as a series of light axis elements, or a light receiving circuit for performing an operation of receiving light by means of light receiving element arrays as a series of light axis elements, an input/output circuit for performing an operation of inputting from or outputting to the outside, and a processing circuit for controlling over those circuits to realize a function as a multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor, the plug piece is detachably attachable to the socket of the columnar housing, and particular information to serve as a function determining element on the columnar housing side is incorporated in the plug piece in a manner referenceable from the processing circuit on the columnar housing side via the socket, and further, the processing circuit on the columnar housing side of the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is set so as to determine a function based upon particular information in the plug piece referenced via the socket, wherein the particular information is one to serve as an element for determining a blanking function or a muting function.