DQB Ultra-thin (Side-emitting) Safety Light Curtain

Ultra-thin side-emitting safety light curtain with a 15 x 30 mm cross-section for gaps too narrow for standard units.

Watch it in action: 3D Animation: How Light Curtains, Door Locks, Safety Mats & LiDAR Guard a Machine

Technical Specifications

SeriesDQB Ultra-thin (Side-emitting) Safety Light Curtain
Curtain TypeThrough-beam (opposed mode) - separate transmitter and receiver
Safety Design BasisCatalog cites IEC 61496-1/-2 safety class; the catalog names TÜV and UL in its feature list (no certificate numbers or scope given -- see dataGaps); EN 13849-1:2015 (Category 4, PLd), EN 61496-3:2019 Type 4, and quality-management certification to GB/T 19001-2016 idt ISO 9001:2015. Certification documents are available on request.
Light Axis Pitch (Resolution)10 / 20 / 40 mm. The model-code legend and technical parameter table list all three; the catalog's populated model list only gives specific model numbers for 20 mm and 40 mm pitch (see dataGaps).
Detection Accuracy (min. detectable object)18 / 28 / 48 mm (= light axis pitch + 8 mm)
Number of Light Axes6, 8 ... 32 (10 mm pitch); 6, 8 ... 32 (20 mm pitch); 4, 6 ... 32 (40 mm pitch)
Protective HeightLight axis pitch x (number of axes - 1). Listed range: 100-620 mm (20 mm pitch) / 120-1240 mm (40 mm pitch)
Sensing (Transmitter-Receiver) Distance0.3-3 m (model-code option B, used in the published model list); 0.3-1 m (option A)
Response Time<= 15 ms
Ambient Light Immunity10,000 lux (incidence angle >= 5 degrees); incandescent 3,000 lux / sunlight 10,000 lux at the receiver face
Housing Dimensions30 x 15 mm cross-section x L (L = transmitter/receiver length); side-emitting - light axes exit the 15 mm face rather than the front
Housing MaterialAluminium alloy; end caps ABS-reinforced nylon
Enclosure RatingIP65
ControllerDQCA / DQCA2
Supply VoltageDC 12/24 V; AC 110-220 V (relay-output supply version)
Current Consumption<= 200 mA
OutputNPN/PNP transistor type, NO or NC by model-code letter (A = NPN NC, B = PNP NC, C = NPN NO, D = PNP NO); sink current 500 mA, residual voltage < 1.5 V; polarity, short-circuit and overload protection. Output state ON when beams clear (receiver indicator green).
IndicatorsTransmitter: power (red). Receiver: output - clear (green) / blocked (red)
Light SourceModulated infrared LED
ConnectionCircular aviation connector with dedicated cable; transmitter 4-core, receiver 5-core
Operating Temperature-10 to +40 degrees C (non-condensing); storage -25 to +55 degrees C
Ambient HumidityOperating 35-85% RH; storage 35-95% RH

Overview

DQB is a transistor-output (NPN/PNP selectable) safety light curtain series with its optical windows emitting from the 15 mm side face of the housing rather than the front, so it fits into narrow slots, between mold plates, or flush against slide-rail sides where a conventional light curtain body cannot be installed. It is intended for machine builders and integrators who need finger/hand or arm access-point protection but are constrained by installation space around the hazard opening.

The catalog's populated model list covers two resolutions: 20 mm pitch (6-32 light axes, protective height 100-620 mm) for hand-level detection, and 40 mm pitch (4-32 light axes, protective height 120-1240 mm) for arm-level detection. A 10 mm pitch option (18 mm detection accuracy) also appears in the model-code legend and the technical parameter table, but no specific 10 mm model numbers are published, so its availability should be confirmed before specifying. Output is transistor type (NPN or PNP, NO or NC selectable by model-code letter), wired via a circular aviation connector with a dedicated cable - 4-core on the transmitter, 5-core on the receiver - and the catalog's listed sensing (transmitter-to-receiver) distance is 0.3-3 m, with a 0.3-1 m option also selectable by model code.

Features & Benefits

Just 15 mm Mounting Thickness

The housing cross-section is only 15 x 30 mm, letting the light curtain be installed in gaps too tight for standard front-emitting units, such as between mold plates or on the side face of a slide rail.

Side-emitting Design Frees Up Front Clearance

Because the optical window faces sideways rather than forward, the protected opening's front face stays clear, which matters when the guarded gap itself has no room for a front-mounted device.

Two Resolution Grades, One Focused Line-up

20 mm pitch (6-32 axes, protective height 100-620 mm) and 40 mm pitch (4-32 axes, protective height 120-1240 mm) cover the two most common detection needs in confined-space guarding, keeping selection simple.

NPN/PNP Selectable Transistor Output

Transistor output with NPN or PNP signal selection lets the curtain match the input type of the connected safety relay or controller without adding external signal conversion.

Circular Aviation Connector, Dedicated Cable

Wiring uses a circular aviation connector with a dedicated cable: 4-core on the transmitter, 5-core on the receiver, consistent with the series' standard electrical connection method.

Systematic Model Naming for Fast Ordering

Model codes directly encode axis count, resolution, and protective height (DQB + axis count + / + pitch - protective height), so customers can specify or cross-check a model number without a separate lookup table.

Applications

Mold-plate Gap Guarding on Injection or Die-casting MachinesThe 15 mm mounting thickness fits between closely spaced mold plates where standard-thickness light curtains cannot be installed.
Flush Side-mounted Hand Guarding on Stamping or Assembly Slide TablesThe side-emitting optical design allows the unit to be mounted flush against a slide-table side face while still detecting hand intrusion at the opening.
Opening Protection on Compact or Desktop-scale EquipmentThe 15 mm cross-section suits equipment with limited installation depth, where there is no room for a bulkier front-emitting light curtain body.
Access-point Separation Between Adjacent WorkstationsThe slim profile allows placement between internal stations inside a machine without consuming working space.
Hand-level Access-point Protection (20 mm Resolution)20 mm pitch models (6-32 axes) are dimensioned for hand/finger-level detection at machine openings.
Arm-level Access-point Protection (40 mm Resolution)40 mm pitch models (4-32 axes) cover protective heights up to 1240 mm, suited to arm-level detection across taller openings.

Models & Ordering Information

29 standard models across 2 beam-pitch options. Select the pitch your risk assessment calls for, then the protective height that covers the opening.

Protective height 100-620 mm

DQB Ultra-thin (Side-emitting) Safety Light Curtain20 mm beam pitch, 14 standard models
ModelBeam pitch K (mm)Number of beams NProtective height H (mm)
DQB06/20-100206100
DQB08/20-140208140
DQB10/20-1802010180
DQB12/20-2202012220
DQB14/20-2602014260
DQB16/20-3002016300
DQB18/20-3402018340
DQB20/20-3802020380
DQB22/20-4202022420
DQB24/20-4602024460
DQB26/20-5002026500
DQB28/20-5402028540
DQB30/20-5802030580
DQB32/20-6202032620

14 standard models at 20 mm pitch · 29 across the series. Protective height is derived as H = (N − 1) × K. Intermediate beam counts can usually be built to order — send the opening height you need to cover.

How to read the DQB model code

DQB [axis count] / [pitch] - [protective height] [output code] [sensing-distance code] [special mark]
DQB = series (15 x 30 mm housing). [axis count] = 04, 06, 08 ... 32. [pitch] = 10 (10-10mm) / 20 (20-20mm) / 40 (40-40mm) - the catalog's populated model list only covers 20 mm and 40 mm pitch; 10 mm appears in this code legend and the technical parameter table but has no published model numbers (see dataGaps). [protective height] in mm = pitch x (axis count - 1). [output code] = A (NPN NC), B (PNP NC), C (NPN NO), D (PNP NO); default A if unspecified. [sensing-distance code] = A (0.3-1 m), B (0.3-3 m); the published model list uses 0.3-3 m. [special mark] = reserved, blank unless a special requirement applies. Example: DQB08/40-280 D A = 8 axes, 40 mm pitch, 280 mm protective height, PNP NO output, 0.3-1 m sensing distance.

How to Select

  1. Choose 20 mm pitch for hand/finger-level access-point protection (axes 06-32, protective height 100-620 mm).
  2. Choose 40 mm pitch for arm-level access-point protection or where a taller protective height up to 1240 mm is needed (axes 04-32).
  3. Match the guarded opening's height to the closest standard protective height in the model list; protective height increases with axis count within each pitch grade.
  4. Select NPN or PNP transistor output to match the input type of the connected safety relay or controller.
  5. Verify the 15 x 30 mm cross-section and side-emitting orientation are compatible with the target mounting slot or flush side-mount surface before finalizing the model.
  6. Confirm cable routing and connector compatibility with the aviation-connector cable (transmitter 4-core, receiver 5-core) before ordering.

📘 Need the full method? How to Choose a Safety Light Curtain · Type 2 vs Type 4 Safety Light Curtains

When NOT to specify the DQB — and what to use instead

The available mounting space fits a standard-thickness housing

Why not: DQB's defining feature is its 15 mm side-emitting profile for gaps too narrow for a standard-body light curtain. That constraint offers no benefit on a normal-depth opening, where a standard-range series covers a broader pitch and protective-height catalog.

Use instead: DQC standard-range safety light curtain (or DQA for long spans) when installation depth is not the limiting factor.

The install only has clearance on the front face of the guarded opening, not the side

Why not: DQB's optical windows emit from the 15 mm side face of the housing, not the front. If the machine gap only exposes the front face for beam exit, DQB's side-emitting geometry will not project the light plane across the opening correctly.

Use instead: DQZ ultra-thin front-emitting series (17.2 x 30 mm housing, beams exit the narrow front face).

A confirmed 10 mm-pitch model is needed for finger-level detection

Why not: The catalog's model-code legend and technical parameter table both list a 10 mm pitch option (18 mm detection accuracy, 6-32 axes), but the populated model list (specific model numbers and protective heights) only covers 20 mm and 40 mm pitch. No 10 mm DQB model numbers are published.

Use instead: DQZ ultra-thin series, which has a fully published 10 mm pitch model list (06-32 axes), or confirm 10 mm DQB availability with the factory first.

Protective height above 1240 mm is required

Why not: The tallest published DQB configuration is DQB32/40-1240 (32 axes, 40 mm pitch, 1240 mm protective height); no taller configuration is listed in the catalog.

Use instead: DQZ ultra-thin series (up to 2480 mm at 80 mm pitch) or the standard DQC/DQA series for full-height guarding.

Washdown, high-pressure hose-down, or outdoor rain exposure

Why not: DQB is rated IP65 - dust-tight and protected against low-pressure water jets only, not high-pressure jetting or immersion.

Use instead: DQR waterproof safety light curtain series for wet or washdown areas.

The machine control needs a relay (volt-free) output

Why not: This catalog documents DQB output as transistor type only (NPN/PNP, NO/NC by model-code letter A/B/C/D); no relay-output code is listed for DQB, unlike DQA's J (relay) code.

Use instead: DQA or DQC series ordered with a relay-output variant if a volt-free contact is required.

Specifications we do not publish yet

We only publish a figure once we are confident it is true. The items below are still being validated through further testing and real-world customer feedback, so for now we would rather leave them open than guess. If one of them matters to your design, ask us for the latest validated status.

  • The 10 mm pitch option appears in the DQB model-code legend and technical parameter table (18 mm detection accuracy, 6-32 axes), but no populated model list (specific model numbers / protective heights) for 10 mm pitch DQB is given in the catalog.
  • TUV and UL certificate numbers and the exact scope (which DQB models/configurations they cover) are not given in the catalog.
  • Whether DQB requires an external controller (DQCA/DQCA2) in all configurations or can operate stand-alone, and the functional difference between the DQCA and DQCA2 controllers, is not detailed for this series.
  • Maximum cable length and the aviation-connector pinout are not given.
  • Muting and fixed/floating blanking function availability and configuration for DQB are not stated in this catalog section.
  • PFHd, MTTFd and DCavg figures needed to integrate DQB into a full ISO 13849-1 machine calculation are not published; the catalog states a Category 4 / PLd design basis but not these figures.
  • Whether the 0.3-1 m sensing-distance option (model code A) is available across all listed DQB models, or only specific configurations, is unconfirmed - the published model list shows 0.3-3 m for every row.
  • Whether a relay (volt-free) output variant is available for DQB, as it is for DQA (J code) - this catalog documents transistor (NPN/PNP) output only for DQB.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the DQB series "ultra-thin"?
The DQB housing has a 15 x 30 mm cross-section, with the optical window emitting from the side of the housing rather than the front, allowing a mounting thickness of just 15 mm.
What resolutions does the DQB series offer?
Two resolutions: 20 mm pitch (protective height 100-620 mm, 6-32 light axes) and 40 mm pitch (protective height 120-1240 mm, 4-32 light axes).
What output signal types does DQB support?
Transistor output with NPN or PNP signal selectable.
How is the DQB series wired?
Via a circular aviation connector with a dedicated cable: 4-core on the transmitter, 5-core on the receiver.
How is the model number structured?
DQB + light-axis count + / + pitch (mm) - protective height (mm), followed by an output-type code letter (A = NPN NC, B = PNP NC, C = NPN NO, D = PNP NO; default A) and a sensing-distance code letter (A = 0.3-1 m, B = 0.3-3 m), with a final reserved slot for special marks. For example, DQB08/40-280 D A denotes 8 axes, 40 mm pitch, 280 mm protective height, PNP NO output, 0.3-1 m sensing distance; the catalog's published model list uses 0.3-3 m sensing distance for its listed models.
What is the difference between the 20 mm and 40 mm pitch versions?
The 20 mm pitch line targets hand/finger-level detection with protective heights from 100-620 mm; the 40 mm pitch line targets arm-level detection with protective heights from 120-1240 mm.
Is DQB the thinnest light curtain in the DAIDISIKE range?
DQB (15 mm, side-emitting) is thinner than the DQZ front-emitting ultra-thin series (17.2 mm); the two differ in emitting orientation, so selection depends on which side of the guarded gap has clearance.
Does DQB require a synchronization cable between transmitter and receiver?
This data sheet does not specify DQB's synchronization method; customers needing a thin light curtain without a sync cable should ask about the DQBT series, which is described in supplier material as a sync-free ultra-thin type.
Can DAIDISIKE provide certification documents for the DQB series?
Certification documents are available on request.

Works Well Together

On the same machine or line, DQB is typically ordered together with: Safety Relays · Safety Door Locks & Switches · Press & Press Brake Protection

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