The BVS-E Universal vision sensor from Balluff with integrated evaluation electronics and lighting as well as two digital outputs combines the functions of the BVS-E Advanced and BVS-E Ident vision sensors in one device. The vision sensor can check many features in one pass and perform tasks such as checking brightness, comparing contrasts, counting edges, checking position, recognizing patterns or reading codes quickly at the same time. It offers tools such as a 360° contour, barcode and data matrix check as well as the option of counting and checking contours. The result of the check is output either as an OK/error signal via the digital outputs or via an RS232 or Ethernet interface. For example, the detected part position can be passed on to a PLC or robot controller in order to align the part accordingly for subsequent process steps. The vision sensor locates up to 40 barcodes and data matrix codes per second, reads them regardless of their position and verifies them. The code data is available for further processing via an interface. In addition, printed character and number sequences such as batch numbers or a best-before date can be verified using optical character verification (OCV).