Infrared sensor
Infrared sensor
[1] An infrared (IR) sensor/detector is a sensor reacting to infrared radiation. The 2 main types being thermal and photonic (photodetectors).
[1] An infrared (IR) sensor/detector is a sensor reacting to infrared radiation. The 2 main types being thermal and photonic (photodetectors).
A reflective IR sensor is an IR sensor emitting IR light from an LED onto a object, then uses a phototransistor to measure the light bouncing back. It detects changes in distance, proximity, or surface color based on how much light reflects.
Infrared LED (emitter) continuously emits invisible IR light forward.
Phototransistor (receiver) receives any IR light that bounces back off a surface. If light hits it, current flows between its collector and emitter proportional to the intensity of reflected light
Built-in optical filters block visible light, while physical shielding prevents the emitter's light from directly bleeding into the receiver without reflecting off an object first.
The circuit responds dynamically depending on whether it faces a reflective surface or a dark/absorbing surface.
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