This IR optical distance sensor is designed for fast and reliable detection of objects at short range. It combines an emitting and receiving diode, an internal comparator circuit, and visual status indication. After capturing the reflected IR beam, the sensor evaluates the presence of an obstacle, activates the green LED, and generates a low level on the OUT output suitable directly for a microcontroller input.
The detection distance can be easily fine-tuned using a potentiometer. Proper operation is influenced by the shape, surface, and color of the target object. The sensor operates from a 3–5 V DC supply; when power is applied, the red indicator lights up. The output can be connected directly to a microcontroller IO pin or used to drive a 5 V relay.
