Optical Sensors
Courtesy: https://www.elprocus.com/optical-sensors-types-basics-and-applications/
Courtesy: https://www.slideserve.com/quincy/chapter-4-optical-sensors
An optical sensor converts light rays into an electronic signal. The purpose of
an optical sensor is to measure a physical quantity of light and, depending on
the type of sensor, then translates it into a form that is readable by an
integrated measuring device. Optical Sensors are used for contact-less
detection, counting or positioning of parts. Optical sensors can be either
internal or external. External sensors gather and transmit a required
quantity of light, while internal sensors are most often used to measure the
bends and other small changes in direction.
The measurands possible by different optical sensors are Temperature,
Velocity Liquid level, Pressure, Displacement (position), Vibrations, Chemical
species, Force radiation, pH- value, Strain, Acoustic field and Electric field
Types of Optical Sensors
• Photoconductive devices used to measure the resistance by converting a
change of incident light into a change of resistance.
• The photovoltaic cell (solar cell) converts an amount of incident light into an
output voltage.
• The Photodiodes convert an amount of incident light into an output current.
Phototransistors are a type of bipolar transistor where the base-collector junction is
exposed to light. This results in the same behavior of a photodiode, but with an
internal gain.
Operating Principle
The operating principle is the transmitting and receiving of light in an optical
sensor, the object to be detected reflects or interrupts a light beam sent out by
an emitting diode. Depending on the type of device, the interruption or
reflection of the light beam is evaluated. This makes it possible to detect objects
independently of the material they are constructed from (wood, metal, plastic
or other)
Through-Beam Sensors
• The system consists of two separate components the transmitter and the
receiver are placed opposite to each other. The transmitter projects a light
beam onto the receiver. An interruption of the light beam is interpreted as a
switch signal by the receiver. It is irrelevant where the interruption occurs
Advantage: Large operating distances can be achieved, and the recognition is
independent of the object’s surface structure, color or reflectivity.
To guarantee a high operational dependability it must be assured that the object is
sufficiently large to interrupt the light beam completely.
Retro-Reflective Sensors
• Transmitter and receiver are both in the same house, through a reflector the
emitted light beam is directed back to the receiver. An interruption of the light
beam initiates a switching operation. Where the interruption occurs is of no
importance
Advantage: Retro-reflective sensors enable large operating distances with
switching points, which are exactly reproducible requiring little mounting effort.
All objects interrupting the light beam are accurately detected independently of
their surface structure or color.
Diffuse Reflection Sensors
• Both transmitter and receiver are in one housing. The transmitted light is
reflected by the object to be detected.
Advantage: The diffused light intensity at the receiver serves as the
switching condition. Regardless of the sensitivity setting the rear part
always reflects better than the front part. This leads to the consequence
to erroneous switching operations
Different Light Sources For Optical Sensors
• There are many types of light sources. The sun and light from burning torch
flames were the first light sources used to study optics. As a matter of fact,
light coming from certain (exited) matter (e.g., iodine, chlorine, and mercury
ions) still provides the reference points in the optical spectrum. One of the
key components in optical communication is the monochromatic light source.
In optical communications, light sources must be monochromatic, compact,
and long lasting. Here are two different types of light source.
LED (Light Emitting Diode)
LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission Radiation)
Applications of Optical Sensors
• Application of these optical sensors ranges from computers to motion
detectors. For optical sensors to work effectively, they must be the correct
type for the application, so that they maintain their sensitivity to the property
they measure. Optical sensors are integral parts of many common devices,
including computers, copy machines (xerox) and light fixtures that turn on
automatically in the dark. And some of the common applications include
alarm systems, synchros for photographic flashes and systems that can detect
the presence of objects
A photoresistor (or photoconductor) has the property of decreasing its electrical
resistance (increasing the conductivity) as the intensity of light falling on it increases.
Typically, the resistance of a photoresistor could change from very high values
(megohms) in the dark to reasonably low values (less than 100 Ω) in bright light. As a
result, very high sensitivity to light is possible. Some photocells can function as
photoresistors because their impedance decreases (output increases) as the light
intensity increases. Photocells used in this manner are termed photoconductive cells.
The circuit symbol of a photoresistor
