IR SENSOR

IR SENSOR
IR technology is used in daily life and also in industries for different purposes. For example,
TVs use an IR sensor to understand the signals which are transmitted from a remote control.
The main benefits of IR sensors are low power usage, their simple design & their convenient
features. IR signals are not noticeable by the human eye. The IR radiation in the
electromagnetic spectrum can be found in the regions of the visible & microwave. Usually, the
wavelengths of these waves range from 0.7 µm 5 to 1000µm. The IR spectrum can be divided
into three regions like near-infrared, mid, and far-infrared. The near IR region’s wavelength
ranges from 0.75 – 3µm, the mid-infrared region’s wavelength ranges from 3 to 6µm & the far
IR region’s infrared radiation’s wavelength is higher than 6µm.
WHAT IS IR SENSOR
An infrared sensor is an electronic device, that emits in
order to sense some aspects of the surroundings. An IR
sensor can measure the heat of an object as well as
detects the motion. These types of sensors measure only
infrared radiation, rather than emitting it that is called a
passive IR sensor. Usually, in the infrared spectrum, all the
objects radiate some form of thermal radiation.

These types of radiations are invisible to our eyes, which can be

detected by an infrared sensor. The emitter is simply an IR LED
(Light Emitting Diode) and the detector is simply an IR
photodiode that is sensitive to IR light of the same wavelength
as that emitted by the IR LED. When IR light falls on the
photodiode, the resistances and the output voltages will change
in proportion to the magnitude of the IR light received.
WORKING PRINCIPLE
• The working principle of an infrared sensor is similar to the object detection
sensor. This sensor includes an IR LED & an IR Photodiode, so by
combining these two can be formed as a photo-coupler otherwise
optocoupler. The physics laws used in this sensor are planks radiation,
Stephan Boltzmann & weins displacement.
• IR LED is one kind of transmitter that emits IR radiations. This LED looks
similar to a standard LED and the radiation which is generated by this is
not visible to the human eye. Infrared receivers mainly detect the radiation
using an infrared transmitter. These infrared receivers are available in
photodiodes form. IR Photodiodes are dissimilar as compared with usual
photodiodes because they detect simply IR radiation. Different kinds of
infrared receivers mainly exist depending on the voltage, wavelength,
package, etc.
• Once it is used as the combination of an IR transmitter &
receiver, then the receiver’s wavelength must equal the
transmitter. Here, the transmitter is IR LED whereas the
receiver is IR photodiode. The infrared photodiode is responsive
to the infrared light that is generated through an infrared LED.
The resistance of photo-diode & the change in output voltage is
in proportion to the infrared light obtained. This is the IR
sensor’s fundamental working principle.
• Once the infrared transmitter generates emission, then it arrives
at the object & some of the emission will reflect back toward the
infrared receiver. The sensor output can be decided by the IR
receiver depending on the intensity of the response.
TYPES OF IR SENSOR
• Infrared sensors are classified into two types like active IR sensor
and passive IR sensor.
ACTIVE IR SENSOR
• This active infrared sensor includes both the transmitter as well as
the receiver. In most of the applications, the light-emitting diode is
used as a source. LED is used as a non-imaging infrared sensor
whereas the laser diode is used as an imaging infrared sensor.
• These sensors work through energy radiation, received & detected
through radiation. Further, it can be processed by using the signal
processor to fetch the necessary information. The best examples of
this active infrared sensor are reflectance and break beam sensor.
PASSIVE IR SENSOR
• The passive infrared sensor includes detectors only but they don’t include
a transmitter. These sensors use an object like a transmitter or IR source.
This object emits energy and detects through infrared receivers. After that,
a signal processor is used to understand the signal to obtain the required
information.
• The best examples of this sensor are pyroelectric detector, bolometer,
thermocouple-thermopile, etc. These sensors are classified into two types
like thermal IR sensor and quantum IR sensor. The thermal IR sensor
doesn’t depend on wavelength. The energy source used by these sensors
is heated. Thermal detectors are slow with their response and detection
time. The quantum IR sensor depends on the wavelength and these
sensors include high response and detection time. These sensors need
regular cooling for specific measurements.
 IR Sensor Pinout Working Details
An infrared sensor is an electronic device that emits in order to sense
some aspects of the surroundings.

An IR sensor can measure the heat of an object as well as

detects the motion.
IR Sensor or Infrared Sensor has two main parts. IR Transmitter
and IR Reciever. The work of IR transmitter or Infrared
transmitter is to transmit the infrared waves whereas the work
of IR receiver is to receive these infrared waves.
• IR receiver constantly sends digital data in the form of 0 or 1 to
Vout pin of the sensor. If there is an object in front of IR sensor,
the transmitted infrared waves from IR transmitter reflects from
that object and is received by the IR receiver. IR sensor gives 0
or LOW in this condition. Whereas, if there is no object in front
of the IR sensor, the transmitted infrared waves from IR
transmitter is not received by the IR receiver. And IR sensor
gives 1 or HIGH in this condition.
PIN CONFIGURATION

Pin Name Description

VCC Power Supply +5v

GND Power Supply Ground

OUTPUT Active High Output

The IR sensor module consists mainly of the IR
Transmitter and Receiver, Opamp, Variable Resistor
(Trimmer pot), output LED in details.
 IR LED TRANSMITTER
IR LED emits light, in the range of Infrared
frequency. IR light is invisible to us as its
wavelength (700nm – 1mm) is much higher than
the visible light range. IR LEDs have light emitting
angle of approx. 20-60 degree and range of
approx. few centimeters to several feets, it
depends upon the type of IR transmitter and the
manufacturer. Some transmitters have the range
in kilometers. IR LED white or transparent in
colour, so it can give out amount of maximum
PHOTODIODE RECEIVER
light.
• Photodiode acts as the IR receiver as its conducts
when light falls on it. Photodiode is a
semiconductor which has a P-N junction,
operated in Reverse Bias, means it start
conducting the current in reverse direction when
Light falls on it, and the amount of current flow is
proportional to the amount of Light. This property
makes it useful for IR detection. Photodiode looks
like a LED, with a black colour coating on its outer
side, Black colour absorbs the highest amount of
IR Sensor Module Features:
light.
1. 5VDC Operating voltage
2. I/O pins are 5V and 3.3V compliant
3. Range: Up to 20cm
4. Adjustable Sensing range
5. Built-in Ambient Light Sensor
6. 20mA supply current
7. Mounting hole
APPLICATIONS
1. Obstacle Detection
2. Industrial safety devices
3. Wheel encoder.