Reflective IR sensor module detects presence of objects at close range
The Vishay VCNT2030 reflective IR sensor module integrates a laser emitter, photodetector and supporting components into a compact, surface-mount package.
The VCNT2030 from Vishay is a complete infrared reflective sensor module which can be used to reliably detect objects in close proximity. A typical application is to detect the presence of paper in the feed tray of a desktop printer.
Housed in a miniature surface-mount package, the VCNT2030 includes a high-intensity vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and a photodetector arranged in the same plane. The emitter, which offers high optical power and high-speed operation, has its peak wavelength at 940 nm.
The detector is a silicon phototransistor. The sensor’s analog output signal at the phototransistor is dependent on the amount of light emitted by the VCSEL and reflected from an object in the sensor’s field of view. The useful detection range of the VCNT2030 is from 0.3 mm to 6 mm.