Scribd
Upload
343 views8 pages

Optical Sensor Basics and Applications: Types of Optical Sensors

An optical sensor converts light into an electronic signal and is used to measure physical light quantities. There are different types of optical sensors such as photoconductive devices, photovoltaic cells, and photodiodes. Optical sensors operate by transmitting and receiving light and can detect objects by interrupting or reflecting a light beam. Common applications of optical sensors include ambient light sensors, biomedical devices, liquid level indicators, and optical level sensors.

Uploaded by

Vaishnavi Tripathi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
343 views8 pages

Optical Sensor Basics and Applications: Types of Optical Sensors

An optical sensor converts light into an electronic signal and is used to measure physical light quantities. There are different types of optical sensors such as photoconductive devices, photovoltaic cells, and photodiodes. Optical sensors operate by transmitting and receiving light and can detect objects by interrupting or reflecting a light beam. Common applications of optical sensors include ambient light sensors, biomedical devices, liquid level indicators, and optical level sensors.

Uploaded by

Vaishnavi Tripathi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

Optical Sensor Basics and

Applications
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


There are different kinds of optical sensors, the most common types which we
have been using in our real world applications as given below.

 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.
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). Special devices even allow for a detection of
transparent objects or those with different colors or variations in contrast.
Different types of optical sensors as explained below.

Di
fferent Types of Optical Sensors
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.

1. LED (Light Emitting Diode)


During the recombination process of electrons with holes at the junctions of n-
doped and p-doped semiconductors, energy is released in the form of light.
The excitation takes place by applying an external voltage and the
recombination may be taking place, or it may be stimulated as another
photon. This facilitates coupling the LED light with an optical device.
A LED is a p-n semiconductor device that emits light when a voltage
is applied across its two terminals

2. LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated


Emission Radiation)
A laser is created, when the electrons in the atoms in special glasses,
crystals, or gasses absorb energy from an electrical current they become
excited. The excited electrons move from a lower-energy orbit to a higher-
energy orbit around the atom’s nucleus. When they return to their normal or
ground state this leads to the electrons emit photons (particles of light). These
photons are all at the same wavelength and coherent. The ordinary visible
light comprises multiple wavelengths and is not coherent.

LASAR Light Emission Process

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, synchro for photographic flashes and systems that can detect the
presence of objects.

Ambient Light Sensors


Mostly we have seen this sensor on our mobile handsets. It will extend the
battery life and enables easy-to-view displays that are optimized for the
environment.

Ambient Light
Sensors
Biomedical Applications
optical sensors have robust applications in the biomedical field. Some of the
examples Breath analysis using tunable diode laser, Optical heart-rate
monitors an optical heart-rate monitor measures your heart rate using light.
A LED shines through the skin, and an optical sensor examines the light that
reflected back. Since blood absorbs more light, fluctuations in light level can
be translated into heart rate. This process is called as photoplethysmography.

Optical Sensor Based Liquid Level


Indicator
Optical Sensor Based Liquid Level Indicator consist of two main parts an
infrared LED coupled with a light transistor, and a transparent prism tip in the
front. The LED projects an infrared light outward, when the sensor tip is
surrounded by air the light reacts by bouncing back with-in the tip before
returning to the transistor. When the sensor is dipped in liquid, the light
disperses throughout and less is returned to the transistor. The amount of
reflected light to the transistor affects output levels, making point level sensing
possible
Optical Level Sensor

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy