This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the Optical Sensors - Photoelectric, Industrial category on DigiKey.com
Industrial photoelectric sensors transmit fixed wavelengths of light to determine the distance, absence, or presence of an object by ignoring ambient light and detecting changes in the transmitted light returning to its receiver. The sensors are housed in rugged cases ideal for industrial environments. Sensing methods include cross-beam, through-beam, diffused, reflective, retroreflective, transmissive, proximity, distance and line focus. The sensors are further differentiated by light source color and wavelength, sensing distance, ingress protection and output configuration.
SelectionCharacteristics
Specifications to determine which industrial photoelectric sensor is right for your application.
Sensing Method: Describes the manner in which a sensor interacts with a sensed object or surface.
Sensing Distance: The distance within which the sensor can receive an input and produce a valid output.
Voltage - Supply Typically represented by a range, this indicates the low and high voltage limits which one can expect standard operation. Voltages outside this range may damage the device and other system components.
Response Time: The amount of time it takes for the sensor to respond to a change in input.
Output Configuration: How the output of the sensor is electrically configured, such as analog, relay, switch, etc.
Light Source: Describes spectral and other characteristics of a sensor’s optical emitter.
Connection Method: Describes the physical form-factor of features that allow electrical connection to a device.
Ingress Protection: IP (Ingress Protection) ratings such as (IP20, IP65, IP67, etc.) define how likely water and dirt will get into the system. The first number represents dirt and solid contaminants while the second represents water and liquids.
IP Ratings
| Protection Level | Solids | Liquids |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Protected against solids larger than 50mm. | Protected against vertically falling drops of water. Limited Ingress permitted. |
| 2 | Protected against solids larger than 12.5mm. | Protected against vertically falling drops of water with the enclosure tilted up to 15 degrees from vertical. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 3 | Protected against solids larger than 2.5mm. | Protected against spraying water up to 60 degrees from vertical. Limited ingress permitted for 3 minutes. |
| 4 | Protected against solids larger than 1mm. | Protected against water splashed from any direction. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 5 | Protected against dust. Limited ingress of dust permitted. | Will not affect operation of equipment 2-8 hours. Protected against jets of water. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 6 | Dust tight. No ingress of dust 2-8 hours. | Protected against powerful jets of water. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 7 | ______________________ | Protected against the effects of immersion in 15cm-1m for 30 minutes. |
| 8 | ______________________ | Continuous immersion in water up to 3m for long periods of time. |
| 9 | ______________________ | Protected against high pressure jets of hot water. (30 seconds) |
| 9K | ______________________ | Protected against high pressure jets of hot water. (2 minutes) |
Cable Length: Specifies the length of the cable if there is one.
Adjustment Type: Identifies if it is adjustable and typically how it adjusts.
Operating Temperature: Recommended operating temperature, typically given in a range or as a maximum. Exceeding these temperatures may affect performance or damage the device and other system components.
ProductExamples
| MFR PART # | EX-23 |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | 1110-2174-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Panasonic Industrial Automation Sales |
| DESCRIPTION | Through-Beam Optical Sensor 78.7" (200cm) 6.6’ NPN - Dark-ON/Light-ON - Selectable |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | E3Z-R86 |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | Z5590-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Omron Automation and Safety |
| DESCRIPTION | Retroreflective Optical Sensor 3.937" ~ 157.480" (100mm ~ 4m) ADJ PNP - Dark-ON/Light-ON - Selectable |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | S18SP6D |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | 2170-S18SP6D-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Banner Engineering Corporation |
| DESCRIPTION | Diffuse Optical Sensor 3.937" (100mm) PNP - Dark-ON/Light-ON |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | OPB760N |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | 365-2039-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | TT Electronics/Optek Technology |
| DESCRIPTION | Reflective Optical Sensor 0.080" ~ 0.220" (2.03mm ~ 5.58mm) ADJ Totem Pole |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | PD30CTBR35BPM5IO |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | 1864-PD30CTBR35BPM5IO-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Carlo Gavazzi Inc. |
| DESCRIPTION | Background Suppression Optical Sensor 13.780" (350mm) Push-Pull, NPN/PNP |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
MediaLinks
Videos
Photoelectric Sensors & Their Applications
Vidoes on Photoelectric Sensors
Articles
Proximity Sensor Technology Design Considerations
Articles on Photoelectric Sensors
Product Training Modules
Contrinex Sensors - Molex
Blogs
Industrial Sensing Solutions Made Easy
TechForum
TechForum posts on Photoelectric Sensors