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From: altenbur@plains.NoDak.edu (Karl Altenburg)
Subject: Re: Sensors for miniboard
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Date: Thu, 10 Mar 1994 03:41:07 GMT
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VRANESIC  DANIEL IAN (vranesa@ecf.toronto.edu) wrote:
: Hi. I'm trying to put together a sensor array for use with
: a miniboard and am experiencing some difficulty. The miniboard
: documentation suggests OPB 5447 sensors, which I can't seem
: to get a hold of, so I'm looking at other OPB parts as an
: alternative. 

: What I was wondering is what kind of distances is
: the 5447 able to detect? 

The sensing range of the IR relfectance sensor depends on the surface it
is reflecting off of.  For something like white paper it should be in the
range of one cm.  Since this sensor is uses continuous, unmodulated IR it
is very sensitive to ambient light conditions and must be shielded.
Also, it is intended for applications like line following or as an optical
shaft encoder but is not well suited for a proximity sensor (maybe an
optical bump sensor.)

: Is the OPB 700 series a viable
: alternative? If not, from where can I obtain the 5447 part?

The MB docs cite All Electronics as the source for the part.  Their
address is:

	All Electronics Corp
	PO Box 567
	Van Nuys, CA  91408
	(818) 904-0524


The price quoted in the MB docs is $0.50 (USD), but that is subject to
change.

As far as an alternative goes, I would think that just about any cheap
IR reflective sensor would work.  You could also build your own IR pair
using an IR LED and an IR phototransistor.

If you still can't find the part, maybe contact one of the MiniBoard
parts kits sellers, I'm sure they have a source.


--
Karl R Altenburg				altenbur@plains.NoDak.edu
North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND  58105

All things are artificial, for nature is the art of God.  SIR THOMAS BROWNE
