Quicker IR sensors

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello

I have been using these sensors to detect a ball passing through them...

https://thepihut.com/products/ir-break-beam-sensor-5mm-leds

They work fine with a decent range (my uses need 50mm - 250mm range).

Their response time is listed as <2 ms, and I believe it's nearer 1.6ms.
But, this isn't quick enough.

When the ball is travelling a bit too fast, it misses the broken beam. I don't want to 'slow' the ball mechanically, so I am looking for ideas.

Now I can only assume its the photo-diode or whatever inside these sensors that is the culprit for the delay, so not something I can alter.

I have these on a Teensy in a loop and it was the only thing the loop was doing and it still missed the ball occasionally.

Ideas? I am wondering if a faster reacting IR sensor will not start to be temperamental.

Maybe I do need to slow the ball mechanically, but that isn't going to be simple

2

It's likely that the transmitter sends IR on some carrier frequency and the receiver takes time - several pulses (reps) have to be missing before it loses lock.

3

Well they are on interrupts, so I don't think I can detect them quicker in the code.

Might have to be a mechanical slowing somehow

4

Please post datasheet links, not a sales site.

5

You can't do right for trying in here...

Post the code
Post schematics
Post links to the item

Where the heck is the data sheet for that sensor. Who cares if its a sale site. I have posted links to RS, Digikey and Farnell parts more times than I can remember in here and they are sales sites.

Thanks for the zero assistance

6

  • Is it possible you have not given us the information you are supposed to, as stated in the posting guidelines ?

  • We need information from you to be able to help you with your project.
    - Attach your Schematic
    - Give us links to datasheets
    - Attach your sketch which you are using
    - Attach good images showing your actual wiring

  • We understand you want things solved now but that does not give you the right to use sarcasm with volunteers.

1 Like
7

:confounded: Let me get my crystal ball and see if I can summon the data sheet from their stock computer

8

A very common help needed is how to, and what information to post. That wastes helpers free time.
Do things the right way from the beginning. It spares helpers time and brings You good replies much faster.
Here's the link to that: How to get the best out of this forum - Projects / General Guidance - Arduino Forum

9

Sorry @LarryD. Don't understand how my post got attached to You instead of the OP.

10
  • Simple IR beam break sensors can be of 2 versions.
    - version one uses a plain IR TX LED and a simple IR receiver like a phototransistor
    - Version two uses a simple IR TX LED that needs to output a modulated pulse train, the receiver needs to demodulate this pulse train
11

That's Your busines. Why buy undocumented stuff You don't know Yourself?

12

I suspect if you were standing next to all/any of us, you’d be no further along.

13

ChatGPT suggested a fix that worked. Thanks anyway

14

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