Adafruit IR Break Beam Sensor – 5mm LEDs

Key Features:

• Simple way to detect motion
• Faster than PIR sensors and allow better control of where you want to detect the motion
• Works up to 20 inches
• Open collector transistor output receiver

Infrared (IR) break-beam sensors are a simple way to detect motion. They work by having an emitter side that sends out a beam of human-invisible IR light, then a receiver across the way which is sensitive to that same light. When something passes between the two, and its not transparent to IR, then the ‘beam is broken’ and the receiver will let you know.

Compared to PIR sensors, breakbeams are faster and allow better control of where you want to detect the motion. Compared to Sonar modules, they’re less expensive. However, you do need both emitter and receiver on opposite sides of the area you want to monitor.

This is the 5mm IR version.  It works up to 50cm / 20". You can power it from 3.3V or 5V, but 5V will get you better range and is what we suggest. The receiver is open collector transistor output which means that you do need a pull up resistor if you want to read a digital signal off the signal wire. Most microcontrollers have the ability to turn on a built in pull up resistor. If you do not, connect a 10K resistor between the white wire of the receiver and the red wire. If you want to control a relay or LED or whatever, it can sink up to 100mA to ground.

Item Specifics
Sensing Distance: Approx 50cm / 20"
Power Voltage: 3.3 – 5.5VDC
Emitter Current Draw: 10mA @ 3.3V, 20mA @ 5V
Output Current Capability of receiver: 100mA sink
Transmitter/Receiver LED Angle: 10°
Response Time: <2 ms
Dimensions: 20mm x 10mm x 8mm / 0.8" x 0.4" x 0.3"
Cable Length: 250mm / 10"
Weight (of each half): 3g

• Simple way to detect motion
• Faster than PIR sensors and allow better control of where you want to detect the motion
• Works up to 20 inches
• Open collector transistor output receiver