Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: ib1yysguy on February 04, 2009, 03:54:22 PM

Title: "Slot" IR Sensor. What the heck?
Post by: ib1yysguy on February 04, 2009, 03:54:22 PM

I've done some looking and have searched the forum without any luck, so I hope I'm not duplicating some other discussion.

John mentions in his encoder tutorial the use of "slot" IR sensors and has the following picture:

(http://www.societyofrobots.com/images/sensors_encoder_slot.JPG)

I can't find anything resembling that IR sensor anywhere one would commonly expect to find these things. Does anyone have any idea where to get one?

I assume the advantage is that it's shielded so you don't have to use tinfoil and electrical tape. Besides, it just looks nifty.

Title: Re: "Slot" IR Sensor. What the heck?
Post by: Trumpkin on February 04, 2009, 04:03:01 PM

You can get one here http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=247

Title: Re: "Slot" IR Sensor. What the heck?
Post by: ib1yysguy on February 04, 2009, 04:11:02 PM

One more question - if one were to rotate a wheel or a fan through this thing, is there any way to determine which direction (clockwise/counterclockwise) it's rotating?

Title: Re: "Slot" IR Sensor. What the heck?
Post by: Razor Concepts on February 04, 2009, 04:13:42 PM

One way is to just have two of them stacked on top of each other, so you can determine the direction based on which one sees the fan thing first.

Title: Re: "Slot" IR Sensor. What the heck?
Post by: ib1yysguy on February 04, 2009, 04:15:56 PM

Seems so obvious now. Thanks.

Title: Re: "Slot" IR Sensor. What the heck?
Post by: Admin on February 15, 2009, 04:47:36 AM

I bought it at mouser.com (or was it digikey.com can't remember)