What is an Maker Reflect – IR Reflection Sensor : Working & Its Applications

• It is a tiny reflectance sensor that consists of an infrared (IR) LED that transmits IR light onto a surface and a phototransistor measures how much light is reflected.
• The output is in analog voltage -The more IR light is sensed by the phototransistor, the lower the voltage.
• Typically this sensor is used in line following robots as the white surfaces reflect more IR than black surfaces.
• However, it is not limited to line followers, there is much more application that can utilize the Maker Reflect.
• Sensing distance may reduce if VCC is less than 5V or the line-background contrast is low.
• E.g.:-Edge/Border sensor in Sumo robot, wall sensor in maze solving robot, short distance object detector (presence sensor), sensor for rotary wheel encoder etc.

Features of Maker Reflect

• Operating Voltage: 3.3V and 5V Compatible.
• Sensing Distance (Height): 1mm to 40mm (Vcc = 5V, Black line on white surface).
• Output: Analog Voltage (White surface = lower voltage).

Dimension of Maker Reflect

Schematic Diagram

Applications of Maker Reflect

• It is used in Line Following Robot, Sumo Robot, Wall Following Robot, Short Distance Object Sensing, and Sensor for Printed Rotary Wheel Encoder.