Sensors Expo 2006: Reflective sensor matches, sorts by color

Among products introduced at last week’s Sensor Expo is a small footprint, reflective sensor assembly from TT electronics Optek Technology that sorts or matches surfaces by color.

Rosemont, IL and Carrollton, TX—A reflective sensor that sorts or matches surfaces by color is among latest offerings from TT electronics Optek Technology . Introduced at Sensors Expo 2006 last week in Rosemont (Chicago), IL, OPB780 reflective color sensing assembly is designed for photometric applications. It provides high-resolution digital measurement of the red, green, and blue components of light reflected from the surface being sensed. A small footprint (1.08 x 0.843 x 0.355-in.) makes it well suited for confined spaces.

Sensor is also applicable in pharmaceutical applications (such as pill sorting machinery) and works well for color-match sensing in paint, textile, and cosmetic manufacturing. The assembly’s white LED illuminates the surface of the object or liquid being sensed, with the reflected light then received by an 8 x 8 photodiode array. The array consists of 4 selectable groups of red-, green-, blue-, and clear-filtered photodiodes. A light-to-frequency converter in the CMOS monolithic sensor lets the assembly communicate directly with a micro-controller.

OPB780 Series operates from a 5-V power supply and has a typical non-linearity error of 0.2% at 50 kHz. The LED has a typically luminous intensity of 1100 mcd and a typical forward voltage of 3.6 V. Plastic housing can be mounted to a printed circuit board or flush mounted to a surface with clips. Its maximum operating temperature range is -30 to 85 °C.

—Control EngineeringDaily News Desk
Jeanine Katzel, senior editor

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