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    Photoelectric Sensors

    What are Photoelectric Sensors?

    Photoelectric sensors determine the distance, absence, or presence of physical objects by emitting a field or beam of electromagnetic radiation. An object is detected by measuring alterations in the return signal, this is achieved as sensors have an Emitter for emitting light and a Receiver for receiving light. There are 3 main types of photoelectric sensors, through-beam, retro-reflective and diffuse, which vary slightly in the way they function.

    The basic function of each is to detect the presence or absence of objects or measure the distance to the object. You can learn more in our complete guide to photoelectric sensors.

    Types of Photoelectric Sensors:

    Through-beam Sensors

    Through Beam Sensors (aka thru-beam) rely on two separate housings, one for the transmitter and one for the receiver, with the transmitter providing a continuous beam of light to the receiver. Each time an object passes through the beam this interrupts the signal between the transmitter and receiver, which in turn causes the receiver to send an electrical signal to the output. Through-beam sensors are suited to long-distance sensing and can detect almost any object, irrespective of colour or angular motion.

    Retro-reflective Sensors

    Retro-reflective photoelectric sensors (retroreflective) have both the transmitter and receiver contained within the same housing but require a reflector opposite to the sensor. The reflector bounces the light beam back to the transmitter until an object breaks the beam. Objects which are highly reflective such as aluminium require sensors with polarising filters. The filter allows the sensor to acknowledge that the reflected light from reflecting materials is different from the reflector.

    Diffuse Sensors

    Diffuse sensors (proximity sensor) are easier to install as only one device must be mounted. This is because the transmitter and receiver are contained within one housing. Diffuse sensors use the reflection from the target object within a predetermined sensing range.

    The transmitter sends out a continuous beam of light, once this hits the target it is diffused in all directions, a part of this light is reflected and recognised by the receiver, the receiver then sends an electrical signal to the output. A special type of diffused mode is background suppression which enables the user to precisely control the sensing range.

    Applications of Photoelectric Sensors

    Photoelectric Sensors can be used in various settings, some of which include:

    • Food Industry
    • Pharmaceutical Industry
    • Packaging Plants
    • Automotive Industry
    • Doors & Gates

    Browse the broad range of Photoelectric Sensors RS Components have to offer and order today for next day delivery.

    6689 Products showing for Photoelectric Sensors

    Baumer
    Block
    Distance
    30 mm → 130 mm
    Analogue
    M12 8 Pin Connector
    -
    -
    -
    28V
    -
    8 Pin Connector
    Laser Light
    IP67
    120 mA
    -
    900 μs
    -
    Die Cast Zinc
    +50°C
    0°C
    Panel Mount
    OADM
    Banner
    Rectangular
    Diffuse
    600 mm
    2 NPN/2 PNP
    M12 Integral QD
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    IO-LINK
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Banner
    Rectangular
    Suppression
    200 mm
    Solid State
    4-Pin Micro Connector
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Banner
    Rectangular
    Long Range Diffuse
    1500 mm
    PNP
    Pigtail QD
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Banner
    Rectangular
    Infrared LED
    60 m
    Relay
    cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Banner
    Rectangular
    diffuse
    350 mm
    PNP
    Pigtail QD
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
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    -
    -
    -
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    ifm electronic
    Rectangular
    Through Beam
    15 m
    -
    M8 Connector
    -
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    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
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    Eaton
    Square
    Through Beam
    15 m
    NPN
    Plug In
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Eaton
    Square
    Optical
    2400 mm
    NPN, PNP
    -
    Dark Switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
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    Telemecanique Sensors
    Cylindrical
    Polarised Reflex
    4 m
    Discrete
    1 Male Connector M12
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Eaton
    Square
    Optical
    1400 mm
    NPN, PNP
    -
    Dark Switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Banner
    Rectangular
    Retroreflective
    6 m
    PNP
    Micro Integral QD
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
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    Banner
    Rectangular
    Through Beam
    10 m
    NPN/PNP
    Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
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    -
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    SICK
    Fork
    Through Beam
    42 mm
    PUSH/PULL
    M8 4 Pin Connector
    -
    -
    IO-LINK
    30V
    -
    4 Pin Connector
    Infrared
    IP65
    20 mA
    IO-Link
    46 μs
    -
    Aluminium
    +60°C
    -20°C
    Panel Mount
    WF
    Eaton
    Rectangular
    Diffuse Reflective
    610 mm
    PNP/NPN
    Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Banner
    Barrel
    Diffuse
    100 mm
    Solid State
    4-Pin Micro Connector
    Dark Switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Banner
    Rectangular
    Proximity
    50 mm
    NPN/PNP
    Cable
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Telemecanique Sensors
    Miniature
    Diffuse
    1.1 m
    NPN
    M8 Connector
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    IP65, IP67
    -
    -
    0,5 ms
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    XUM6
    Banner
    Rectangular
    Proximity
    300 mm
    PNP
    Pigtail QD
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Pepperl + Fuchs
    Block
    Background Suppression
    40 mm → 100 mm
    NPN/PNP
    M8 4 Pin Connector
    -
    -
    IO-LINK
    30V
    -
    4 Pin Connector
    Laser Light
    IP67, IP69, IP69K
    100 mA
    IO-Link
    2 ms
    -
    PC
    +60°C
    -10°C
    Panel Mount
    OMT100
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