Photoelectric Sensors | Optical Sensor | RS Components
Login / Register to access your benefits
Recently searched

    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

    RS PRO
    Block
    Polarised Retro Reflection
    3 m
    NPN NONC
    M12 Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    -
    Red Light
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    ≤0.5ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw Nut
    PSM
    RS PRO
    Block
    background Suppression
    0.25 m
    NPN NONC
    M8 Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    -
    Red Light
    IP67
    100mA
    -
    1ms
    -
    PC+ABS;Filter: PMMA
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PSE
    RS PRO
    Block
    Polarised Retro Reflection
    3 m
    NPN NONC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    -
    Red Light
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    ≤0.5ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw Nut
    PSM
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Diffuse Reflection
    0.4 m
    NPN NO+NC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Cable 2 m
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    <8.2ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PR18
    RS PRO
    Cylindrical
    Retroreflective
    10 cm
    PNP NO
    20cm PVC cable+M8 3-pin connector
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    -
    -
    Red Light
    IP67
    -
    -
    1ms
    -
    ABS
    55°C
    -20°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Cylindrical
    Retroreflective
    10 cm
    PNP NC
    20cm PVC cable+M8 3-pin connector
    Dark Switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    -
    -
    Red Light
    IP67
    -
    -
    1ms
    -
    ABS
    55°C
    -20°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Cylindrical
    Retroreflective
    10 cm
    NPN NC
    20cm PVC cable+M8 3-pin connector
    Dark Switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    -
    -
    Red Light
    IP67
    -
    -
    1ms
    -
    ABS
    55°C
    -20°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Block
    Polarised Retro Reflection
    1 m
    NPN/PNP
    Cable 2 m
    -
    -
    IO-LINK
    -
    -
    -
    Infrared
    -
    -
    IO-Link
    -
    -
    ABS
    -
    -
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Diffuse Reflection
    0.4 m
    NPN NO+NC
    M12 Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    M12 Connector
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    <8.2ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PR18
    RS PRO
    Block
    Diffuse Reflection
    1 m
    NPN NONC
    M8 Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    M8 Connector
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    ≤1ms
    -
    PC+ABS;Filter: PMMA
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PSE
    RS PRO
    Rectangular
    Through Beam
    20 m
    NPN NO/NC
    M8 4-Pin Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    -
    -
    Infrared
    IP67
    -
    -
    1ms
    -
    PC, ABS
    55°C
    -25°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Block
    Background Suppression
    200 mm
    NPN/PNP
    Connector M8
    -
    -
    IO-LINK
    -
    -
    -
    Infrared
    -
    -
    IO-Link
    -
    -
    ABS
    -
    -
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Block
    Through Beam
    30 m
    Relay
    Terminal Block
    Relay
    240V
    -
    240V
    -
    Terminal
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    3A
    -
    <30ms
    -
    ABS, PC
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PTL
    RS PRO
    Block
    Transparent Bottle Detection
    0.5 m
    NPN NONC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    -
    Blue LED
    IP67
    100mA
    -
    0.5ms
    -
    PC+ABS;Filter: PMMA
    +55°C
    -20°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PSE
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Background Suppression
    1 mm → 140 mm
    NPN
    M12 4 Pin Connector
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    -
    LED
    IP67
    100 mA
    -
    <500 μs
    -
    Nickel Plated Brass, PC
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Flange Mount
    -
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Background Suppression
    1 mm → 140 mm
    PNP
    M12 4 Pin Connector
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    -
    LED
    IP67
    100 mA
    -
    <500 μs
    -
    Nickel Plated Brass, PC
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Flange Mount
    -
    RS PRO
    Block
    Retroreflective
    7.2 m
    NPN
    Cable
    -
    -
    -
    24V
    -
    -
    LED
    IP67
    100 mA
    -
    =625 μs
    -
    ABS, PC
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Flange Mount
    -
    RS PRO
    Block
    Retroreflective
    7.2 m
    PNP
    3 Wire Cable 2 m
    -
    -
    -
    24V
    -
    -
    LED
    IP67
    100 mA
    -
    =625 μs
    -
    ABS, PC
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Flange Mount
    -
    RS PRO
    Cylindrical
    Through Beam
    20 m
    -
    PVC Cable
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    -
    M12 4 Pin Connector
    Infrared
    IP67
    -
    -
    1 ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    55°C
    -25°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Block
    Light Convergent Reflection
    5 cm
    PNP NONC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    -
    Red Light
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    ≤0.5ms
    -
    PC+ABS;Filter: PMMA
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PSE
    Results per page