retroreflective Archives - AUTOMATION INSIGHTS

Shedding Light on Different Types of Photoelectric Sensors

Photoelectric sensors have been around for more than 50 years and are used in everyday things – from garage door openers to highly automated assembly lines that produce the food we eat and the cars we drive.

The correct use of photoelectric sensors in a manufacturing process is important to ensure machines can perform their required actions. Over the years they have evolved into many different forms.

But, how do you know which is the right sensor for your application? Let’s take a quick look at the different types and why you would choose one over another for your needs.

Diffuse sensors

- Ideal for detecting contrast differences, depending on the surface, color, and material
- Detects in Light-On or Dark-On mode, depending on the target
- Economical and easy to mount and align, thanks to visible light beams
- Shorter ranges as compared to retroreflective and through-beam sensors
- IR (Infrared) light beams available for better detection in harsh environments
- Laser light versions are available for more precise detection when needed
- Mounting includes only one electrical device

Diffuse sensor with background suppression

- Reliable object detection with various operating ranges, and independent of surface, color, and material
- Detects objects against very similar backgrounds – even if they are very dark against a bright background
- Almost constant scanning range even with different reflectance
- Only one electrical device without reflectors or separate receivers
- Good option if you cannot use a through-beam or retroreflective sensor
- With red light or the laser red light that is ideally suited for detecting small parts

Retroreflective sensors

- Simple alignment thanks to generous mounting tolerances
- Large reflectors for longer ranges
- Reliable detection, regardless of surface, color, and material
- Polarized light filters are available to assist with detecting shiny objects
- Mounting includes only one electrical device, plus a reflector
- Most repeatable sensor for clear object detection; light passes through clear target 2X’s giving a greater change in light received by the sensor

Through-beam sensors

- Ideal for positioning tasks, thanks to excellent reproducibility
- Most reliable detection method for objects, especially on conveyor applications
- Extremely resistant to contamination and suitable for harsh environments
- Ideally suited for large operating ranges
- Transmitter and receiver in separate housings

Fork sensors

- Different light types (red light, infrared, laser)
- Robust metal housing
- Simple alignment to the object
- High optical resolution and reproducibility
- Fork widths in different sizes with standardized mounting holes
- Identical mechanical and optical axes
- The transmitter and receiver are firmly aligned to each other, yielding high process reliability

The next time you need to choose a photoelectric sensor for your manufacturing process, consider these features of each type to ensure the sensor is performing optimally in your application.

Which Photoelectric Sensor Should I Be Using?

There are many variations within the category of photoelectric sensors, so how do you select the best sensor for your application? Below, I will discuss the benefits of different types of photoelectric sensors and sensing modes.

Through Beam

Through beam sensors consist of an emitter and a receiver. The emitter produces a beam of light, while the receiver identifies whether that light is present or not. So, when an object breaks the beam, an output is triggered by the receiver. Some of the advantages of using the simple through beam technology is that, unlike some of the other photoelectric sensors, it doesn’t matter the color, texture or transparency of your target.

Retroreflective

What if you would like to have a through beam sensor, but don’t have enough room for two sensor heads in your application? Retroreflective sensors have an emitter and receiver within one housing and use a high-quality reflector to reflect the light beam back to the sensor head. This allows for easy connection of just one sensor head, but it doesn’t have the range of your typical through beam sensor. When using these types of sensors, you must factor in how small or reflective your target material is. If you are trying to sense a highly reflective material, then the light reflected back to the receiver could cause the sensor to think an object is present. If you are having these problems, but still want to use a retroreflective sensor, then you should consider versions with a polarizing lens. These lenses make the sensors insensitive to interference with shiny, reflective material.

Fork

Fork sensors include the transmitter and receiver in one housing, and they are already aligned. This saves time and energy during set up. Fork sensors are fantastic for small component and detail detection.

Diffuse

If you don’t have room for a sensor head on each side of your application or even a reflector, or you have had trouble with the alignment of a retroreflective sensor, a diffuse sensor may be a good choice. Diffuse sensors use technology to be able reflect light off the material and back to the sensor. This eliminates the need for a second device or reflector. This significantly reduces set up. You can simply place your target material in front of the sensor and teach it to that point. Once your object reaches that point, the light will be reflected back to the sensor, producing the output. While they are simpler to install, they also have a shorter range compared to through beam sensors and may be affected by your material’s color or the reflectivity or your background… Unless, you have a diffuse sensor with background suppression.

Background Suppression

Diffuse sensors have an emitter and receiver in one housing. In diffuse sensors with background suppression, the emitter and receiver are at a fixed angle so that they intersect at the position of your target material. This will help narrow the operating area (area in which your target material will be entering) and not let reflective material in the background have an influence in your detection.

Conclusion

Photoelectric sensors are simple to use when you need non-contact detection of a material’s presence, color, distance, size or shape, and with their various types, housing and sizes, you can find one that is ideal for your application.

Photoelectric Methods of Operation

Photoelectric sensors vary in their operating principles and can be used in a variety of ways, depending on the application. They can be used to detect whether an object is present, determine its position, measure level, and more. With so many types, it can be hard to narrow down the right sensor for your application while accounting for any environmental conditions. Below will give a brief overview of the different operating principles used in photoelectric sensors and where they can be best used.

Diffuse

Diffuse sensors are the most basic type of photoelectric sensor as they only require the sensor and the object being detected. The sensor has a built-in emitter and receiver, so as light is sent out from the emitter and reaches an object, the light will then bounce off the object and enter the receiver. This sends a discrete signal that an object is within the sensing range. Due to the reflectivity being target-dependent, diffuse sensors have the shortest range of the three main discrete operating principles. Background suppression sensors work under the same principle but can be taught to ignore objects in the background using triangulation to ensure any light beyond a certain angle does not trigger an output. While diffuse sensors can be affected by the color of the target object, the use of a background suppression sensor can limit the effect color has on reliability. Foreground suppression sensors work in the same manner as background suppression but will ignore anything in the foreground of the taught distance.

diffuse

Retro-reflective

Retro-reflective sensors also have the emitter and receiver in a single housing but require a reflector or reflective tape be mounted opposite the sensor for it to be triggered by the received light. As an object passes in front of the reflector, the sensor no longer receives the light back, thus triggering an output. Due to the nature of the reflector, these sensors can operate over much larger distances than a diffuse sensor. These sensors come with non-polarized or polarizing filters. The polarizing filter allows for the sensor to detect shiny objects and not see it as a reflector and prevents any stray ambient light from triggering the sensor.

retroreflective

Through-beam

Through-beam sensors have a separate body for the emitter and receiver and are placed opposite each other. The output is triggered once the beam has been broken. Due to the separate emitter and receiver, the sensor can operate at the longest range of the aforementioned types. At these long ranges and depending on the light type used, the emitter and receiver can be troublesome to set up compared to the diffuse and retro-reflective.

throughbeam

Distance

The previous three types of photoelectric sensors give discrete outputs stating whether an object is present or not. With photoelectric distance sensors, you can get a continuous readout on the position of the object being measured. There are two main ways the distance of the object is measured, time of flight, which calculates how long it takes the light to return to the receiver, and triangulation, which uses the angle of the incoming reflected light to determine distance. Triangulation is the more accurate option, but time of flight can be more cost-effective while still providing good accuracy.

Light type and environment

With each operating principle, there are three light types used in photoelectric sensors: red light, laser red light, and infrared. Depending on the environmental conditions and application, certain light types will fare better than others. Red light is the standard light type and can be used in most applications. Laser red light is used for more precise detection as it has a smaller light spot. Infrared is used in lower-visibility environments as it can pass through more dirt and dust than the other two types. Although infrared can work better in these dirtier environments, photoelectric sensors should mainly be used where build-up is less likely. Mounting should also be considered as these sensors are usually not as heavy duty as some proximity switches and break/fail more easily.

As you can see, photoelectric sensors have many different methods of operation and flexibility with light type to help in a wide range of applications. When considering using these sensors, it is important to account for the environmental conditions surrounding the sensor, as well as mounting restrictions/positioning, when choosing which is right for your application.

For more information on photoelectric sensors, visit this page for more information.

Polarized Retroreflective Sensors: A Solution for Detecting Highly Reflective Objects

The complexity of factory automation creates constant challenges which drive innovation in the industry. One of these challenges involves the ability to accurately detect the presence of shiny or highly reflective objects. This is a common challenge faced in a variety of applications, from sensing wheels in an automotive facility to detecting an aluminum can for filling purposes at a beverage plant. However, thanks to advancements in photoelectric sensing technologies, there is a reliable solution for those type of applications.

Why are highly reflective objects a challenge?

Light reflects from these types of objects in different directions, and with minimum energy loss. This can cause the receiver of a photoelectric sensor to be unable to differentiate between a signal received from the emitter or a signal received from a shiny object. In the case of a diffuse sensor, there is also the possibility that when trying to detect a shiny object, the light will reflect away from the receiver causing the sensor to ignore the target.

So how do we control the direction of the light going back to the receiver, and avoid false triggering from other light sources? The answer is in polarized retroreflective sensors.

Retroreflective sensors require a reflector which reflects the light back to the sensor allowing it to be captured by the receiver. This is achieved by incorporating sets of three mirrors oriented at right angles from each other (referred to as corner cubes). A light beam entering this system is reflected by all three surfaces and exits parallel to the incident beam. Additionally, corner cubes are said to be optically active as they rotate the plane of oscillation of the light by 90 degrees. This concept, along with polarization, allow this type of sensor to accurately detect shiny objects.

Polarization

Light emitted by a regular light source oscillates in planes on dispersal axes. If the light meets a polarizing filter (fine line grid), only the light oscillating parallel to the grid is let through (see figure 1 below).

In polarized retroreflective sensors, a horizontal polarized filter is placed in front of the emitter and a vertical one in front of the receiver. By doing this, the transmitted light oscillates horizontally until it hits the reflector. The corner cubes of the reflector would then rotate the polarization direction by 90 degrees and reflect the light back to the sensor. This way, the returning light can pass through the vertical polarized filter on the receiver as shown below.

With the use of polarization and corner cubed reflectors, retroreflective sensors can create a closed light circuit which ensures that light detected by the receiver was sourced exclusively by the emitter. This creates a great solution for applications where highly reflective targets are influencing the accuracy of sensors or causing them to malfunction. By ensuring proper operation of photoelectric sensors, unplanned downtime can be avoided, and overall process efficiency can be improved.

Measuring Distance: Should I Use Light or Sound?

Clear or transparent sensing targets can be a challenge but not an insurmountable one. Applications can detect or measure the amount of clear or transparent film on a roll or the level of a clear or transparent media, either liquid or solid. The question for these applications becomes, do I use light or sound as a solution?

An application that measures the diameter of a roll of clear labels.

In an application that requires the measurement of the diameter of a roll of clear labels, there are a number of factors that need to be considered. Are the labels and the backing clear? Will the label transparency and the background transparency change? Will the labels have printing on them? All of these possibilities will affect which sensor should be used. Users should also ask how accurate or how much resolution is required.

Faced with this application, using ultrasonic sensors may be a better choice because of their ability to see targets regardless of color, possible printing on the label, transparency and surface texture or sheen. Some or all of these variables could affect the performance of a photoelectric sensor.

Ultrasonic sensors emit a burst of short high frequency sound waves that propagate in a cone shape towards the target. When the sound waves strike the target, they are bounced back to the sensor. The sensor then calculates the distance based on the time span from when the sound was emitted until the sound was received.

In some instances, and depending on the resolution required, a time of flight sensor may solve the above application. Time of Flight (TOF) sensors emit a pulsed light toward the target object. The light is then reflected back to the receiver. The elapsed time it takes for the light to return to the receiver is measured, thus determining the distance to the target. In this case, the surface finish and transparency may not be an issue.

Imagine trying to detect a clear piece of plastic going over a roll. The photoelectric sensor could detect it either in a diffuse mode or with a retroreflective sensor designed for clear glass detection. But what if the plastic characteristics can change frequently or if the surface flutters. Again, the ultrasonic sensor may be a better choice and also may not require set up any time the material changes.

So what’s the best solution? In the end, test the application with the worst case scenario. A wide variety of sensors are available to solve these difficult applications, including photoelectric or ultrasonic. Both sensors have continuous analog and discrete outs. For more information visit www.balluff.com.

Smart IO-Link Sensors for Smart Factories

Digitizing the production world in the age of Industry 4.0 increases the need for information between the various levels of the automation pyramid from the sensor/actuator level up to the enterprise management level. Sensors are the eyes and ears of automation technology, without which there would be no data for such a cross-level flow of information. They are at the scene of the action in the system and provide valuable information as the basis for implementing modern production processes. This in turn allows smart maintenance or repair concepts to be realized, preventing production scrap and increasing system uptime.

This digitizing begins with the sensor itself. Digitizing requires intelligent sensors to enrich equipment models with real data and to gain clarity over equipment and production status. For this, the “eyes and ears” of automation provide additional information beyond their primary function. In addition to data for service life, load level and damage detection environmental information such as temperature, contamination or quality of the alignment with the target object is required.

One Sensor – Multiple Functions

This photoelectric sensor offers these benefits. Along with the switching signal, it also uses IO-Link to provide valuable information about the sensor status or the current ambient conditions. This versatile sensor uses red light and lets you choose from among four sensor modes: background suppression, energetic diffuse, retroreflective or through-beam sensor. These four sensing principles are the most common in use all over the world in photoelectric sensors and have proven themselves in countless industrial applications. In production this gives you additional flexibility, since the sensor principles can be changed at any time, even on-the-fly. Very different objects can always be reliably detected in changing operating conditions. Inventory is also simplified. Instead of four different devices, only one needs to be stocked. Sensor replacement is easy and uncomplicated, since the parameter sets can be updated and loaded via IO-Link at any time. Intelligent sensors are ideal for use with IO-Link and uses data retention to eliminate cumbersome manual setting. All the sensor functions can be configured over IO-Link, so that a remote teach-in can be initiated by the controller.

BOS21M_Infographic_EN_122217

Diagnostics – Smart and Effective

New diagnostics functions also represent a key feature of an intelligent sensor. The additional sensor data generated here lets you realize intelligent maintenance concepts to significantly improve system uptime. An operating hours counter is often built in as an important aid for predictive maintenance.

The light emission values are extremely helpful in many applications, for example, when the ambient conditions result in increased sensor contamination. These values are made available over IO-Link as raw data to be used for trend analyses. A good example of this is the production of automobile tires. If the transport line of freshly vulcanized tires suddenly stops due to a dirty sensor, the tires will bump into each other, resulting in expensive scrap as the still-soft tires are deformed. This also results in a production downtime until the transport line has been cleared, and in the worst case the promised delivery quantities will not be met. Smart sensors, which provide corresponding diagnostic possibilities, quickly pay for themselves in such cases. The light remission values let the plant operator know the degree of sensor contamination so he can initiate a cleaning measure before it comes to a costly production stop.

In the same way, the light remission value allows you to continuously monitor the quality of the sensor signal. Sooner or later equipment will be subject to vibration or other external influences which result in gradual mechanical misalignment. Over time, the signal quality is degraded as a result and with it the reliability and precision of the object detection. Until now there was no way to recognize this creeping degradation or to evaluate it. Sensors with a preset threshold do let you know when the received amount of light is insufficient, but they are not able to derive a trend from the raw data and perform a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the detection certainty.

When it comes to operating security, intelligent sensors offer even more. Photoelectric sensors have the possibility to directly monitor the output of the emitter LED. This allows critical operating conditions caused by aging of the LED to be recognized and responded to early. In a similar way, the sensors interior temperature and the supply voltage are monitored as well. Both parameters give you solid information about the load condition of the sensor and with it the failure risk.

Flexible and Clever

Increasing automation is resulting in more and more sensors and devices in plant systems. Along with this, the quantity of transported data that has to be managed by fieldbus nodes and controllers is rising as well. Here intelligent sensors offer great potential for relieving the host controller while at the same time reducing data traffic on the fieldbus. Pre-processing the detection signals right in the sensor represents a noticeable improvement. A freely configurable count function offers several counting and reset options for a wide variety of applications. The count pulses are evaluated directly in the sensor – without having to pass the pulses themselves on to the controller. Instead, the sensor provides status signals, e.g. when one of the previously configured limit values has been reached. This all happens directly in the sensor, and ensures fast-running processes regardless of the IO-Link data transmission speed.

Industry 4.0 Benefits

In the age of Industry 4.0 and IoT, the significance of intelligent sensors is increasing. There is a high demand from end users for these sensors since these functions enable them to use their equipment and machines with far greater flexibility than ever before. At the same time they are also the ones who have the greatest advantage when it comes to preventing downtimes and production scrap. Intelligent sensors make it possible to implement intelligent production systems, and the data which they provide enables intelligent control of these systems. In interaction with all intelligent components this enables more efficient utilization of all the machines in a plant and ensures better use of the existing resources. With the increasing spread of Industry 4.0 and IoT solutions, the demand for intelligent sensors as data providers will also continue to grow. In the future, intelligent sensors will be a permanent and necessary component of modern and self-regulating systems, and will therefore have a firm place in every sensor portfolio.

To learn more about these smart sensors, visit www.balluff.com.

The Perfect Photoelectric Sensor – Imagine No More

In my last blog, Imagine the Perfect Photoelectric Sensor, I discussed the possibilities of a single part number that could be configured for any of the basic sensing modes: through-beam, retroreflective, background suppression and diffuse. This perfect sensor would also have the ability to change the sensing mode on the fly and download the required parameters for a changing process or format change. Additionally, it would have the ability to teach the sensing switch points on the fly, change the hysteresis, and have variable counter and time delays.

Tomorrow is here today! There is no need to imagine any longer, technology has taken another giant leap forward in the photoelectric world. Imagine the possibilities!

Below are just some of the features of this leading edge technology sensor. OEM’s now have the opportunity to have one sensor solve multiple applications. End users can now reduce their spare inventory.

To learn more visit www.balluff.com.

Imagine the Perfect Photoelectric Sensor

Photoelectric sensors have been around for a long time and have made huge advancements in technology since the 1970’s. We have gone from incandescent bulbs to modulated LED’s in red light, infrared and laser outputs. Today we have multiple sensing modes like through-beam, diffuse, background suppression, retroreflective, luminescence, distance measuring and the list goes on and on. The outputs of the sensors have made leaps from relays to PNP, NPN, PNP/NPN, analog, push/pull, triac, to having timers and counters and now they can communicate on networks.

The ability of the sensor to communicate on a network such as IO-Link is now enabling sensors to be smarter and provide more and more information. The information provided can tell us the health of the sensor, for example, whether it needs re-alignment to provide us better diagnostics information to make troubleshooting faster thus reducing downtimes. In addition, we can now distribute I/O over longer distances and configure just the right amount of IO in the required space on the machine reducing installation time.

IO-Link networks enable quick error free replacement of sensors that have failed or have been damaged. If a sensor fails, the network has the ability to download the operating parameters to the sensor without the need of a programming device.

With all of these advancements in sensor technology why do we still have different sensors for each sensing mode? Why can’t we have one sensor with one part number that would be completely configurable?

BOS21M_Infographic_112917

Just think of the possibilities of a single part number that could be configured for any of the basic sensing modes of through-beam, retroreflective, background suppression and diffuse. To be able to go from 30 or more part numbers to one part would save OEM’s end users a tremendous amount of money in spares. To be able to change the sensing mode on the fly and download the required parameters for a changing process or format change. Even the ability to teach the sensing switch points on the fly, change the hysteresis, have variable counter and time delays. Just imagine the ability to get more advanced diagnostics like stress level (I would like that myself), lifetime, operating hours, LED power and so much more.

Obviously we could not have one sensor part number with all of the different light sources but to have a sensor with a light source that could be completely configurable would be phenomenal. Just think of the applications. Just think outside the box. Just imagine the possibilities. Let us know what your thoughts are.

To learn more about photoelectric sensors, visit www.balluff.com.

Photoelectric Output Operate Modes and Output Types

Photoelectric sensors are used in a wide variety of applications that you encounter every day. They are offered in numerous housing styles that provide long distance non-contact detection of many different types of objects or targets. Being used in such a variety of applications, there are several outputs offered to make integration to control systems easy and depending on the sensing mode when the output is activated in the presence of the target.

Diffuse Diffuse sensors depend on the amount of light reflected back to the receiver to actuate the output. Therefore, Light-on (normally open) operate refers to the switching of the output when the amount of light striking the receiver is sufficient, object is present. Likewise, Dark-on (normally closed) operate would refer to the target being absent or no light being reflected back to the receiver.

Retroreflective and through-beam sensors are similar in the fact they depend on the target interrupting the light beam being reflected back to the receiver. When an object interrupts the light beam, preventing the light from reaching the receiver, the output will energize which is referred to as Dark-on (normally open) operate switching mode or normally open. Light-on (normally closed) operate switching mode or normally closed output in a reflex sensor is true when the object is not blocking the light beam.

Outputs from photoelectric sensors are typically either digital or analog. Digital outputs are on or off and are usually three wire PNP (sourcing output) or NPN (sinking outputs). The exception to this is a relay output that provides a dry or isolated contact requiring voltage being applied to one pole.

Analog outputs provide a dynamic or continuous output that varies either a voltage (0-10 volt) or current (4-20mA) throughout the sensing range. Voltage outputs are easier to integrate into control systems and typically have more interface options. The downside to a voltage output is it should not be ran more than 50 feet. Current outputs can be ran very long lengths without worry of electrical noise. As additional advantage of the analog output is that it has built in diagnostics, at its minimum there will always be some current at the input unless the device completely fails or the wire is damaged.

Some specialty photoelectric sensors will provide a serial or network communication output for communications to higher level devices. Depending on the network, IO Link, for instance, additional diagnostics can be provided or even parameterization of the sensors.
Interested in learning more about photoelectrics basics? You can also request a copy of the new Photoelectric Handbook.

Photoelectric Basics – Light On or Dark On

Recently I was asked if light on and dark on for a photoelectric sensor was the same as normally open and normally closed. The short answer is yes, but I think it justifies more of an explanation. In the world of proximity sensors, capacitive sensors, and mechanical switches when the target is present the output changes state and turns on or turns off; there is no ambiguity.

With photoelectric sensors, instead of normally open or normally closed we refer to light-on operate or dark-on operate because we are referring to the presence or absence of light at the sensor’s receiver. The output of a light-on operate sensor is on (enabled, high, true) when there is sufficient light on the receiver of the sensor. Conversely, the output of a dark-on operate sensor is on when the light source is blocked or no light can reach the receiver.

There are three modes of operation with photoelectrics: diffuse, retro-reflective, and through-beam; and the sensing mode determines if the sensor is normally light-on or dark-on. Retro-reflective and through-beam sensors function as light-on operate sensors because under normal operating conditions there is a reflector or a light emitter providing a light beam back to the sensor receiver. If no object is blocking the light beam to receiver the output is on, normally closed. If the target or object is in between the reflector or emitter then the light beam can no longer reach the receiver causing the output to turn off.

Since the diffuse mode of operation requires the target or object to reflect the light source back to the receiver, it functions as a dark-on operate, normally open. If no object or target is placed in front of the sensor, no light will be reflected back to the receiver. When the object is present, the output changes state from normally open to closed.

The chart below should help to summarize the above:

Tag: retroreflective

Shedding Light on Different Types of Photoelectric Sensors

Like this:

Which Photoelectric Sensor Should I Be Using?

Like this:

Photoelectric Methods of Operation

Like this:

Polarized Retroreflective Sensors: A Solution for Detecting Highly Reflective Objects

Like this:

Measuring Distance: Should I Use Light or Sound?

Like this: