An infrared (IR) sensor is an electronic device that measures and detects infrared radiation in its surrounding environment. Anything that emits heat (everything that has a temperature above around five degrees Kelvin) gives off infrared radiation.
An IR sensor can measure the heat of an object as well as detects the motion. Usually, in the infrared spectrum, all the objects radiate some form of thermal radiation. These types of radiations are invisible to our eyes, but infrared sensor can detect these radiations.
An overview of the TCRT5000 sensor
The TCRT5000 is a reflective sensor that includes an infrared emitter and phototransistor in a leaded package that blocks visible light.
One of the features of this sensor is the presence of a daylight blocking filter. This sensor can be used as a position sensor for shaft encoder, detection of reflective materials such as paper, IBM cards, magnetic tapes, limit switch for mechanical motions in VCR, in line recognition robots, etc.
Specification
Application
- Output Type: Analog-Voltage/Digital-Logic
- Distance range: Up to 15mm
For more specifications, please refer to datasheet
• Position sensor for shaft encoder
• Detection of reflective material such as paper, IBM cards, magnetic tapes etc.
• Limit switch for mechanical motions in VCR
• General purpose – wherever the space is limited
Key Features
- Analog Voltage OUTPUT
- Digital Voltage OUTPUT
- Data Pin access with IDC connector
- LED indicator for IR diagnosing
- On Board, ON/OFF LED indicator
- Pin Compatible with GEBRABUS
- It can be used as a daughter board of GebraBit MCU Modules
- Featuring Castellated pad (Assembled as SMD Part)
- Separatable screw parts to reduce the size of the board
- Package: GebraBit small (36.29mm x 32.72mm)
GebraBit TCRT5000-5 module
GebraBit TCRT5000-5 is a reflective Optical, 5-channel module which can be used for robotic projects such as line followers.
GebraBit TCRT5000-5 module operates just with an input “5V” supply voltage and features 5 TCRT5000 sensors and each sensor has a LED indicator next to it.
For easy accessibility, GebraBit TCRT5000-5 gives access to the “5V“, “GND“, and “DO1” to “DO5” pins by an IDC-2×4 connector to extend them on other boards.
To start this module, it’s enough to apply the proper voltage to the corresponding pins and Set-up the GebraBit TCRT5000-5 module with any of Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Discovery board, and read the changes of the “DO1” to “DO5” outputs.
Introduction of module sections
TCRT5000 sensor
TCRT5000 sensors are the IR sensors of this module and are placed in the top of the module.
74HC14D inverter
It is the main IC of this module and provides “DO1” to “DO5” outputs on the module.
Sensor LED
When the TCRT5000 sensors sense infrared, their LED status will change.
Signal Port
For easy accessibility, GebraBit TCRT5000-5 gives access to the “5V“, “GND“, and “DO1” to “DO5” pins by an IDC-2×4 connector to extend them on other boards. By connecting a proper IDC cable to this connector, you can easily access the mentioned pins and communicate with the module.
You can see how the pins are arranged in the below picture.
Power LED
By applying “5V” voltage to the module through the corresponding pin, this LED will be lit.
GebraBit TCRT5000-5 Module pins
Supply pins
- 5V: As we mentioned, this module only works with 5 volts and this pin is in charge of supplying the main power supply to the sensors.
- GND: This is the common ground pin for power of the sensor.
Output pins
AO1 to AO5: These pins are the module analog output pins and the module analog data is available through these pins. The output of these 5 pins changes according to the infrared reception quality.
DO1 to DO5: These pins are the digital output pins of the module and provide the digital output of this module to the user in the form of logical 0 and 1 in case of receiving and not receiving infrared.
Connect to the processor
connect to GebraBit ATMEGA32A and STM32F303
Place the GebraBit TCRT5000-5 module on a flat surface and connect the “5V” and “GND” pins of the GebraBit TCRT5000-5 module to the “5V” and “GND” pins of the GebraBit STM32F303 or GebraBit ATMEGA32A. Then connect “DO”1 to “DO5” pins of GebraBit TCRT5000-5 module to pins of GebraBit STM32F303 or GebraBit ATMEGA32A. Now after applying voltage to the “5V” pin of GebraBit STM32F303 or GebraBit ATMEGA32A, you can read the changes of “DO1” to “DO5” outputs in case of receiving and not receiving infrared through the corresponding pins of GebraBit microcontroller modules.
You can set-up the GebraBit TCRT5000-5 to the GebraBit ATMEGA32A module in the same way.
Note: The GebraBit TCRT5000-5 module cannot be installed on the board due to the presence of sensors on the back of the module.
connect to ARDUINO UNO
follow the below steps to connect the GebraBit TCRT5000-5 module to the ARDUINO UNO:
- Connect the “5V” pin of TCRT5000-5 module to the “5V” output pin of the ARDUINO UNO board. (red wire)
- Connect the “GND” pin of the TCRT5000-5 module to the “GND” pin of the ARDUINO UNO board (black wire).
- Connect the “AO1” to “AO5” pins of the TCRT5000-5 module to the ARDUINO UNO “analog” pins (e.g.A1 to A5). (yellow,blue,green,gray and white wires)
- Connect the “DO1” to “DO5” pins of the TCRT5000-5 module to the ARDUINO UNO “digital” pins (e.g.D8 to D12). (orange, brown,ochre,pink and purple wires)
You can see how to connect the above mentioned steps, in the below picture: