Photointerrupter

A photo interrupter sensor is composed of an infrared emitter on one upright and a shielded infrared detector on the other. By emitting a beam of infrared light from one upright to the other, the sensor can detect when an object passes between the uprights, breaking the beam. Used for many applications including optical limit switches, pellet dispensing, general object detection, etc.(Sparkfun.com)

I recently went through my box of junk and found a handful of photo interrupters and wanted to finally use these in a project. Problem one, no datasheet, two no idea of a pinout, three do they even work.

Sharp to Introduce the Industry's Smallest Photointerrupter

2010/09/24

- Will Contribute to Space-Saving Designs and Higher Performance in Electronic Equipment -

September 24, 2010 -- Sharp Corporation has developed and will introduce the industry's smallest(*1) photointerrupter(*2), the GP1S396HCPSF, measuring just 2.26 x 1.4 x 1.6 H mm.

Subminiature photointerrupters are used to control the optical zoom of digital cameras, and to track the position of the lens for controlling the optical pick-up unit in Blu-ray Disc recorders, and manufacturers are demanding smaller sizes and improved detection performance in these devices.

The GP1S396HCPSF features the industry's smallest package size thanks to thin-wall molding technology developed over long years of experience in the electronic device field, and will contribute to making electronic equipment slimmer and more compact based on space-saving designs. In addition, the detection area has been reduced by achieving a slit width(*3) of 0.12 mm, the industry's narrowest (approximately 40% smaller than the predecessor model[*4]), thereby improving detection accuracy. Also, enlarging the gap between the emitter and receiver, which represents a trade-off with making the device more compact, to 1.2 mm (predecessor model[*4]: 1.0 mm) provides greater flexibility in terms of the target objects that can pass between the emitter and receiver.

[Major Features]

1. Industry's smallest package size (2.26 x 1.4 x 1.6 H mm).

2. Industry's narrowest slit width of 0.12 mm provides high detection accuracy (approx. 40% smaller than predecessor model).

3. Gap between emitter and receiver is enlarged to 1.2 mm (predecessor model: 1.0 mm), providing greater flexibility in terms of the target objects that can be detected.

(*1) For subminiature photointerrupters, as of September 24, 2010. Based on Sharp research.

(*2) An optical sensor that integrates an infrared light emitter and receiver in a single unit. The receiver detects the fact that a target object has blocked light from the emitter.

(*3) Width of the long, narrow opening for light made in the receiver to improve accuracy in detecting the presence of an object.

(*4) Sharp's predecessor model: GP1S296HCPSF.

For more information, please visit http://sharp-world.com/corporate/news/100924.html

(press release)