Sharp IR Sensor

Introduction

Whether you’re making an obstacle avoidance robot or a bean counter, Sharp IR sensor will prove the best to get the job done. Unlike sonar sensors, Sharp IR sensors have a much narrower sensing beam, which allows them to accurately measure distance in a small area.

Theory of Operation

    The sensor uses an IR emitter and an IR receiver placed at a curtain distance from the emitter. The IR emitter emits a sharp beam. When the beam hits an object it is reflected back to the IR receiver, and by knowing the fixed distance between the emitter and receiver (and some trigonometric calculations) the distance can be calculated.

Technical Details

Maximum range:    80 cm
Minimum range:    10 cm
Sampling rate:    26 Hz1

Minimum operating voltage:    4.5 V
Maximum operating voltage:    5.5 V
Supply current:    30 mA2

Output type:    analog voltage
Output voltage differential:    1.9 V
 
    

Connections

Code

#include <SharpIR.h>

// define a sensor as follows:
// SharpIR sensorNameHere(model,pin);
SharpIR myCoolSensor(GP2Y0A21YK0F, A0);

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600); //Enable the serial comunication
}

void loop()
{
  // to read the sensor:
  // variableName = sensorNameHere.getDistance();
  int distance = myCoolSensor.getDistance();
  
  Serial.println(distance); //Print the value to the serial monitor
}