A photoelectric sensor is a type of electronic device that detects the presence or absence of an object, or its distance from the sensor, by using light. These sensors work by emitting a beam of light—usually infrared—and detecting the light that is reflected back or interrupted by an object.
There are three main types of photoelectric sensors:
1. **Through-beam sensors**: These consist of a separate transmitter and receiver. When an object interrupts the beam, the sensor detects it.
2. **Retro-reflective sensors**: These have the transmitter and receiver in one unit, using a reflector to bounce the light beam back. An object is detected when it interrupts the reflected beam.
3. **Diffuse sensors**: These also have the transmitter and receiver in one unit but rely on light bouncing off the object itself. The sensor detects changes in the reflected light.
Photoelectric sensors are widely used in various applications, including automation, safety systems, and material handling, due to their reliability and precision.