O6 Photoelectric Sensors for Industrial Automation

Available as through-beam, retro-reflective or diffuse reflection types, the photoelectric sensors in O6 design offer an outstanding optical performance at a competitive price.

The clearly defined consistent light spot ensures precise object detection. There is no scattered light which could interfere with other photoelectric sensors in close vicinity.

Diffuse reflection sensors provide interference immune background suppression even in case of highly reflective backgrounds such as moving machine parts.

Units with visible red light facilitate installation and set-up.
Where people are to be detected, e.g. in access control or escalator applications, visible light is often not wanted. This is a perfect field of application for sensor versions with non-visible infrared light.

The range can be set intuitively via potentiometer. Light-on / dark-on mode is selected via rotary switch.

  • Diffuse reflection sensor with precise background suppression
  • Intuitive, user-friendly handling
  • Through beam and polarized retroreflective versions also available
  • Versions with M8 connector, M12 pigtail or PUR connection cable

Description

Technology overview

The O6 industrial line of photoelectric sensors comes in through beam, polarized retroreflective, diffuse and diffuse with background suppression technologies.

Through beam sensors

Also known as through beam / thru-beam pairs. The transmitter and receiver are packaged in separate housings and are mounted opposite each other. Light is sent from the transmitter lens and is picked up by the receiver lens.

The output changes state when a target interrupts the beam and starves the receiver of light. As long as the target is large and solid enough to break the effective beam, the color, shape, angle, reflectivity and surface finish will not affect the application. This makes them more reliable than diffuse sensors, which depend on light reflecting off the target.

Polarized retroreflective sensors

The transmitter and receiver are packaged in the same housing and mounted opposite a reflector. Light is sent from the transmitter lens, bounces off the reflector and returns to the receiver lens.

As with thru-beam sensors, the output changes state when a target interrupts the beam and starves the receiver of light. As long as the target is large and solid enough to break the effective beam, the color, shape, angle, reflectivity and surface finish will not affect the application. This makes them more reliable than diffuse sensors, which depend on light reflecting off the target.

Diffuse sensors

The transmitter and receiver in a diffuse sensor is located in the same housing. The transmitted light reflects back to the sensor from the target and the receiver evaluates it. It is important to carefully consider the characteristics of the target and the background behind the target when selecting the correct solution for an application. Diffuse sensors have much less excess gain than thru-beam pairs, but typically more than polarized retroreflective types.

The sensitivity of diffuse sensors is very high. Only 2% of the transmitted light energy reflected off the target will cause the output to switch.

Triangulation principle

This technology uses two receiving elements to obtain background suppression. Using a potentiometer for adjustment, a mirror is mechanically positioned to determine the point where one receiver detects the target and the other detects the background. The sensor is then adjusted halfway between these two points. The sensor evaluates the angle of the received light to determine if the light comes from the target or the background.