Used in everything from air conditioning & amusement games to factory automation and medical equipment, opto sensors consists of a light emitting element which transforms an electrical signal to an optical signal, and a light receiving element which transforms the optical signal to an electrical signal. Both of these elements are housed in one package, making the opto sensor essentially a non- contact switch. Opto sensors detect presence, length, number, etc., of objects, using visible or infrared light which is blocked or reflected by the object.

Interrupter type opto sensors
This is the most popular type of opto sensor. Emitting and receiving elements are housed in one package and face each other. They sense presence of objects in the sensing slot, without physical contact. A selection of aperture widths is available to achieve the required sensing resolution and a range of sensing slot widths is available for the required interrupter size. To meet as many applications as possible, Aleph provides many additional features, such as: dustproof and waterproof package, pin and insulated wire terminations, phototransistor, photo Darlington and logic IC outputs, snap action and screw mounting options, etc.

Reflective type opto sensors.
Emitting and receiving elements are mounted on the same surface at a fixed angle to each other. They detect presence or position of an object through light reflection. Use of high contrast materials (e.g. white and black) is recommended to achieve high sensing resolution. For use with numerous applications, Aleph offers these sensors with different sensing distances, package styles, sizes, mounting types, output configurations, etc.

Actuator type opto sensors.
This sensor is a combination of the interrupter opto sensor with a mechanical actuator, which physically blocks the light path between emitting and receiving elements. Normally the actuator blocks the beam path and opens it only when it is mechanically actuated by the sensed object. Most actuators travel in only one direction , but Aleph has designed a one that senses movement in three directions. For use with numerous applications, we have also provided different package and actuator styles and sizes, mounting types, output configurations, etc.

To learn more about the features & benefits of each type of opto sensor and explore which type is best for your application click on the product details web link on the right. You will also see detailed info on mounting, electrical input and mechanical considerations.

ALEPH opto sensors have earned a fine reputation in this demanding field. Due to our years of experience in advanced sensor technology and our strict quality control process, ALEPH interrupter, reflective and actuator type opto sensors offer many advantages such as quick response, ease of use, compact size and low cost. These are a few of the reasons why ALEPH sensors play a major role in automation and miniaturization today.

We welcome your inquiries, e mail us with your challenges and requirements

The probe is supplied complete with a 2 meter long connecting input/output cable, allowing the unit to be used immediately upon receipt.

Applications:

• Gamma-ray Spectroscopy
• Health Physics
• Medical Diagnostics
• Site Monitoring
• X-ray Fluorescence
• Position Sensing
• X-ray Diffraction
• Dosimeters
• Industrial Gauging
• Astronomy

Advantages:

• Small Size
• Excellent Energy Resolution
• High Charge Collection Efficiency
• High Photo Peak Efficiency
• Low tailing and high peak-to-valley ratios
• Room-temperature operation
• High Speed Detection
• Robust
• Non Hygroscopic

Specifications

CdZnTe Detector Dimensions
5x5x5mm» with CAPture® contacts

Measurement Capabilities
Energy Range: 10 to 670keV
Energy Resolution: < 4% FWHM @ 122 KeV @ 25º C
(contact eV for exact value depending on the application specifics)

Operating Temperature
Range: - 30º to 50º C Standard

SPEAR Dimensions
12mm diameter x 89mm length

Housing Finish
Anodized Gold comes standard. (A wide range
available. Contact eV for information)

SPEAR Detector Input Requirements
9 PIN Sub D connector: +12VDC, ground
SHV connector: HV bias (typically +500 to +1000VDC)

Signal Output
BNC connector
As assembled, all Input/Output connectors will interface directly
with any standard spectroscopy or counting system.

SPEAR Performance
+ 7 to 12 VDC Operation
Input Capacitance: 6.6pF
Risetime @ C source: 1pF- 35nS
Falltime @ C source: 1 pF - 725uS
Noise @ C source: 0pF - ~160 e¯ (Si)
Sensitivity: 3.2 mV/fCoul
Power dissipation : 130 mW
(+ 12 VDC supply)

Principle

ED4000 Speed Monitor is a totally new rotational speed monitoring equipment; it uses the principle of photo detector and microprocessor to accurately calculate a wide range of rotational speed. Even if the rotational speed is as low as 1rpm, it can still accurately detect and monitor the system.
There is a contact relay that could be used either for alarm or control purposes during the monitoring process. The alarm set point could be directly set by numerical knobs which is more convenient and more accurate than conventional means. It comes equipped with analog signal output which could be utilized for various display indications and more precise control. Other features include anti-reversal action, which could prevent the wrong power supply connection after maintenance of the motor. It is ideal for applications in monitoring low speed, stop and overload situations.

Features

• Maximum monitoring range 1~999rpm.
• Alarm monitoring: low speed, stop, reverse, blackout and overload.
• Start up delay function allow motor to run up gradually.
• Alarm delay function can avoid fault alarm which many caused by temporary slow down or load changed.
• Selectable rotate direction for both CCW and CW makes installation more versatile.
• Light pulses are not affected by environmental conditions.
• Complementary to our PB/PM series digital display-panel meter to indicate speed.

TAOS combined a broadband photodiode (350 nm to 1100 nm) with a visible light blocking photodiode to create the TSL2561 Light-to-Digital Converter. This device can be used to approximate a human eye response. With integrated analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, data is output via a serial interface using I2C standard protocol.

For more information please use the links to the right

Features

• Approximates Human eye Response
• Precisely Measures Illuminance in Diverse Lighting Conditions
• Programmable Interrupt Function with User Defined Upper and Lower Threshold Settings
• 16-Bit Digital Output with SMSBus
• Programmable Analog Gain and Integration Time
• Supporting 1,000,000-to-1 Dynamic Range
• Available in Ultra-Small 1.25mm x 1.75mm Chipscale Package

Description

The TSL2561 is a light-to-digital converter that transform light intensity to a digital signal output capable of direct SMBus interface. The device combines one broadband photodiode (visible plus infrared) and one infrared-responding photodiode on a single CMOS integrated circuit capable of providing a near-photopic response over an effective 20-bit dynamic range (16-bit resolution). Two integrating ADCs convert the photodiode currents to a digital output that represents the irradiance measured on each channel. This digital output can be input to a microprocessor where illuminance (ambient light level) in lux is derived using an empirical formula to approximate the human eye response. The TSL2560 device permits an SMB-Alert style interrupt that remains asserted until the firmware clears it.

Use the links below to view all of the TAOS light-sensing products as well as their data sheets:

· The TAOS family of intelligent opto sensors includes:

o Light-to-Voltage Sensors
Low-cost, photodiode with integrated transimpedance amplifier delivering linear analog voltage output

o Light-to-Frequency Sensors
Large input dynamic range measuring light intensity with pulse train or square wave digital output

o Linear Sensor Arrays
Spatial relationship optical sensor for imaging, encoding or edge detection with high linearity and uniformity

o Light to Digital Sensors
Digital light level measurement in units of lux approximating the human eye response

o Color Sensors
RGB filtered sensors for color discrimination, determination, and measurement.

About Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions (TAOS), Inc. : Shaping the Future of Light Sensing Solutions

Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions, Incorporated (TAOS) is based in Plano, Texas (a suburb of Dallas). Established in 1998, the company mission is "To Redefine Optoelectronic Solutions to Provide Cost and Performance Advantages by Creating and Managing Technology."

Historically, applications that require the sensing of light stimulus to execute a function have been implemented by either a photodiode or phototransistor – neither of which support the emerging needs for higher performance optical sensor-based applications.

Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, our semiconductor devices combine precision mixed-signal functionality with photo-detectors on the same integrated circuit to produce products with performance and cost advantages over conventional solutions. TAOS's intelligent opto sensors simplify the measurement and analog-to-digital conversion of light, and are designed to reduce the need for signal conditioning or pre-processing circuitry in light-centric systems. Our light sensing solutions improve system performance and reduce design-cycle time giving designers the flexibility and performance they require at an attractive system cost.

The StellarNet DUAL-DSR spectrometers are fiber optically coupled instruments that cover a "Super Range" from 0.2-2.3um for spectroscopy measurements on a PC via USB-2 interface. The spectrograph optics have no moving parts providing shock-proof durability for a truly portable environment with battery power optional.

Each system has a 2048 element detector array for UV-VIS and also a TE cooled 512 or 1024 element InGaAs Photo Diode Array for NIR. The SpectraWiz software produces a single spectral graph allowing user adjustment of spectral overlap. Several configurations provide options for desired range and resolution with each detector in a separate ruggedized modular enclosure.

Optional fiber optic accessories are available for simultaneous color and composition analysis of solids. The RFX1 reflectance fixture has integrated halogen light source and allows placement of samples on top in Petri dish or glass plate. For chemical analysis of liquids the SL1-CUV halogen light source has integrated 1cm cuvette holder.

Also available are dip probes with replaceable tips of various path lengths (eg: 0.5cm, 1cm, 2cm, etc.) Longer path lengths allow for lower concentrations measurement. For optical spectroscopy measurements the TXF3 transmission fixture allows adjustment for sample placement between 2 collimating lens attached via fiber optic cables to the NIR spectrometer and SL1 halogen light source.

The SpectraWiz® software suite is included free-of-charge to immediately enable a variety of spectroscopy measurements. This includes "customizable" programs for LabVIEW and direct operation from MS Excel via Visual Basic Automation.

StellarNet builds ruggedized miniature fiber optic spectrometers for a complete spectrum of Lab and Field measurements. Using our fiber optic sampling accessories and SpectraWiz® software you can have accurate and reliable instrumentation for a variety of applications at a surprisingly low cost.

StellarNet EPP2000 Spectrometers are portable fiber optic instruments for UV, VIS, and NIR measurements in 190-2200nm ranges. These units represent a step up in low cost instrument design. 2048 wavelengths, CCD/PDA detectors, no moving parts, no detector sockets, integrated A2D digitizer. Numerous models offer standard or high resolution (HR) optics for selected spectral operating ranges.

EPP2000-NIR-InGaAs Spectrometers for 0.9-1.7um & Extended Ranges

• TE cooled 512 Element InGaAs Photo Diode Array with 25x500um Pixels
• Zero Defect 512 pixel Detector with Optional 1024 Element Detector
• Resolution <4nm with 25um slit, - Gain switch (x10) for Charge Well
• Integrated 2.5 MHz 14 bit digitizer provides 1ms spectral data scans
• Miniature package in Rugged Metal Enclosure 2.7 x 4.3 x 6 inch
• Includes High Speed Interfaces for USB-2 and Notebook PCMCIA cards
• Extended range 1.7-2.2um (1024X) and High Resolution models available

Multi-Channel Spectrometer Systems - SSBox4 and SSRack8

• Turnkey 4 and 8 Channel Spectro Systems with 100 Mbit Net Interface
• Spectrometers Integrate in Parallel for Synoptic Multi-Beam Operation
• Parallel Processing Drivers for OEM applications and LabView software
• Interchangeable UV/VIS/NIR spectrographs – same as EPP2000 models
• Optical Configurations can be Similar or for High Resolution Extensions
• Reliable for Industrial Monitoring in Chemical or Remote Sensing Apps

Computer Interface Options for EPP2000 Spectrometers

• USB2EPP Cable Transports Spectra 40x faster than USB1 on new USB2
• EPP-PCMCIA Plug & Play PC card for Portable Notebook Computers
• EPP-PCI Plug & Play PCI card for Desktops is 3x faster than PCMCIA
• EPP Parallel ports are 4x faster than USB1. Speed is essential to provide the highest signal to noise by sample averaging the spectral data. Your S2N improves by the square root of the number of samples averaged ! Powerful SpectraWiz® Software Included Free of Charge
• Spectral processing for real-time Spectroscopy: AU,%T,%R,watts,lumens…
• Measurement Apps for Chemistry concentratons, SpectroRadiometry, SpectroColorimetry, UVabc Lamp Monitors & Optical Spectrum Analysis
• Data export to MS Excel, or Galactic Grams/32, by range and increment
• Episodic data capture provides 3d graphing and time series analysis
• Free customizable programs for LabView, VBA+Excel, Delphi, VB, and VC