Reflective Color Sensor Assembly
Description
ROSEMONT, IL. (June 6, 2006) – Providing design engineers a reflective sensor with the capability to reliably sort or match surfaces by color, TT electronics OPTEK Technology has developed its OPB780 reflective color sensing assembly for introduction at the Sensors Expo & Conference.
According to Roland Chapa, OPTEK Technology’s Assemblies Business Unit director, the reflective color sensor assembly is ideal for use in photometric applications. “The assembly is able to provide high resolution digital measurement of the red, green, and blue components of the light reflected from surface being sensed,” explained Chapa. “The small footprint of the sensor also makes the device ideal for space-confined areas.”
Applications where the color sensor is being implemented include pill sorting machinery in pharmaceutical applications, ink and/or paper color detection for office machines, color printer calibration sensors, as well as color-match sensing in paint, textile and cosmetic manufacturing.
The assembly’s white LED illuminates the surface of the object or liquid being sensed, with the reflected light then received by an 8 X 8 photodiode array. The array consists of 4 selectable groups of red-, green-, blue- and clear-filtered photodiodes, with each group of 16 photodiodes integrating the reflected filtered light to minimize any non-uniformity. A light-to-frequency converter in the CMOS monolithic sensor enables the assembly to communicate directly with a micro-controller, producing a square wave output with a frequency directly proportional to light intensity.
Operating from a 5V power supply, the OPB780 Series color sensor has a typical nonlinearity error of 0.2% at 50kHZ. The LED in the color sensor assembly has a typical luminous intensity of 1100mcd and a typical forward voltage of 3.6V. Maximum forward current is 30mA, with a pulse forward current of 100mA. The maximum reverse voltage is 5V with a power dissipation of 120mW.
The reflective color sensor assembly is housed in a plastic design capable of being mounted to a printed circuit board or flush mounted to a surface using clips. From the assembly the interface to the application is designed for a zip compatible cable, which can be provided as a customer specific design. The total assembly is 1.08” by 0.843” by 0.355” tall, allowing it to be incorporated easily to most any application. For this assembly the maximum operating temperature range is -30°C to +85°C.
Typical pricing for the OPB780 Color Sensor is $11.04 in quantities of 10K pieces. Lead time, if stock is not available, is from 8 to 10 weeks.
OPTEK Technology is a leading manufacturer of standard and application-specific sensors using infrared, visible, magnetic and fiber optic technologies focused on applications in office machines, industrial equipment, encoders, automotive electronics, military and high-reliability applications, and medical diagnostic equipment. Headquartered in Carrollton, TX, the company is ISO/TS16949:2002 and BS EN ISO 9001:2000 certified, as well as ITAR registered. OPTEK Technology was acquired by TT electronics in December 2003.
TT electronics plc is a global electronics company manufacturing a broad range of advanced electronic components, assemblies and sensor modules for the automotive, industrial, telecommunication, computer and aerospace markets.
According to Roland Chapa, OPTEK Technology’s Assemblies Business Unit director, the reflective color sensor assembly is ideal for use in photometric applications. “The assembly is able to provide high resolution digital measurement of the red, green, and blue components of the light reflected from surface being sensed,” explained Chapa. “The small footprint of the sensor also makes the device ideal for space-confined areas.”
Applications where the color sensor is being implemented include pill sorting machinery in pharmaceutical applications, ink and/or paper color detection for office machines, color printer calibration sensors, as well as color-match sensing in paint, textile and cosmetic manufacturing.
The assembly’s white LED illuminates the surface of the object or liquid being sensed, with the reflected light then received by an 8 X 8 photodiode array. The array consists of 4 selectable groups of red-, green-, blue- and clear-filtered photodiodes, with each group of 16 photodiodes integrating the reflected filtered light to minimize any non-uniformity. A light-to-frequency converter in the CMOS monolithic sensor enables the assembly to communicate directly with a micro-controller, producing a square wave output with a frequency directly proportional to light intensity.
Operating from a 5V power supply, the OPB780 Series color sensor has a typical nonlinearity error of 0.2% at 50kHZ. The LED in the color sensor assembly has a typical luminous intensity of 1100mcd and a typical forward voltage of 3.6V. Maximum forward current is 30mA, with a pulse forward current of 100mA. The maximum reverse voltage is 5V with a power dissipation of 120mW.
The reflective color sensor assembly is housed in a plastic design capable of being mounted to a printed circuit board or flush mounted to a surface using clips. From the assembly the interface to the application is designed for a zip compatible cable, which can be provided as a customer specific design. The total assembly is 1.08” by 0.843” by 0.355” tall, allowing it to be incorporated easily to most any application. For this assembly the maximum operating temperature range is -30°C to +85°C.
Typical pricing for the OPB780 Color Sensor is $11.04 in quantities of 10K pieces. Lead time, if stock is not available, is from 8 to 10 weeks.
OPTEK Technology is a leading manufacturer of standard and application-specific sensors using infrared, visible, magnetic and fiber optic technologies focused on applications in office machines, industrial equipment, encoders, automotive electronics, military and high-reliability applications, and medical diagnostic equipment. Headquartered in Carrollton, TX, the company is ISO/TS16949:2002 and BS EN ISO 9001:2000 certified, as well as ITAR registered. OPTEK Technology was acquired by TT electronics in December 2003.
TT electronics plc is a global electronics company manufacturing a broad range of advanced electronic components, assemblies and sensor modules for the automotive, industrial, telecommunication, computer and aerospace markets.