Industrial IoT using E18-D80NK Modulated Infrared IR proximity sensor as Item counter with
Node MCU for automated cloud system with Blynk App and Thingspeak App

Types of Infrared Proximity Sensors

There are two primary types of infrared proximity sensors: reflective and modulated.

Reflective Infrared Proximity Sensor

Reflective infrared proximity sensors consist of an infrared emitter and detector placed side-by-side or within a single package. The sensor emits infrared light, which reflects off an object and is detected by the photodiode or phototransistor. The strength of the reflected light depends on the object’s distance and surface properties. These sensors are generally more susceptible to interference from ambient light and require a stable background for accurate distance measurement.

Modulated Infrared Proximity Sensor

Modulated infrared proximity sensors use a more sophisticated approach to reduce the impact of ambient light interference. The infrared emitter sends out a modulated infrared signal, usually at a specific frequency. The detector then measures the reflected signal and demodulates it to extract the original signal’s strength. By comparing the emitted and received signals, the sensor can accurately determine the distance to the object. This technique makes modulated infrared sensors more reliable and less affected by environmental factors.

Applications of Infrared Proximity Sensors

Infrared proximity sensors are versatile and find application in various industries and use-cases. Some common applications include:

Robotics: Infrared proximity sensors are used in robotic systems for obstacle detection, collision avoidance, and object recognition. They help robots navigate complex environments and interact with objects safely.

Automation: In industrial automation, these sensors are used for object counting, conveyor belt control, and product positioning. They ensure accurate and efficient operation of automated systems.

Security: Infrared sensors can detect the presence of intruders or unauthorized access in security systems. They are commonly used in access control, surveillance, and alarm systems

Mobile Devices: Smartphones and other mobile devices often use infrared proximity sensors to detect the user’s proximity to the screen, adjusting display brightness and disabling touch input during calls

Advantages of Infrared Proximity Sensors

There are several benefits associated with the use of infrared proximity se nsors, including:

Non-contact sensing: Infrared sensors can detect objects without physical contact, reducing the risk of damage to both the sensor and the target object.

Wide detection range: Infrared sensors can detect objects at various distances, depending on the sensor’s specifications and design. This makes them suitable for a range of applications.

Resistance to environmental factors: Modulated infrared sensors, in particular, are less susceptible to interference from ambient light, dust, and moisture, providing reliable performance in various conditions.

Fast response time: Infrared sensors typically offer rapid response times, making them ideal for real-time applications and dynamic environments.

Compact size: Infrared proximity sensors are often compact, allowing for easy integration into devices and systems with space constraints.

E18-D80NK is a variable range non-contact detection sensor. It comes with a transmitter and receiver in a single module setup. The transmitter emits a modulated IR signal which is reflected by the object in its field of view or the path and the reflected signal is then collected by the receiver, providing a digital output to the microcontroller Arduino. Inside the IR sensor there is an IR diode which transmits IR rays which will be reflected by the object and reflected wave will be received by Photo transistor which triggers electronic circuit such Schmitt trigger which gives a pure square wave recognisable by Arduino.
The IR sensor has 3 terminals of which 5 volts (Brown) and GND (Blue) are connected to 5 volts DC and GND or ground terminal of an external supply. The signal out which is a digital pulse is connected to Pin GPIO2 of Node MCU. The MCU is programmed to count the number of pulses which is nothing but the number of objects passing on the conveyor belt.
The primary role of Modulated Infrared IR proximity sensor as Item counter is to provide accurate and real-time item counting in the production set up. The items to be counted will be moving on the conveyor belt and sensor is fitted facing the item. As the item moves on the belt the pulse generated by sensor is read by microcontroller and counting goes up. This data is crucial for keeping track of the production and how the daily targets could be met. Hence on periodic basis this data is uploaded to the cloud and made available to the users on mobile using different Apps.
Apart from total count as of now, hourly production, hour on hour production increase/ decrease also shall be uploaded as computed by microcontroller. With this production manager will have a trend of the production. In case the hour-on-hour production numbers is more than or less than the hourly target push notification will be sent to the cloud which will be transmitted to all the concerned.
For connecting Modulated Infrared IR proximity sensor as Item counter to the cloud, we need to connect Infrared IR proximity sensor to ESP8266 Node MCU and provide internet connection to Node MCU to send the data to cloud. For this Node MCU must be coded and Apps must be installed both on Node MCU and mobile phones to which data needs to be sent.