TCRT5000L: Application areas, environmental performance and troubleshooting issues

By Vishay Semiconductor Opto Division 144

TCRT5000L: Application areas, environmental performance and troubleshooting issues

TCRT5000L is a commonly used infrared light detector. It is mainly used for object approach, reflection and detection line tracking. The system includes a light-emitting diode and a receiving diode. The device can use the emitted infrared rays and receive the reflection of the light to determine whether there is an object. This type of sensor is mainly used for obstacle avoidance, ranging, tracking, etc.

TCRT5000L is a photoelectric tube commonly used in electronic manufacturing. It contains an infrared photodiode and a phototransistor. The infrared photodiode continuously emits infrared rays outward. The infrared rays are absorbed by the phototransistor after being reflected by the external environment. The degree of conduction of the phototransistor is proportional to the intensity of the absorbed infrared rays.


Ⅰ.Specification parameters of TCRT5000L


•Package:Bulk
•Length:10.2 mm
•Height:7 mm
•Width:5.8 mm
•Number of channels:2
•Number of pins:4
•Sensing distance:0.2 mm to 15 mm
•Collector-emitter maximum voltage VCEO:70 V
•Product type:Optical switch (reflective type, phototransistor output)
•Vf-forward voltage:1.25 V
•Vr-reverse voltage:5 V
•Minimum operating temperature:-25℃
•Maximum operating temperature:+85℃
•Maximum collector current:100 mA
•Installation style:Through Hole
•If-forward current:60 mA
•Number of channels:1 Channel
•Wavelength:950 nm
•Contact plating:silver, tin
•Package/Enclosure:PCB Mount
•Reverse voltage (DC):5V
•Pd-Power dissipation:200 mW
•Induction method:Reflective
•Output type:Phototransistor
•Trademark:Vishay Semiconductors
•REACH Substances of Very High Concern:No Substances of Very High Concern

 

Ⅱ.Application fields of TCRT5000L


1.Obstacle avoidance and safety system: TCRT5000L is often used in robots, smart cars and other equipment to detect obstacles and avoid collisions, or as part of a safety system. When the transmitting tube of TCRT5000L emits infrared rays, if it encounters an obstacle, the reflected light will be received by the receiving tube. In this way, the robot or smart car can determine whether there is an obstacle ahead by judging whether the light is reflected back.

2.Electronic game equipment: In some interactive games or sensor games, TCRT5000L can be used to detect the player's movements or operations to trigger corresponding game reactions. In some somatosensory games, players use body movements to control characters or objects in the game. TCRT5000L can be installed on gaming devices and by detecting player movements or position changes, the signal is transmitted to the game console or controller, thereby affecting the performance in the game.

3.Industrial automation: In an industrial environment, TCRT5000L can be used to detect the position of objects, the position or motion status on the assembly line, and various other automation tasks. In automated production lines, TCRT5000L can be installed on conveyor belts or robotic arms to detect the position of objects on the assembly line. When an object moves past the TCRT5000L, the device can detect the reflected light signal of the object and convert it into a corresponding electrical signal. In this way, the automation system can accurately control and operate according to the position of the object, ensuring the smooth progress of the production process.

4.Environmental monitoring: For example, used to detect light intensity or light reflection to adjust light in intelligent lighting systems or environmental control systems.

5.Consumer electronics: such as printers, copiers, vending machines, etc. TCRT5000L can be used to detect the arrival or status of paper, goods, etc. In printers and copiers, TCRT5000L can be installed at the paper inlet or paper outlet to detect whether the paper is in place or whether printing has been completed. When the paper passes through the TCRT5000L, the device can detect the light signal reflected by the paper and determine whether the paper is in place or whether printing has been completed through the corresponding circuit. Therefore, the printer or copier can perform corresponding operations according to the status of the paper to ensure the smooth progress of the printing or copying process.

6.Medical equipment: TCRT5000L can be used in some medical equipment, such as therapy equipment that detects hand position or equipment that monitors patient activity. In rehabilitation therapy equipment, TCRT5000L can be used to detect the position and movement status of the hand. By detecting the reflected light signal of the hand, TCRT5000L can determine the position and movement direction of the hand and transmit the signal to the rehabilitation treatment equipment.

7.Machine vision: In some machine vision applications, TCRT5000L can be used to detect the position, shape and other information of objects. Machine vision is a technology that uses image processing and analysis technology to detect, identify and measure the position, shape and motion of objects. As a photoelectric tube, TCRT5000L can detect the reflected light signal of objects and provide important input information for the machine vision system. In machine vision applications, TCRT5000L can be used with cameras and other image processing equipment to detect information such as the position, shape, and motion status of objects. By installing the TCRT5000L in an appropriate location, it can detect the reflected light signal of an object and convert it into an electrical signal.

 

Ⅲ.Objects detected by TCRT5000L


The TCRT5000L has a relatively high sensitivity and is generally able to detect a variety of different types of objects, especially surfaces with certain reflective capabilities.

1.Metal objects: Since metal has high reflectivity, when metal objects reflect infrared light, the photosensitive transistor of TCRT5000L can effectively receive these reflected lights and convert them into corresponding electrical signals. By detecting the light signal reflected back from the metal object, TCRT5000L can help determine the location, size, shape and other information of the metal object.

2.Colored surfaces: Even if the surface of an object is painted with color, the TCRT5000L can detect its presence as long as the color is not very dark or light-absorbing.

3.Plastic and glass: Most plastic and glass materials have a certain degree of transmittance to infrared light, but will also have a certain degree of reflection. Therefore, the TCRT5000L is also able to detect these objects. For plastic materials, they generally have a low reflectivity to infrared light, so the light reflected back is weaker. However, the photosensitive transistor of TCRT5000L has high sensitivity and can detect weak reflected light. For glass materials, they have a certain degree of transmittance to infrared light, and the light reflected back is relatively weak. However, with proper adjustment and optimization, TCRT5000L can still be used to detect the position and motion status of glass objects.

4.Paper and cloth: Surfaces such as paper and cloth have certain reflective capabilities for infrared light, so TCRT5000L can also detect them. For example, in a printing machine or loom, the TCRT5000L can be used to detect whether the paper or cloth is in place, or to detect the speed and direction of their movement. By accurately detecting the position and movement status of paper or cloth, precise control and efficient operation of automated production lines can be achieved.


Ⅳ.Absolute Maximum Ratings of TCRT5000L

 

Ⅴ.Basic Characteristics of TCRT5000L

 

Ⅵ.Under what environmental conditions does TCRT5000L perform best?


1.Stable lighting conditions: TCRT5000L usually performs best under stable lighting conditions. Too strong or too weak light may affect the performance of the sensor, so it is best to use it in an environment with relatively stable lighting.

2.Stable temperature and humidity: Using TCRT5000L within a suitable temperature and humidity range can ensure its stable performance. Temperatures that are too high or too low can affect the performance of electronic components.

3.Clean environment: Try to avoid dust, dirt and other impurities from affecting the optical components of the sensor, because these impurities may reduce the sensitivity or accuracy of the sensor.

4.Appropriate installation position: Install TCRT5000L at a suitable location from the detection target, and ensure that its optical components are facing the target object to obtain the best detection effect.

5.Avoid strong electromagnetic interference: Strong electromagnetic interference may interfere with the circuit work of the sensor, so try to avoid using it in an environment with strong electromagnetic interference.

 

Ⅶ.Replacement model of TCRT5000L


TCRT1000
TCRT5000
TCRT1000L
GP2Y0A41SK0F
GP2Y0A21YK0F
QRE1113


Ⅷ.The difference between TCRT5000 and TCRT5000L


1.Pin layout:
Due to different package types, the pin layouts of TCRT5000 and TCRT5000L are different. The pinout of the TCRT5000 is usually two opposite pinouts, while the TCRT5000L usually has four pins, two of which are the transmitter and receiver pins, and the other two are power and ground pins.

2.Package type:
•TCRT5000 uses a plug-in package, usually with two pins.
•TCRT5000L uses a grating package, usually with four pins.

3.Performance characteristics:
There is no significant difference in performance characteristics between TCRT5000 and TCRT5000L except for package type. They are all infrared photoelectric sensors used in applications such as detecting the proximity, reflection and distance of objects. Characteristics such as sensitivity and detection range may vary, but this mainly depends on the specific sensor design.

4.Appearance:
The housing of TCRT5000L is generally smaller than that of TCRT5000, making it more suitable for dense arrangement or integration into small equipment.


Ⅸ.How to deal with the failure of TCRT5000L?


1.Check the power connection: Make sure the power supply of TCRT5000L is connected correctly, the voltage is stable, and there is no short circuit or open circuit. Check whether the power cord and power interface are damaged or loose.

2.Check the pin connection: Make sure the pin connection of TCRT5000L is correct and not loose or short-circuited. Use a multimeter to check the connectivity between the pins and confirm that the pins are connected to the correct places.

3.Check the environmental conditions: Make sure that the environmental conditions in which the TCRT5000L works meet its specifications, including lighting conditions, temperature and humidity, etc. Too strong or too weak light, abnormal temperature or humidity may affect the performance of the sensor.

4.Clean the sensor: If the optical components of the TCRT5000L are affected by impurities such as dust, dirt, etc., it may cause performance degradation or malfunction. Use a clean, soft cloth to gently wipe the sensor optics to remove dirt.

5.Check the line connection: Check the connection between TCRT5000L and other circuit components to ensure the connection is correct.

6.Replace components: If the above steps fail to solve the problem, you may need to consider replacing the TCRT5000L or related components.

7.Testing and debugging: After reconnecting all components, perform testing and debugging to ensure that the TCRT5000L can work properly.

 

Frequently Asked Questions


1.Can TCRT5000L detect transparent objects?
TCRT5000L may have difficulty detecting transparent objects as they tend to pass infrared light rather than reflecting it.


2.What factors affect the performance of TCRT5000L?
Factors such as ambient light, distance to the target object, surface reflectivity of the object, and temperature can affect the performance of TCRT5000L.


3.How does TCRT5000L work?
TCRT5000L emits infrared light from its emitter, which reflects off nearby objects and is detected by the phototransistor. The presence or absence of reflected light is used to determine the proximity of objects.

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