What is a Photomicrosensor? 

Non-amplified photomicrosensors, more commonly known as photointerrupters, are infrared emitter/detector pairs contained in a compact single housing designed to detect the presence or absence of objects.  There are 2 types of non-amplified photmicrosensors:  Transmissive and Reflective. 

The transmissive photomicrosensor incorporates an emitter and detector that face each other.  When an object is positioned between the emitter and detector, the optical beam is interrupted, causing the detector to react to this change in optical energy. 

The reflective photomicrosensor incorporates an emitter and detector that face outward.  When an object comes into range, the optical beam sent out by the emitter will reflect off the object and back towards the detector, causing the detector to react to this change in optical energy

Photomicrosensor Advantages: 

Omron uses a silicon potting structure on LED's inside its photomicrosensors. This reduces  any mechanical steps applied to the LED and thus strengthens the physical integrity of the LED chip. The end result is  an LED that maintains  higher brightness for a longer period of time. 

Optical Sensing Solutions
Non-Amplifiied Photomicrosensors can detect the presence or absence of an object, along with the speed or direction of a rotating object. These sensors offer high frequency response, high reliability and long life. 
 

Applications include but, are not limited to: 

• Indoor security panels - Detection of door open/closed status 
• Vending and Gaming machines - Lever position detection
• 2D/3D Printers - Detecting original head position / rotation detection
• Scanners  - Detecting the scanning terminate position