Wanted: Sensor to Detect Object at a Distance

What is your application? Could you use one of these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_detector

The application: detection of personel or moving equipment into an area, prior to entry through a doorway for example, wherein a subsystem is activated to perform a set sequence of events prior to the detected object reaching the target destination.

Yes, motion detection devices are what I am after. Ideally a stand alone device such as opto/photo-electric diffuse type, ultrasonic or radar. Also, distance programmability would be a nice feature. I have found a few on the net, but the prices range from about $450 to $1000 USD.

Does this help any? I am looking for specific brand or models that you guys could recommend.

There sure of a lot of them available on the web!

This one is cheap and goes out to 20 ft.:

http://www.x10.com/automation/ms16a_s.html

bricktop; they make what you are looking, scanner looks at a field, anything different in the field triggers a alarm. i think the one i saw was SICK made in Switzerland.perry

http://www.acroname.com/robotics/info/articles/sharp/sharp.html

Really what I'm looking for needs to have an output that is easily adaptable to my main control unit. It would have to be either a bipolar npn/pnp or a NO/NC relay out. This sensor would be used as a device to trigger another action.

The "active eye" mentioned by bricktop is designed to be used in a home and would not be a direct connect to the main system.

The Sharp IR sensor link put up is good, but these have to have protective housings, cabling and mounts designed which is not desirable.

Off the shelf is what I'm interested in. Thanks for the responses so far.

Have a look at Keyence - they seem to have a range of stuff that will detect just about anything. The link is to the UK site, but you can switch to the US site from there. There have offices in North CA and in LA - give them a call. They're good.

Take a look at BEA's products.

http://www.beainc.com/BEAINC/products/prd_main.php?prd=0

I have several different models and they work very good, in a wide variety of environments. Easy to dial in the sensing field and very repetitive distances. I use them on high speed doors so that lift trucks do not have to slow down. BEA has distance settable pedestrian sensors also...such as the type that trigger the doors at the supermarket.

Lueze has an ODSL30 sensor. Laser small light spot, good on black, up to 30m accurate to 1mm. Approx $1000 AUD. Sick has an LMS221 laser measurement device good for 80m with a 100 deg viewing. Very pricy at $9000 AUD, but you can profile and set up fields with switching outputs. Hope this helps

You could download a Sunx catalog from www.ecfa.com.ar ,i think Sunx have a sensor useful to you.Could safe some time consulting directly ecfa's people in that site.Once i bought a very special sensor at them.-

You can use reflective or photo-reflective scan or else fiber optic reflective sensors with proper reflector.

Remember if your area in which you are using the sensor is dusty you may need to change gain of sensor.

Good luck

Based on the install site and conditions, retro-reflective or any type that has a beampath to be crossed will not be suitable. I have found a couple of long range diffuse type photoelectrics and some really nice radar and ultrasonic, all adjustable. Thanks for all the info guys. One company that has alot to offer is Banner Engineering. I have went ahead and purchased a few from them for testing.

We have used many Banner Engineering products in a harsh environment and they work very well, the company is also very good to work with.

I bought a JMC security camera system on Ebay for less than $100. It will either take a snapshot or video recording both programmable, and uses a SIM card. In any event, it has an LED indicator that blinks off when motion is detected (sensitivity programmable). One could use that signal to as an NPN output to drive whatever you are doing. This would require a simple modification (no TTL output is otherwise provided. Oh too, the field of detection is settable. If I understand your application this should work fine.

HI,

A laser sensor is the correct choice, there are types that do not require a receiver, and if you do not need an accurate "DOT" then the prices are reasonable. There are many different manufacturers of these sensors.

Mirco.