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180° Infrared Refletive Unit (ITR9606)
The OP.180 is an infrared reflective limit switch unit built around the ITR9606 sensor, which pairs an infrared emitting diode with a silicon phototransistor...
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The OP.180 is an infrared reflective limit switch unit built around the ITR9606 sensor, which pairs an infrared emitting diode with a silicon phototransistor in a 180° (straight-through) orientation. When an object passes between the emitter and receiver, the IR beam is broken, triggering a digital signal change.
Connects via a standard Grove cable for plug-and-play integration with M5Stack controllers and other Grove-compatible boards. The fast response time and high sensitivity make it well-suited for counting, position detection, and safety interlock applications.
Key Features
- ITR9606 Sensor – Infrared emitter and phototransistor pair for reliable detection
- 180° Layout – Straight-through beam orientation for slot-style detection
- Fast Response Time – Quick detection for high-speed counting applications
- High Sensitivity – Reliable switching with consistent IR signal
- Grove Interface – Simple plug-and-play connection
- Digital Output – Clean high/low signal when beam is interrupted
Ideal For
- Door and gate switches
- Machinery control and safety interlocks
- Object counting and position sensing
- Encoder and scanner applications
- Non-contact switching
Package Contents
- 1× OP.180 infrared reflective unit
- 1× Grove cable
Resources
- Example Code (Arduino) – GitHub repository
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- encoder
- An encoder is a sensor that converts the rotation or position of a shaft, knob or dial into electrical signals, reporting movement as incremental steps and direction, or as an absolute position. It is used to track how far something has turned, which matters for precise positioning, speed control, repeatable movement, or using a rotary knob as an input.
- Grove
- Grove is a standardised 4-pin plug-in connector system for sensors and modules that avoids soldering and jumper wires, with different cable types carrying I2C, UART, analogue or digital signals. When a product is Grove-compatible it can be quicker to connect supported modules, provided the connector type, signal and voltage all match.
- Limit switch
- A limit switch is a small switch that is triggered when a moving part reaches a set point, commonly used to detect the end of travel in machines such as 3D printers, CNC machines and motorised mechanisms. The signal it produces lets a controller stop or reverse the motion before the mechanism is driven past its safe range.
- phototransistor
- A light-sensitive transistor that changes its electrical output when light hits it. Compared with a modulated IR receiver, a simple phototransistor can be more affected by ambient light, so it may need extra filtering or careful setup.
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Sensors & Input
Related Tutorials
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