DFRobot
IR Break Beam Sensor (50cm)
An infrared break-beam sensor pair for simple, reliable motion detection. The emitter sends a beam of invisible IR light to the receiver — when an object pas...
An infrared break-beam sensor pair for simple, reliable motion detection. The emitter sends a beam of invisible IR light to the receiver — when an object passes between them and breaks the beam, the receiver outputs a signal. Works up to 50 cm at 5 V with a fast response time under 2 ms.
The compact 20 × 10 × 9 mm modules fit easily into tight spaces. The NPN normally-open output can directly drive a relay (up to 100 mA) or connect to any Arduino or microcontroller GPIO pin.
Key Features
- 50 cm Detection Range – At 5 V (20 cm at 3.3 V)
- Fast Response – Under 2 ms response time
- NPN Normally Open Output – Up to 100 mA, can directly drive a relay
- Compact Size – 20 × 10 × 9 mm per module
- Wide Temperature Range – −25 °C to 60 °C
Specifications
- Detection Distance – 50 cm at 5 V, 20 cm at 3.3 V
- Detection Method – Through-beam (non-transparent objects)
- Working Voltage – DC 3.0–5 V
- Working Current – 25 mA
- Output Mode – NPN normally open
- Output Current – 100 mA max
- Receiving Angle – Under 10°
- Response Time – 2 ms
- Operating Temperature – −25 °C to 60 °C
- Module Dimensions – 20 × 10 × 9 mm
- Cable Length – 25 cm
- Environment – Indoor use (not waterproof)
Wiring
- Transmitter – Red wire → 5 V DC, Black wire → GND
- Receiver – Red wire → 5 V DC, Black wire → GND, White wire → Output (NPN)
Ideal For
- Motion and object detection
- Speed measurement and lap timing
- Counting and inventory systems
- Robotics competitions
Package Contents
- 1× IR break beam receiver
- 1× IR break beam transmitter
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- break-beam
- A sensing method where an emitter sends a beam of light to a receiver, and an object is detected when it blocks the beam. It is useful for tripwires, counters, and object detection where you need a clear interrupted/not-interrupted signal.
- GPIO
- General-purpose input/output pins are microcontroller pins you can set in software to read signals, switch devices on and off, or connect to peripherals. The number of GPIO pins matters because it limits how many buttons, LEDs, sensors, and other parts you can wire directly to the board.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.
- Motion detection
- A camera feature that checks the image for changes that suggest something has moved. It matters because your project can use movement as a trigger instead of constantly saving or processing every frame.
Find this product in
Brands
Sensors & Input
Supplier page — dfrobot.com
Supplier Description · 545.6 KB · Click any page to view full size
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au