IDEC: Photoelectric Sensor Product Family with Subminiature Models

IDEC Corporation has expanded its extensive photoelectric (PE) sensor portfolio with the new SA1N series of space-saving subminiature PE sensors. The SA1N series provides high accuracy and performance, and it is available in compact barrel and block form factors.

Smaller and superior sensing

For industrial equipment, the intersecting trends of increasing automation and reduced installation space mean that designers need compact and high-performance technologies for discrete sensing applications. General-purpose sensors simply don’t fit, and other technologies such as fiber optic devices are more costly and require separate amplifiers which complicate installation requirements. Even as acceptable form factors shrink, there remains an escalating need for better accuracy, detection distances, and response times.

To meet these needs, IDEC has added the SA1N series of subminiature PE sensors to its product lineup. The SA1N sensors are available in two versions:

• A barrel-mount fiber-type diffuse-reflective infrared LED style, secured with M6 nuts through a mounting hole
• A block-type convergent-reflective red LED style, secured with two mounting holes located at a 14mm pitch

Both versions are all-in-one devices with built-in amplifiers and sensitivity adjustment control. The barrel-mount version has a 3 to 50mm sensing range, while the block-type can detect over a 5 to 30mm sensing range. Both models are available in NPN or PNP light-on configurations, and both provide a rapid 0.5msec maximum response time.

The sensors each come with flexible 2-meter pigtail wiring, functioning at standard 24VDC with minimal current draw. They operate over a wide -25 to +55DegC temperature range. The barrel-mount version uses a stainless-steel housing and plastic encapsulation to achieve an IP67 rating, while the block-type is rated at IP64.

Effective detection for more applications

Many types of production line equipment and manufacturing machinery—ranging across industries as varied as medical, food & beverage, and more—require positive presence detection of machine components and positioning/counting of products. The SA1N series of subminiature PE sensors will fit into the limited space available for these types of applications, and it offers a favorable price/performance ratio compared with other more esoteric technology options.

More information on the SA1N series from IDEC Corporation