EYE ON NPI - Omron B5W-DB Long-Distance Object Detection Sensor #EYEonNPI @omronautomation @digikey
Channel: Adafruit Industries
Date: 27/05/2021

This week's EYE ON NPI  will go the distance to help you with your object sensing needs - its the Omron B5W-DB Long-Distance Object Detection Sensor (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/o/omron/b5w-db-long-distance-object-detection-sensor). This sensor builds on decades of infrared-breakbeam sensing technology, so while it's not a radically new idea, it is a solid and trustworthy sensor with great quality.

Omron’s B5W-DB optical sensor improves on existing technology, and can detect objects over a half meter away. The B5W-DB offers an increased sensing distance of up to 800 mm depending on the object being detected. The B5W sensor series is a key component for object detection applications and touchless switches. This sensor operates the same as the previous iterations of the B5W object detection sensors by detecting a wide range of objects, no matter the color, reflectiveness, or transparency.

Features
Increased range for object detection:
Expanded range of target applications
Small package can be installed in tight spaces without sacrificing internal real estate
Material immunity:
Detects a wide range of objects including white, black, transparent, and reflective
Note that this isn't a distance sensor, it won't tell you how far away something is - it will just tell you when something is in front of the sensor. 

This sensor has a surprisingly good distance rating of about 55 to 80 cm maximum. When something is in the way of the sensing beam, the output pin is driven low. You can connect the drive to an LED, alarm, solenoid driver, interlock, etc. VCC power is 12V, which isn't surprising because the LED is going to be pretty strong - you could probably get away with a lower 9V if you don't need the full distance rating.

The sensor is really good looking too, with a nice snapped-together body. It's not waterproof but it looks well protected against most indoor environmental damage. In particular, we like the mounting flanges with both lateral and vertical mounting holes! A cable socket on board makes for easy connection to your robotic project, use a ready-to-go cable harness part number EE-5002 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/omron-electronics-inc-emc-div/EE-5002-1M/8124128?s=N4IgTCBcDaIKJwLQFYAMqIF0C%2BQ) or you can DIY a custom-crimped cable using the JST GHR-03 plug (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/jst-sales-america-inc/GHR-03V-S/807815?s=N4IgTCBcDaIOIAkBKBaADAZgGooMogF0BfIA)

A great looking sensor, which does one thing and does it well. With these sorts of sensors, in automation, you need ultra-reliability and Omron's a trustworthy brand that will give you a sensor that is repeatable and reliable.

The Omron B5W-DB1452-1 is in stock right now at Digi-Key for immediate shipment - order today and you'll be detecting things around your workbench by tomorrow!