Infrared light may be invisible to the human eye, but its usefulness in the world of electronics is easy to see. From simple object sensors to wireless data transmission, IR emitters and detectors can be used in a variety of different ways. And their low cost and wide availability makes them a great choice for enhancing an electronics project.
Those interested in building their own IR Light Barrier (as demonstrated in the above video) can pick up the relevant PCB/parts kit here.
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6 thoughts on “Circuit Skills: Infrared Light, sponsored by Jameco Electronics”
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Debugging tip: Use your cellphone camera to see IR emitters; many can see IR light (at least enough to display something)
I also snagged the IR module from a broken VCR. Add an LED,resistor and a tiny speaker (the VCR had all the parts) and wire it up to a 9V battery. So far the 9V battery hasn’t hurt the IR module.
How timely, I was just investigating IR serial for a cheap device network…