The Great Search: I2C Infrared Proximity Sensor #TheGreatSearch #digikey #adafruit @DigiKey @adafruit
(Video) For Desk of Ladyada, we used ChatGPT 4 to write a driver for the VCNL4020, an ‘all in one’ IR proximity sensor.
These sensors work by bouncing bright IR light off a surface and measuring how much returns. The IR light is modulated and relatively resistant to ambient light interaction.
One of the first sensors we ever used was the Sharp GP2Y. It is famous for its ease of use in the days when cheap microcontrollers provided 5V power and read an analog signal that roughly maps with distance. While you can still get analog distance sensors, I2C interfacing lets you get data quickly and adjust for lower power usage.
Let’s look at some digital IR proximity sensors and other distance sensors (and the differences between them!)
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