How do the SmartReflect™ light barriers light barriers without reflector or receiver work?

The most reliable means of object detection in the field of photoelectric sensors is the physical interruption of the light beam of a light barrier by an object. This is why retro-reflective and through beam sensors are regarded as the most reliable solution for all object recognition tasks.

With the SmartReflect™ light barriers, the light beam - in contrast to a retro-reflective or through beam sensor - is set up between the sensor and a machine part, for example. An object interrupts the light beam and triggers the sensor. The only condition is that there must be a background, for example any machine part, in the sensing distance of the sensor. In this way the separate reflector becomes superfluous and a common weak point is rectified. The material of the background has no influence on the detection results.

Since every interruption of the light beam by any object is detected thanks to the SmartReflect™ principle, the SmartReflect™ light barrier can reliably detect objects independent of their shape, color or surface finish. Moreover, unlike retro-reflective sensors, it has no blind region in front of its front optics.

SmartReflect™ light barriers are quick and easy to adjust with 1-point teach-in, and can detect objects up to a distance of 800 mm. Special SmartReflect™ variants can use the same principle to detect transparent objects like bottles, trays or even foils.