Retro-reflective sensors

With retro-reflective sensors, the transmitter and receiver are located in one housing and combined with a prismatic reflector. The reflector reflects the emitted light beam and if the light is interrupted by an object, the sensor switches. A polarisation filter prevents faulty switching caused by reflective surfaces in the environment. Read more here

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Retro-reflective sensors

All items of the category Retro-reflective sensors :

io Cloudkompatibel Cloud compatible
200+ in stock!
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Laser retro-reflective sensor with PA housing
AL006Laser retro-reflective sensor with PA housing
Go to customer reviews(13)
  • Laser retro-reflective sensor with IO-Link
  • M8 connector (4-pin)
  • with polarisation filter
  • Sensing range 0.075...8 m
  • Light-on/dark-on mode switchable
115.94
109.56
io Cloudkompatibel Cloud compatible
300+ in stock!
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Retro-reflective sensor IP69K stainless steel housing
AO002Retro-reflective sensor IP69K stainless steel housing
Go to customer reviews(63)
  • Sensing range 0.05...5 m
  • Red light
  • with polarisation filter
  • Stainless steel housing
  • Light-on/dark-on mode programmable
84.89
80.22
300+ in stock!
Online -5,5 %
Retro-reflective sensor with PA housing
AO006Retro-reflective sensor with PA housing
Go to customer reviews(25)
  • Sensing range 0.1...7 m
  • Red light
  • with polarisation filter
  • dark-on mode/ normally open
84.51
79.86
47 in stock!
Online -5,5 %
Retro-reflective sensor M12x1 metal thread
AO010Retro-reflective sensor M12x1 metal thread
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  • Sensing range 0.1...0.8 m
  • Red light
  • with polarisation filter
  • Metal housing M12 thread
  • Light-on/dark-on mode programmable
98.70
93.27
100+ in stock!
Online -5,5 %
Retro-reflective sensor M18x1 metal thread
AO014Retro-reflective sensor M18x1 metal thread
Go to customer reviews(33)
  • Sensing range 0.03...4 m
  • Red light
  • with polarisation filter
  • Metal housing M18 thread
  • dark-on mode/ normally open
74.73
70.62
io Cloudkompatibel Cloud compatible
20 in stock!
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Mini retro-reflective sensor with PA housing
AO021Mini retro-reflective sensor with PA housing
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  • Sensing range 20...1800 mm
  • Red light
  • with polarisation filter
  • with pigtail
  • dark-on mode/ normally open
63.59
60.09
49 in stock!
Online -5,5 %
Retro-reflective sensor with PA housing
AO025Retro-reflective sensor with PA housing
Go to customer reviews(32)
  • Sensing range 0.05...5 m
  • Red light
  • with polarisation filter
  • Light-on/dark-on mode programmable
56.13
53.04
100+ in stock!
Online -5,5 %
Retro-reflective sensor with PA housing
AO029Retro-reflective sensor with PA housing
Go to customer reviews(13)
  • Sensing range 0.05...2.5 m
  • Red light
  • with polarisation filter
  • dark-on mode/ normally open
39.62
37.44
200+ in stock!
Online -5,5 %
Reflex light barrier with PA housing
AO040Reflex light barrier with PA housing
  • Sensing range 0.1…9 m
  • Red light
  • with polarisation filter
  • Light-on mode & dark-on mode (antivalent)
50.75
47.96
io Cloudkompatibel Cloud compatible
100+ in stock!
Online -5,5 %
Retro-reflective sensor with PA housing
AO044Retro-reflective sensor with PA housing
Go to customer reviews(1)
  • Sensing range 0.05…7 m
  • red light
  • with polarisation filter
  • light and dark on (antivalent)
  • IO-Link
34.12
32.24

Retro-reflective sensor: How they work

Transmitter and receiver units are located in the same housing and form a retro-reflective sensor in combination with a reflector. The emitted light hits the reflector and is reflected back to the receiver. If the light signal is interrupted by an object, a switching operation is tripped. The receiver of retro-reflective sensors from autosen comes with a polarisation filter. This is why the retro-reflective sensor only works in combination with the appropriate reflector (prismatic reflector) because it reflects back the light being polarised. The decisive advantage is that reflecting surfaces in the surroundings will not cause undesired switching of the sensor.
 

Retro-reflective sensor: Advantages and disadvantages

The retro-reflective sensors require more installation expenditure because the sensor and prismatic reflector have to be aligned appropriately. The range does not depend on the degree of reflection, shape, colour and material of the object. Transparent objects cannot be detected by simple light barriers. Retro-reflective sensors are used for mean distances up to 5 m.
 

Retro-reflective sensor for transparent objects

The optical retro-reflective sensor AO701 from autosen is a special version and suitable to reliably detect transparent films and objects. Common retro-reflective films do not switch if a transparent object is located between transmitter and receiver because the light is not completely weakened by the object. In addition to the reflected light, the optical sensor AO701 also detects the light intensity. That way it is also possible to reliably detect transparent objects weakening the emitted light only. The sensor is so sensitive that even thin films and clear glass are reliably detected.