PHOTOINTERUPTER

With a 5 mm transmissive gap and a 940 nm infrared emitter, the Ricoh AW010098 photointerrupter delivers precise, non-contact object detection in a compact U-shaped package. Its phototransistor output switches up to 20 mA with a fast 4 µs rise/fall time, making it ideal for high-speed counting, position sensing, and encoder applications.

Overview

The AW010098 is a transmissive optical sensor (photointerrupter) built around an infrared LED and a phototransistor, housed in a through-hole, U-shaped slotted package. When an opaque object passes through the 5 mm gap, it interrupts the light beam, causing the NPN open-collector output to change state. This simple, reliable mechanism is widely used in printers, copiers, industrial automation, and consumer electronics for edge detection, limit switching, and rotary encoding.

What stands out

• Transmissive sensing with a 5 mm gap and 0.5 mm slot width for precise interruption detection
• NPN open-collector output for easy interfacing with microcontrollers and logic circuits
• Fast response: 4 µs typical rise and fall times, supporting up to 5 kHz switching frequency
• Wide operating temperature range from -25°C to +85°C for demanding environments
• Through-hole mounting for robust mechanical attachment and wave soldering

Technical details

• Sensing type: Transmissive (photointerrupter)
• Emitter: Infrared LED, 940 nm wavelength
• Detector: Phototransistor
• Output configuration: NPN open collector
• Gap width: 5 mm
• Slot width: 0.5 mm
• Operating voltage (Vcc): 5 V
• Collector current (Ic): 20 mA
• Forward current (If): 20 mA
• Collector-emitter voltage (Vce): 30 V max
• Dark current (Id): 100 nA max
• Rise time (tr): 4 µs typical
• Fall time (tf): 4 µs typical
• Response frequency: 5 kHz
• Operating temperature: -25°C to +85°C
• Mounting type: Through hole
• Package: U-shaped slotted optical switch
• Number of pins: 4

Our verdict

For engineers needing a dependable, fast, and easy-to-integrate optical interrupter, the Ricoh AW010098 offers solid performance in a standard footprint. Its open-collector output and 5 V compatibility make it a drop-in solution for countless sensing tasks.