Cheap use of ultrasonic sensors for distance detection

Husker

I found these sensors (two of them in the picture) at this overstock store for a couple bucks.· They look like ping sensors without the IC.· Is it possible to use these sensors to detect objects without a supporting IC?· Basically use them as a ON/OFF switch and not actually measuring distance.· Thanks for any help.

Post Edited By Moderator (Chris Savage (Parallax)) : 11/11/2008 3:50:20 PM GMT

Mike Green

No

You need at least some driver transistors to be able to switch enough power to one of the transducers to make a decent ultrasonic pulse. You will also need at least a simple amplifier to amplify and filter the incoming signal. There's a good article in Forrest Mim's Circuit Scrapbook that you can buy from Amazon. Part of the article is here: books.google.com/books?id=-sE7JVywygQC&pg=PA196&lpg=PA196&dq=diy+ultrasonic+rangefinder&source=web&ots=pj_Koi2Mvg&sig=Hw7gmehtiZdhcDtRTq2E5wYcL6U&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result#PPA196,M1.

Chris Savage

I edited your subject line to avoid confusion related to our PING))) sensor.

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Chris Savage
Parallax Engineering