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PIR Sensors to calculate and disply distance — Parallax Forums

PIR Sensors to calculate and disply distance

OLUWASEYI JAMESOLUWASEYI JAMES Posts: 2
edited 2009-02-09 00:35 in Propeller 1
Is the PIR sensor capable of calculating the distance of objects detected. if so, can the calculated distance be displayed on a LCD screen?

Comments

  • rjo_rjo_ Posts: 1,825
    edited 2009-02-08 23:11
    What kinds of objects and what kinds of distances?
  • telluriantellurian Posts: 52
    edited 2009-02-08 23:17
    OLUWASEYI JAMES said...
    Is the PIR sensor capable of calculating the distance of objects detected. if so, can the calculated distance be displayed on a LCD screen?

    No it cannot measure distance it can only indicate if movement occurred in its field of view, not where the movement was. To measure distances to objects you would need an ultrasonic or infrared detector (i.e. such as the Parallax PING - ite, #28015). In this case a disctance can be calculated and a controller could dispay it on an LCD. You may want to mount it on a servo to sweep an area for objects.
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2009-02-08 23:27
    You could have a binary distance value (greater than x or less than x) by reducing the sensitivity of the module. A translucent plastic would probably work.
  • rjo_rjo_ Posts: 1,825
    edited 2009-02-09 00:35
    If you have particular objects and particular distances you might be able to use IR... whether you would choose the PIR module or not would depend.

    For short distances the PING (ultra sound)module works fine... the OBEX object is done and works as advertised. I have managed to build a ping project in such a way that it didn't work... so, it is possible to have issues with it. But straight out of the box on a breadboard, it works and is terribly accurate.

    Parallax has a new IR thermometer, which comes with a 10 degree field of view... this might be part of your solution.
    It can tell people from bricks and if will ignore the pets if you have it pointed in the right direction... and you can daisy chain them together... pretty slick. To get position out of it... you would have to have more than one and your resolution would depend on lots of variables... there would be plenty to think about. It is always possible... but exactly how would depend upon exactly what you want to do.

    The other option is to combine sensors... ping and IR thermometer. You might get what you want fairly easily. Again, it really depends upon exactly what you are trying to do.

    Once you have your numbers you can display your results in more ways than you can throw a stick... including a variety of available LCD's.
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