Think of a use for a proximity sensor
The name kind of gives things away. Even if you haven’t heard of a Proximity sensor you could probably hazard a guess as to what it does. If you presume a Proximity sensor can sense nearby objects without actually touching them give yourself a gold star! That’s exactly what this type of movement sensor does and in the modern world a Proximity sensor is used for a diverse range of applications.
A sensor of this type can use electromagnetic, electrostatic or infared technology to detect the presence of nearby objects. By design a Proximity sensor is highly responsive and can accurately sense a wide range of materials depending on the type that is being used.
Back a bit
Do you drive around in a car that has parking sensors fitted to the front and rear bumpers? They’re a special type of proximity sensor and the Proximity sensor that is fitted to your car stops you from having low speed accidents when parking.
Put the car into reverse and the Proximity sensor uses infared waves to detect objects that are behind your car. It can accurately predict how close you are to the vehicle behind and the Proximity sensor will send an audible warning to let you know how much room you home. It’s such a simple but effective device and you can bet that countless motorists have now become reliant on the Proximity sensor that they have fitted in their vehicle.
Other uses for a proximity sensor
As well as being a useful parking aid, a Proximity sensor can be an effective safety feature used in vehicles as well. Many alarm systems incorporate this type of sensor within them, stopping intruders from breaking into the vehicle. The security industry in general often relies on a Proximity sensor fitting one to door or window openings. The Proximity sensor remains intact when a door or window is closed, but the moment they are opened, the circuit is broken and the sensor triggers an alarm.
You’ll also find a Proximity sensor in the modern automated car wash, it detects the presence of vehicles within the bay area and it could be used within an automated traffic barrier as well.
Thanks to the versatility of a Proximity sensor it’s put to good use in a whole host of scenarios where moving objects need to be detected.