Application examples

1. Measurement of proximity of people.
2. Combine with a TapTiled floor, some MoveOn and/or ReachClose sensors and make sure every move of your visitor has an effect. The Flash + SeeLaser combo adds a touch of diamond robbery feeling.

Technical specifications

Product		ReachFar sensor
Version		1.2 (November 2016)
Sensing parameter		distance, proximity
Sensing method		modulated infra-red light reflectance sensor
Active volume		narrow (a few degrees wide) cone
Range		1.0 m to 5.5 m (3.3 to 18 ft)
Response time		21.5 ± 3.7 ms
Calibration
m	ft	Voltage (use 5 V power supply)	7-bit MIDI value (use 'no processing' editor preset)
1.0	3.3	2.5	84
2.0	6.6	1.8	46
550	18	1.4	36
no object present	no object present	0	0
Power supply		4.5 to 5.5 V DC, 30 mA (typical) - 50 mA (max) at 5 V
Sensor dimensions		58 x 18 x 25 mm (2.3 x 0.71 x 0.98 inch)
Operating temperature		-10 to 60 °C (14 to 140 °F)
Weight		25 g (0.9 oz), incl. cable
Cable		1.0 m (39 inch), shielded, red wire = power, black wire = ground, white wire = sensor output, maximum extension 15 m (49 ft)
Connector		male plug with a row of 3 pins in a row spaced 2.54 mm (0.100 inch)
Software support		Our EditorX software allows you to configure the digitizer to process and map the sensor data of multiple sensors simultaneously. Our Link software allows you to receive the sensor data from the digitizer and use your computer to view, calibrate, record, process and map the sensor data of multiple sensors simultaneously. Our SensorX software allows you to receive the sensor data from the digitizer and use your computer to view, calibrate, record, process and map the data of a single sensor. 08 Dec 2010: ReachClose v1.11 for MacOS and Windows from source code in Max.
Application notes		Due to the modulation of the infra-red light that is used to detect a reflecting object the sensor is insensitive to ambient light variations. Due to the narrow field of view, at about 1 meter distance objects as small as a few centimeters wide/diameter can be detected. The further away, the larger and better reflecting (wrt. infra-red light) the object should be. The more directional the object reflects (eg. a mirror), ie. the less diffusely it reflects, the more the object has to be held such that it reflects back to the sensor the infra-red light emitted by the sensor. Multiple sensors can be placed apart about the same distance as the minimum detectable object size, without the sensors interfering with each other's measurements. Regular (ie. not hardened) glass or other transparent surfaces can be placed in front of the sensor but for best results place the sensor as close as possible to the surface and make sure the sensor emits/receives light perpendicular to the surface to avoid reflections that distort the sensor output. Warning ! Make sure the sensor is plugged into the Digitizer with the red wire connected to power. For best results, use only one ReachFar per digitizer since the current requirement fluctuates between 30 - 50 mA which creates power supply noise. Hence, when using multiple ReachFar with one digitizer the sensor signals will be more noisy. The number of ReachFar that can be used with one digitizer is determined by the maximum current that can be supplied to the sensors by the digitizer divided by the maximum current required by the ReachFar, ie. 50 mA.