Pepperl+fuchs Phototalk

Diffuse mode sensors contain both an emitter and receiver in the same housing.  Objects are detected when emitted light reflects off an object and is returned to the sensor.  If the returned light is above a certain threshold, the output switches.  Two variations of diffuse mode sensors are convergent and divergent. Convergent mode sensors are more efficient than a standard diffuse sensor because the emitter and receiver are focused at an exact point in front of the sensor.  Convergent mode sensors are able to detect objects at this focus point plus or minus some distance.  Divergent sensors function just like a standard diffuse but have a large light spot.  The large light spot is particularly good for sensing clear and opaque objects because the light spot spreads out over the object rather than burning through. --Diffuse sensors are greatly affected by a targets surface and color --Convergent sensors have a high amount of excess gain at their focal point --Divergent sensors