Through-Beam Ultrasonic Sensors

The longest-range and most stable ultrasonic detection type, with the emitter and receiver facing each other.

In a through-beam ultrasonic sensor, the emitter and receiver are placed facing each other in separate housings; detection happens when the sound wave is interrupted. Omron’s compact E4E2 series and Telemecanique’s XXT series through-beam ultrasonic sensors provide stable detection of objects that challenge light-based sensors, such as transparent film, glass bottles and plate glass. Note: Panasonic’s FA sensor catalog has no current ultrasonic sensor, so this card lists only Omron and Telemecanique products. Sensing distance and housing size are chosen to match the application.

Telemecanique’s XXT series through-beam ultrasonic sensor consists of a separate emitter and receiver in a cylindrical M12 housing; the XXT12A8M8 emitter, with 0.2 m sensing range, digital output, M8 connector and adjustable sensing range, is used in tight mounting spaces to detect transparent film, glass bottles and flat glass. Because the through-beam arrangement relies on the sound wave being interrupted, it is independent of reflection quality and gives the most stable detection in the XX family; the family’s diffuse XXS/XXA/XX5/XX6/XX7/XXW54 models are on the Diffuse card.

Telemecanique XX series — through-beam ultrasonic transmitter/receiver (2)

For a through-beam arrangement the transmitter (XXT) and receiver (XXR) are ordered separately; the pair below is listed in the manufacturer’s current catalogue as matching units.