Introduction
In this tutorial, we will learn about the KY-010 module, what is a photo interrupter circuit and we will build a simple project using the KY-010 module with Arduino.
Photo Interrupter Module KY-010
The KY-010 Module will be our main component for this tutorial. This module has a photo interrupter circuit mounted on a breakout board. Figure 1 shows the module as seen in fritzing.
Pinout
The KY-010 module has three pins.
| Component Pin | Arduino Uno board Pin |
|---|---|
| (-) | GND |
| middle | +5V |
| S | Signal |
What is a Photo Interrupter Circuit?
A photo interrupter circuit uses an emitter (usally diode) and a detector to sense if an object is between the emitter and the detector. The detector senses the light sent by the emitter and when it doesn’t “see” the light, it pulls the pin S state to LOW.
Project - Arduino KY-010 Circuit
After learning about the KY-010 module and the photo interrupter circuit, it is now time to build a project using the module. Our project will use the KY-010 module to detect if an object passed between the emitter and detector.
Components
For this project, we need the following components:
- Arduino Uno board (1 pc.)
- KY-010 Photo Interrupter Module (1 pc.)
- Jumper wires
Wiring Diagram
Figure 2 shows the connection between the Arduino Uno and the KY-010 Photo Interrupter Module.
The KY-010 module pins are connected to the Arduino Uno board as follows:
| Component Pin | Arduino Uno board Pin |
|---|---|
| (-) | GND |
| middle | +5V |
| S | 7 |
The Code
Below is the Arduino sketch for our project. I have added comments to explain important parts of the code. Save the code as KY-010.ino and upload it to your Arduino board.
// Arduino and KY-010 module
void setup()
{
pinMode(7, INPUT); // the module is connected to pin 7
pinMode (13, OUTPUT); // arduino's built-in led is connected to pin 13
}
void loop()
{
if (digitalRead(7) == LOW) { // check state of pin 7,
// LOW means an objected is detected by the KY-010 module
digitalWrite(13, HIGH); // switch On LED
}
else digitalWrite(13, LOW); // LED is off when no object is detected
}
Project Test
Apply power to your Arduino Uno board. The built-in LED should light-up when a piece of paper is placed between the KY-010 module’s emitter and detector. Figure 3 shows where to place the paper.
