[ladyada] has a freshly-published and amazingly thorough tutorial on passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors. Most often seen in security floodlights and automatic doors, in creative hands these sensors can be put to other uses—cat flaps, camera triggers and purely artistic applications—as you’ll see in several demo projects and videos. For the curious, the tutorial provides a good amount of background theory on how PIR sensors work, along with the associated fresnel lens optics. And for those who just want to get hacking, most PIR sensors (like the one above) come in a simple-to-interface module containing all the support hardware and providing a simple digital output; the article wraps up with one such example.
Not a bad PIR tutorial but This one‘s still my favorite. The manual from the product page is even more detailed, but it’s in pdf form.
That was a very clear and precise breakdown and exactly watt i was seeking.
Thnx Wolf !
Basically: apply power. If something moves, then the signal will go high. Sometimes you need to use a transistor or analog pin if the high signal isn’t 5V TTL compatible. On another note, I got a bunch of great PIR sensors for $1 each at the Silicon Valley Electronics Flea Market. They run on 12V, and have adjustable sensitivity and timeout. Right now I actually have a PIR sensor watching my office and logging the motion to Pachube: http://www.pachube.com/feeds/2293
Using ready-to-use PIR modules is lame.
Self made modules are the key to rule the world…
@just/me – where is your self-made module tutorial? i’d love to check that out.
@pt: I’m pretty sure just/me was satirizing the rash of Arduino bitterness as of late.
At least I *hope* that’s what they meant!
@phil – darn, i was hoping to see that tutorial or article!
I picked up a PIR sensor from Radio Shack a while ago. Great little gadget although not as powerful as the security-designed devices.
Think RadioShack finally figured out that the hackers are their bread and butter. They’ve started carrying sensors from Parallax and can sometimes be cheaper than them at the store.
How does a passive infrared sensor see?
PIR is good for detecting heat body. I use that sensor in firefighting robot.
Keep an eye out for any place re-doing their security systems too.
Some times they simply “dumpsterize” that stuff and it is yours for the picking.
For PIR lens arrays:
http://www.fresneltech.com/
pir sensors have been commonly used by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan as initiation devises for roadside bombs.
will a radar detector pick ur a pir signiture
What type and how brite a light do I need to burn the element of a PIR sensor?
Type: focused heat radiation like a CO2 laser.
Brightness/Power: No idea.
How lux parameter plays important role when choosing PIR sensor?plz reply…..
Can we use this sensor or sensor module for detecting fire? or flame?
http://www.ventor.co.in/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_64&products_id=283