SparkFun Electronics Comments

Roger K. on SEN-12875 - Vernier Sensor - Motion Detector

2014-05-09T19:52:05-06:00

That’s a packaged Polaroid 6500 ultrasonic range finder (originally invented for Polaroid auto-focus cameras). Polaroid made sensor kits available in the early 1990’s (a kit contained two of the gold foil sensor modules and two PC boards with the analog and digital circuitry). Polaroid no longer makes these modules, but third parties have copied it and currently sell them. If anyone is interested, here’s a link to a PDF datasheet for the Polaroid 6500 module. It’s super easy to use and produces VERY good quality range information. The 6500 is the best ultrasonic sensor I’ve used, by far.

http://www.robotstorehk.com/6500.pdf

One important thing to know is that the 6500 boards use a LOT of current (around 2 amperes) for a few milliseconds. Therefore, you need around a 470uF to 1000uF capacitor across the module VCC and GND or else the module will crash your microcontroller.

Customer #138152 on SEN-12875 - Vernier Sensor - Motion Detector

2014-05-09T10:13:12-06:00

Could this be used to track a baseball?

Customer #534973 on SEN-12875 - Vernier Sensor - Motion Detector

2014-05-09T10:04:24-06:00

I guess that would depend on the banana

Customer #365102 on SEN-12875 - Vernier Sensor - Motion Detector

2014-05-09T07:34:34-06:00

How about a banana for scale?

RobertC. on SEN-12875 - Vernier Sensor - Motion Detector

2014-05-08T16:47:22-06:00

I’m kinda thinking we need to do a half-dollar for these.

Shpoople on SEN-12875 - Vernier Sensor - Motion Detector

2014-05-08T15:54:24-06:00

I prefer the picture with the quarter over the picture without. It just tells me so much more about it.