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Measure Light and Optical Changes with a Compact Sensor

The Reflective Optical Sensor with Transistor Output CNY70 is an optical interrupter sensor designed for light logging, optical switching, line tracking, and brightness-aware projects. It is a practical fit for makers, students, and engineers who want reliable sensor data in embedded builds.

Key details include Collector- Emitter Voltage VCEO Max: 32 V; Interface: Digital GPIO.

Why you’ll love it

  • A single package: A single package with an integrated infrared emitter and phototransistor.
  • Key feature: Transistor output, which makes it simple to interface with digital circuitry.
  • Power range: 32 V
  • Current draw: 50 mA
  • Useful spec: Thru hole
  • Easy wiring: Digital GPIO

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What you can build

This sensor is a good fit for automatic brightness control, line followers, light meters, UV monitors, flame detection, and optical encoders.

Starter bundles

Pair it with an Arduino-compatible board, ESP32, or Raspberry Pi, plus a breadboard and jumper wires for quick setup and testing.

Recommended add-ons

Useful add-ons include a microcontroller board, jumper wires, and pull-up or pull-down support when needed, depending on how you plan to power, mount, and log the sensor.

Technical specifications

Product Reflective Optical Sensor with Transistor Output CNY70
Collector- Emitter Voltage VCEO Max 32 V
Vf - Forward Voltage 1.25 V
Vr - Reverse Voltage 5 V
Maximum Collector Current 50 mA
Package Thru hole
Sensing Distance 0 mm to 5 mm
Lines that follow In order to find lines or tracks on the ground, it is frequently employed in line-following robots.
Proximity sensing The sensor may be used in touchless switches or obstacle detection systems to determine how close an object is.
Interface Digital GPIO

Wiring & usage notes

Connect power and ground, then wire the output pin to a digital GPIO input. Check whether the module uses active-high or active-low logic in your code.

What’s in the box

1 × Reflective Optical Sensor with Transistor Output CNY70

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Reflective Optical Sensor with Transistor Output CNY70 measure? It is designed to measure sensor data for embedded projects.
Can I use it with Arduino, ESP32, or Raspberry Pi? Yes. It is well suited for common maker and embedded platforms, as long as you power it at the correct voltage and match the signal level to your controller.
How do I connect this Digital GPIO sensor? This sensor provides a digital switching-style signal that is easy to read from a GPIO pin.
Does it need calibration? Yes. Chemical and gas sensors usually need warm-up time, calibration, and periodic checking if you want stable readings.
Is it good for prototyping? Yes. It is a practical choice for learning, proof-of-concept builds, and small automation projects.

Build with this board

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Notes from the bench

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Ask the community

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