Infra-red Level Detector

Parts:

R1           : 10K   1/4W Resistor
R2,R5,R6,R9  : 1K   1/4W Resistors
R3           : 33R   1/4W Resistor
R4,R8        : 1M   1/4W Resistors
R7           : 10K   Trimmer Cermet
R10          : 22K   1/4W Resistor

C1,C4        : 1΅F  63V Electrolytic or Polyester Capacitors
C2           : 47pF  63V Ceramic Capacitor
C3,C5,C6     : 100΅F  25V Electrolytic Capacitors

D1           : Infra-red LED
D2           : Infra-red Photo Diode (see Notes)
D3,D4        : 1N4148  75V 150mA Diode
D5           : LED  (Any color and size)
D6,D7        : 1N4002  100V 1A Diodes

Q1           : BC327  45V 800mA PNP Transistor

IC1          : 555  Timer IC
IC2          : LM358  Low Power Dual Op-amp
IC3          : 7812  12V 1A Positive voltage regulator IC

RL1          : Relay with SPDT 2A @ 220V switch
               Coil Voltage 12V. Coil resistance 200-300 Ohm

J1           : Two ways output socket



Device purpose:

This circuit is useful in liquids level or proximity detection. It operates detecting the distance from the target by reflection of an infra-red beam. It can safely detect the level of a liquid in a tank without any contact with the liquid itself. The device's range can be set from a couple of cm. to about 50 cm. by means of a trimmer.
Range can vary, depending on infra-red transmitting and receiving LEDs used and is mostly affected by the color of the reflecting surface. Black surfaces lower greatly the device's sensitivity.

Circuit operation:

IC1 forms an oscillator driving the infra-red LED by means of 0.8mSec. pulses at 120Hz frequency and about 300mA peak current. D1 & D2 are placed facing the target on the same line, a couple of centimeters apart, on a short breadboard strip. D2 picks-up the infra-red beam generated by D1 and reflected by the surface placed in front of it. The signal is amplified by IC2A and peak detected by D4 & C4. Diode D3, with R5 & R6, compensate for the forward diode drop of D4. A DC voltage proportional to the distance of the reflecting object and D1 & D2 feeds the inverting input of the voltage comparator IC2B. This comparator switches on and off the LED and the optional relay via Q1, comparing its input voltage to the reference voltage at its non-inverting input set by the Trimmer R7.

Notes:

    * Power supply must be regulated (hence the use of IC3) for precise reference voltages. The circuit can be fed by a commercial wall plug-in power supply, having a DC output voltage in the range 12-24V.
    * Current drawing: LED off 40mA; LED and Relay on 70mA @ 12V DC supply.
    * R10, C6, Q1, D6, D7, RL1 and J1 can be omitted if relay operation is not required.
    * The infra-red Photo Diode D2, should be of the type incorporating an optical sunlight  filter: these components appear in black plastic cases. Some of them resemble TO92 transistors: in this case, please note that the sensitive surface is the curved, not the flat one.
    * Avoid sun or artificial light hitting directly D1 & D2.
    * Usually D1-D2 optimum distance lies in the range 1.5-3 cm.
    * If you are needing a similar circuit driving 3 LEDs in sequence, also suitable as a parking aid, click here

Source http://www.electronics-lab.com