Try this. Put a cable between the transceiver and the receiver. Then connect a spdt switch to the transceiver's vin. The other two ends of the switch go to vcc and ground. Flip the switch, make sure the transmitter led is turning on, and then use a multimeter to test the vout pin on the receiver.
simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
This will tell you if the two are working. Even better, a very slow clock that you can measure would work as well. A 555 chip set up for 2hz connected to vin should cause vout to switch on and off two times a second (See: https://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/64527/17178)
So you just want to use fiber optics to expand the coverage area of the sensors. It's entirely possible for IR to travel through fiber optic cables, it just depends on the type of cable, and the transmission wavelength. Have a look at this, specifically the diagram showing scattering and absorbtion by wavelength in fiber optic cable.
Understanding Wavelengths in Fiber Optics
And as they say on that page, the prime wavelengths are 850, 1300, and 1550, because they fall between the absorption bands, and it seems like 1550 > 1300 > 850 because of the scattering curve. Fiber optics are used with IR LEDs for example in products like this:
Fiber-Optic Coupled IR LEDs
However that's obviously different from what you're doing, since your IR source isn't directly at one end. I imagine it will come down to is the IR detector sensitive enough, and that'll depend on how much of the light makes it into the cable, or how far apart is the cable and LED.
And it looks like your detector is sensitive from 850 - 1050nm, and your LED is 940nm so that's good, but if you're going to be using this during the day, you have to worry about solar irradiance, and atmospheric absorption. It looks like there's about 0.75 W/m^2 at 940nm of irradiance, and the absorption band is around one of those plateaus:
Or on this image, it's the first peak above 50% from the left, at about 65%, mostly due to water vapor:
So since I don't actually know whether you plan to use this in broad daylight or not, I'd say if it's a night only device, go for it. If not, it might still be possible, but it might be difficult. If you try it out and it doesn't work, there are 3 things I can think of that might help:
- Get a more powerful IR LED
-It looks like you already have the most powerful IR at 940nm at least on digi-key, but it couldn't hurt to look around.
- Get more sensitive detectors
- Move to a different wavelength.
--I actually have some IR LEDs from OSRAM as well. Your 4545 has a peak of 500mW/sr radiant intensity. The ones I have are the 4751, which peaks at 1250 mW/sr. Those look to be discontinued, but they do have the 4750, which has essentially the same specs. 1250 mW/sr, at a wavelength of 850nm
Best Answer
Yes, this product exists.
It can be made using MEMS technology, as an electromechanical device (a relay with a fiber attached to the armature), or motorized (and probably other technologies).
Important characteristics are
fiber type compatibility (single-mode or multi-mode, and what core diameter)
insertion loss
return loss
wavelength compatibility
number of inputs and outputs
switching cycle durability
power consumption
switching speed
control interface
...
There are numerous vendors for these products. You can start searching them by looking in trade magazines like Laser Focus World and Photonics Spectra, or from exhibitor lists at trade shows like OFC (Optical Fiber Conference) and Photonics West.