I am designing an information kiosk with touch screen to display information in a museum. I would like to provide it with a proximity sensor so that the dormant screen would come on whenever a visitor is close to the screen. control under windows 7 would be nice so that a software script would run at the same time.. What is the best way to achieve this ?..
Windows – Kiosk proximity sensor
proximity-sensorwindows
Related Solutions
Mouser's latest mailing mentioned this one: Vishay VCNL4000. For the price of the proximity sensor you also get an ambient light sensor. 4mm x 4mm, 0.75mm high, though it has three blobs on it which make it somewhat higher. Still looks like it's less than 3mm.
Detection range for the proximity sensor is only 20cm, though.
disclaimer: the mention of Mouser is not a shopping advice :-)
Pretty sure they use radar for adaptive cruise control in cars. Check this sensor out:
I've heard them called "headway sensors" or "radar headway sensors". There are other technologies like acoustic but I'm not sure if they'll have the range you're looking for. Laser could work but it's aim is pretty narrow, dust dirt and fog can get in the way etc.
Good Luck!
Best Answer
Many good ideas for a detection sensor were already mentioned above, I would like to add an ultrasonic sensor.