How does this IR Proximity/Object sensor work ? Any resources or tutorials on how this works would be really helpful. I want to use this for my raspberry pi
NOTE : I have searched a lot on the internet and most of them either have 3 pins or a white dome shape over the module. This one has 4 pins.
It's a basic IR proximity sensor using a LM358 general purpose op-amp. Not knowing it's specific configuration, it's safe to assume its similar to a simple comparator setup. Diagram from here along with a full detail of how it works, which is how most IR proximity sensors will be wired really.
The two output pins are likely for convenience and will be tied together. You can confirm by looking or using a continuity setting on a multimeter.
Update: Based on the pictures and @RJR's schematic, the two outputs are separate. One provides an on/off digital output, the other provides an analog voltage proportional to the input.
Since it's running at 5V, you will need a voltage divider or level translator to connect it to a RPi input.
Here is your schematic - sorry for the rough draft...
Basically there two function as I said in my comment above. One part of the amplifier is set up as a comparator, feeding output 1 (pin 3). The trimpot determines at what level the output will flip (and light the red LED).
The second amplifier is set up as a simple analog buffer/amplifier with a fixed gain (1+10k/4.7k = 3x). Output 2 (pin 4) will give a voltage proportional to the amount of light detected.
O1 will be 0v is the amount of light is below the threshold set by the trimpot, it will ve 5V when the amount of light is above the threshold. If this is what you need for your application, you should use this output. That sayd, you need to take care that the Raspberry Pi uses 3.3v logic - high is 3.3v, low is 0V and thus, you need to reduce the 'high' voltage from 5v to 3.3v. The simplest way is to use a voltage divider. Take a 15k and a 22k resistor. Connect the 10k to O1, the 20k to the other end of the 15k, and the other end of the 22k to ground. Then, connect your rPi input to the connection between the 15k and 22k resistors. You have just made your first voltage divider. The 5V on O1 will now be 22*5/(15+22)=3v, nice and safe for your rPi.
4 pin IR sensor works same as that of 3 pin IR sensor. Just leave the last "OUT" pin. First three pins are enough.
(1.) +5 volts
(2.) ground
(3.) output
->The LED on the board becomes "ON" when obstacle is near.
