Cut Sheet
V8-T8-2 Volume 8—Sensing Solutions CA08100010E—November 2013 www.eaton.com
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For Customer Service in the U.S. call 1-877-ETN CARE (386-2273),
in Canada call 1-800-268-3578.
For Application Assistance in the U.S. and Canada
call 1-800-426-9184.
8.1
Sensor Accessories
Retroreflectors and Retroreflective Tape
Retroreflectors and Retroreflective Tape
Contents
Description Page
Retroreflectors and Retroreflective Tape
Product Selection
Retroreflectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V8-T8-3
Retroreflective Tape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V8-T8-3
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V8-T8-4
Retroreflectors and Retroreflective Tape
Product Description
Retroreflectors from Eaton’s
Electrical Sector are used
with reflex-type sensors.
Two types of retroreflective
target material are available:
corner cube and embedded
glass bead.
Application Description
Corner Cube Retroreflectors
This type provides the
highest signal return to the
sensor, typically 2000 to 3000
times the reflectivity of white
paper. Three adjoining sides
are arranged at right angles to
each other. When a ray of
light strikes one of these
sides (A), it is reflected to the
second (B), then the third (C),
and then back to the source
parallel to its original course.
Thousands of these cube
shapes are molded into a
rugged plastic reflector or
vinyl tape material. Corner
cube retroreflectors are
suitable for use with both
standard reflex and polarized
reflex sensors.
Corner Cube
Retroreflector Size
The size of the retroreflective
target has a significant effect
on the excess gain and range
of a reflex sensor. In general,
we recommend you use
the largest possible reflector
in every reflex sensing
application to maximize
performance of the sensor
and simplify alignment.
To provide an even larger
reflective area, multiple retro-
reflectors can be grouped
together as shown.
Using Retroreflectors with
Polarized Reflex Sensors
Only corner cube retro-
reflective material can be
used with polarized reflex
sensors. When polarized light
from the sensor’s light
source strikes a corner cube
retroreflector, it is returned to
the sensor in a depolarized
state. This allows some of
the light to pass through the
detector’s polarizer, which
is positioned at 90° to the
source polarizer, to allow
the sensor to operate.
Glass bead retroreflectors
do not depolarize light and
will not work with polarized
reflex sensors.
Molded plastic corner cube
retroreflectors are always
recommended as they
provide the highest signal
return to the sensor.
Corner cube tape works
with polarized reflex sensors
but returns less light to the
sensor. In all cases, Eaton
recommends testing sensor
and tape prior to final
installation.
For the most current information
on this product, visit our Web site:
www.eaton.com
Light Ray
A
B
C
7 Retroreectors
Grouped Together