Best Off-the-Shelf Sensor for Detecting Green LED vs Red or White in Industrial Setup

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How can I detect whether a green LED is on, while ignoring red or white LEDs, in an industrial setup with an off-the-shelf sensor?

An off-the-shelf RGB color sensor based on an AMS chip is the most direct fit, because these sensors can separate primary colors and can be used for emitted light as well as reflected light when paired with a microcontroller [#21681327] [#21681329] The Adafruit RGB sensor board is one example; its sensitivity can be adjusted over a very wide range, and if the direct LED signal is too strong or too weak you can change sensitivity or add a neutral-density filter [#21681329] A lower-cost DIY alternative is to use a green LED reverse-biased as a detector, since a green LED responds to blue and some green light but not to red or yellow light; however, white light is still a problem because it contains all colors [#21681325] To distinguish green from white, the thread suggests using three LEDs (R/G/B) plus a small microcontroller to compare the responses [#21681325] Another off-the-shelf option mentioned is Pixy2, which can detect colors and report them to a microcontroller, though it was noted as relatively expensive at about $80 [#21681326]

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Need sensor for emitted green LED only
#1 21681323 12 Dec 2018 21:05

Kevin Thorp Kevin Thorp

Anonymous

Need sensor for emitted green LED only
Post #1 21681323 12 Dec 2018 21:05

We're having trouble finding a color-sensitive sensor that will detect when a green LED comes on. We don't want it to trigger when either of the other 2 colors (red or white) glow. We've found color sensors, but they're designed for reflected light (for example, checking the colors on a printed carton) rather than emitted light.

This is for an industrial application. If it works, we hope to implement it in about 100 stations throughout our factory. Ideally we'd like an off-the-shelf solution, but if required, we can kludge together an assembly of parts.
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#2 21681324 13 Dec 2018 00:41

Jacob Beningo Jacob Beningo

Anonymous

Post #2
21681324 13 Dec 2018 00:41

I'm not sure about a color sensor, but you should be able to take something like a raspberry Pi, a web camera and the OpenCV libraries to detect the color. A quick overview I found is on a blog at https://www.pyimagesearch.com/2016/02/15/determining-object-color-with-opencv/
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LED as detector for its own color
#3 21681325 13 Dec 2018 05:59

David Ashton David Ashton

Anonymous

LED as detector for its own color
Post #3 21681325 13 Dec 2018 05:59

Kevin.... you can use a LED reverse-biased as a detector for its own colour. Google "LED as sensor" for more info. From this article I got: (my bolding)As a photodiode, an LED is sensitive to wavelengths equal to or shorter than the predominant wavelength it emits. A green LED would be sensitive to blue light and to some green light, but not to yellow or red light. For example, a red LED will detect light emitted by a yellow LED and a yellow LED will detect light emitted by a green LED but a green LED will not detect light emitted by a red or yellow LED. All three LEDs will detect “white” light or light from a blue LED.
Unfortunately almost any LED will respond to white light as it contains all colours. I don't think you'll get round that too easily. Maybe have 3 LEDs (R/G/B) and have a small microcontroller to decide what light is coming in, if you only get green or green/blue on then it's green light, if you get all 3 then it's white light...
#4 21681326 13 Dec 2018 06:07

David Ashton David Ashton

Anonymous

Post #4
21681326 13 Dec 2018 06:07

Kevin there is also a camera just out called the Pixy 2 which can detect colours (and shapes) and report back to your uC on what it is seeing. A bit of a review here. That would certainly do what you want, but at around $80, how cost-effective it would be I don't know.
AMS color sensors with frequency outputs and RGB quadrants
#5 21681327 14 Dec 2018 04:08

John Stabler John Stabler

Anonymous

AMS color sensors with frequency outputs and RGB quadrants
Post #5 21681327 14 Dec 2018 04:08

You can find sensors capable of detecting primary colors individually at https://ams.com/light-sensorsAMS includes the old TAOS sensors. One AMS color sensor has quadrants, three of which sense separate primary colors. They are light-to-frequency converters. The outputs are compatible with digital GPIO. Higher intensity results in a higher frequency. The waveform is essentially a square wave.
LED photodiode wavelength discrimination limits
#6 21681328 14 Dec 2018 14:56

neha dubey neha dubey

Anonymous

LED photodiode wavelength discrimination limits
Post #6 21681328 14 Dec 2018 14:56

Utilize a LED switch one-sided as an indicator for its own shading.As a photodiode, a LED is touchy to wavelengths equivalent to or shorter than the transcendent wavelength it discharges. A green LED would be delicate to blue light and to some green light, however not to yellow or red light.For instance, a red LED will distinguish light discharged by a yellow LED and a yellow LED will recognize light transmitted by a green LED yet a green LED won't identify light produced by a red or yellow LED.Every one of the three LEDs will distinguish "white" light or light from a blue LED. Shockingly any LED will react to white light as it contains all colours.I don't think you'll get round that too effortlessly.Possibly have 3 LEDs (R/G/B) and have a little micro controller to choose what light is coming in, in the event that you just get green or green/blue on, it's green light, in the event that you get each of the 3, it's white light...
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Adafruit RGB sensor board with neutral density filter
#7 21681329 15 Dec 2018 00:17

John Stabler John Stabler

Anonymous

Adafruit RGB sensor board with neutral density filter
Post #7 21681329 15 Dec 2018 00:17

Adafruit offers a RGB sensor board for about eight dollars based on one of the AMS sensors. Adafruit added a white LED so that it can be used for reflected light as well as emitted light. The Adafruit writeup emphasizes reflected light, but it could also be used for direct light. Sensors designed for reflected light need a light source, but the light source need not be used for the function you describe. The sensor has an adjustable range of sensitivity from low to millions-to-one. High sensitivity is needed for the reflected light. If the lowest sensitivity setting doesn't work, try adding a neutral density optical filter. Neutral density filters are optical-speak for attenuators and come in a variety of values.
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#8 21681330 17 Dec 2018 18:05

Cologne LED Cologne LED

Anonymous

Post #8
21681330 17 Dec 2018 18:05

Imagine looking at a printed red mark on white stock. The red mark looks dark in contrast to the white paper. Now imagine placing a red transparent filter in front of your eyes while looking at the red mark. The mark now becomes difficult, if not impossible, to see. A sensor equipped with a red LED would have the same problem and, most probably, would not register the mark.
#9 21681331 17 Dec 2018 23:00

Elizabeth Simon Elizabeth Simon

Anonymous

Post #9
21681331 17 Dec 2018 23:00

This looks like a good solution. Pair this with an Arduino Nano or some such and a bit of software and you would have an inexpensive solution.
#10 21681332 19 Dec 2018 16:26

Mike P OKeeffe Mike P OKeeffe

Anonymous

Post #10
21681332 19 Dec 2018 16:26

I'm intrigued. This sounds really interesting, I'm going to have to try this out over the Christmas holidays.
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Topic summary

The discussion addresses the challenge of detecting a green LED's emitted light in an industrial environment without false triggering from red or white LEDs. Standard color sensors typically target reflected light rather than emitted light, complicating direct LED color detection. Suggested solutions include using a Raspberry Pi with a webcam and OpenCV for color detection, or employing LEDs themselves as photodiode sensors sensitive to specific wavelength ranges—green LEDs detect blue and some green light but not red or yellow, though all LEDs respond to white light, making white detection problematic. Another approach involves using a color sensor from AMS (formerly TAOS) with quadrant photodiodes for primary color detection, which outputs light-to-frequency signals compatible with digital GPIO. Adafruit offers an RGB sensor board based on AMS sensors, featuring an added white LED for reflected and emitted light detection, with adjustable sensitivity and the option to use neutral density filters to manage intensity. The Pixy 2 camera is also mentioned as a color and shape detection device that can interface with microcontrollers, though cost-effectiveness is a consideration. Combining multiple LEDs (R/G/B) as sensors with a microcontroller can help discriminate green from white light by analyzing which LEDs respond. Overall, solutions range from off-the-shelf color sensors adapted for emitted light, LED-based photodetection, to camera-based color recognition systems, often requiring microcontroller integration for signal processing.
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Best Off-the-Shelf Sensor for Detecting Green LED vs Red or White in Industrial Setup

How can I detect whether a green LED is on, while ignoring red or white LEDs, in an industrial setup with an off-the-shelf sensor?

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