How PIR Sensor Work

PIR sensors allow you to sense motion, almost always used to detect whether a human has moved in or out of the sensors range. They are small, inexpensive, low-power, easy to use and don't wear out. For that reason they are commonly found in appliances and gadgets used in homes or businesses. They are often referred to as PIR, "Passive Infrared", "Pyroelectric", or "IR motion" sensors.PIRs are basically made of a pyroelectric sensor (which you can see below as the round metal can with a rectangular crystal in the center), which can detect levels of infrared radiation. Everything emits some low level radiation, and the hotter something is, the more radiation is emitted. The sensor in a motion detector is actually split in two halves. The reason for that is that we are looking to detect motion (change) not average IR levels. The two halves are wired up so that they cancel each other out. If one half sees more or less IR radiation than the other, the output will swing high or low.

Step 1: How PIRs Work

PIR sensors are more complicated than many of the other sensors explained in these tutorials (like photocells, FSRs and tilt switches) because there are multiple variables that affect the sensors input and output. To begin explaining how a basic sensor works, we'll use this rather nice diagram. The PIR sensor itself has two slots in it, each slot is made of a special material that is sensitive to IR. The lens used here is not really doing much and so we see that the two slots can 'see' out past some distance (basically the sensitivity of the sensor). When the sensor is idle, both slots detect the same amount of IR, the ambient amount radiated from the room or walls or outdoors. When a warm body like a human or animal passes by, it first intercepts one half of the PIR sensor, which causes a positive differential change between the two halves. When the warm body leaves the sensing area, the reverse happens, whereby the sensor generates a negative differential change. These change pulses are what is detected.

Step 2: LED Blink

Now when the PIR detects motion, the output pin will go "high" to 3.3V and light up the LED!

Once you have the breadboard wired up, insert batteries and wait 30-60 seconds for the PIR to 'stabilize'. During that time the LED may blink a little. Wait until the LED is off and then move around in front of it, waving a hand, etc, to see the LED light up!

Step 3: Alarm System

Step 4: PIR Sensor Using Controlling RELAY Module

Step 5: DOWNLOAD CODE:

ARDUINO UNO CODE Download link

Comments

[VincentT57]

I assembled scheme, but made just reading of sensor status. And I got indefinite repetition of "1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 " series. Why it changes to 1 at all if nothing stays in front of sensor??

[Shiseiji]

This, and every other PRI test I can find, is only half a test. It tests "High." I cannot tell if my PRI is ever going into "Low." Both states need to be tested. I'm not a coder, never will be a coder, and am frustrated by coding. I just want to make something work. But I can't even test my components to see if they are the problem before I troubleshoot the code to see if it is the problem. Why? Because I first have to learn how to code to do that.

[DIY Hacks and How Tos]

Great tutorial. It does a really good job of explaining how everything works.

[DIY Partners]

Thanks