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IR Temperature sensor -> Multicolored LED

MechEngUK

Aug 13, 2015
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Aug 13, 2015
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Hi All,

I'm looking to use an IR temp sensor to indicate the temperature of a remote object with low precision.

Essentially have an LED change from Red to Green gradually (Yellow in the middle) as the object heats up,

I could interface with the sensor with a microchip but this seems like overkill when I don't care what the specific temperature is.

Does anyone know a simple way of doing this? Thanks very much for any help.
 

Alec_t

Jul 7, 2015
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Jul 7, 2015
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3,587
Welcome to EP!
How remote is remote, what is the object?
An elephant at 1metre would be simpler to measure than an ant at 10metres :).
 

MechEngUK

Aug 13, 2015
2
Joined
Aug 13, 2015
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Hi Alec_t - Not very remote at all! 5mm would work, it's mainly a non-contact problem.
 

duke37

Jan 9, 2011
5,364
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Jan 9, 2011
Messages
5,364
Get a sensor with an output proportional to temperature to give a voltage in a convenient range.
Feed this in to an op-amp with the other input maintained at the required reference point.
Use a dual power supply with the two leds connected to ground, one running from positive and one negative. This will switch fom one colour to the other but some positive feedback to the reference terminal could give an oscillator to broaden the trigger point.
 
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