IKA-TACH
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Contactless tachometer project is based on an ATMEGA48 AVR micro controller, and is able to measure very high RPMs, as well as very low ones. It is based on an IR (Infra Red) opto-couple to detect shaft rotation.
A tachometer is a device used to measure the number of revolutions per minute of a rotating shaft (see wikipedia’s definition). It is mainly used to measure the speed of motors in planes, cars, motor bikes or even bicycles.
The heart of this tachometer is an IR sensor, also called opto couple, which is a diode and photo diode in one package. This opto-couple will send IR beam on the shaft to detect it’s rotation. For that purpose, a small reflective sticker is added on the shaft, so that each rotation of the shaft will cause a “pulse” of IR light to be reflected. Illustration shows a beam or IR light being sent to a rotating shaft having a reflective sticker on it.
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Best regards,
Peter