Measuring distance with a microcontroller is one of those tasks that can be accomplished a number of ways. These IR Distance Sensors are probably one of the easiest ways to get it done! This Sharp distance sensor uses infrared light to detect distances between 4 and 30cm away. The output is an analog signal ranging from approximately 2.7VDC at 4cm to 0.4VDC at 30cm. Simply connect this sensor’s output to a 5V compatible analog input on your microcontroller.

The sensor has a 3 pin JST-PH connector on the bottom and includes a 190mm breakout cable to bare leads. The manufacturer recommends using a 10uF capacitor on the input power for the sensor as it tends to draw power in short bursts.