Proximity sensors are used to sense the presence of objects or materials across a broad range of industrial and manufacturing applications. Key to their operation is that they don’t require physical contact with the target or object being sensed. This is why they’re often called non-contact sensors. One of the most common types of proximity sensor is the photoelectric sensor. These sensors detect objects directly in front of them by the detecting the sensor’s own transmitted light reflected back from an object’s surface. A common arrangement is that both the emitter and receiver are housed in the same unit, but not all photoelectric sensors are constructed this way. sensor An example of a reflective sensor with both the emitter and receiver in a single housing. There are three basic configurations for photoelectric proximity sensors; reflective, through-beam, and proximity sensors.