HC-SR04 UltraSonic Sensor

The HC-SR04 is an affordable and easy-to-use ultrasonic distance sensor. It measures the distance to an object by using sonar technology and provides accurate distance measurements from 2 cm to 400 cm. The sensor is widely used in robotics, obstacle avoidance systems, and various DIY electronics projects.

Key Features:

• Ultrasonic ranging module
• High precision and stable performance
• Simple pulse-in/pulse-out communication
• Measurement range: 2 cm to 400 cm
• Accurate to ±3 mm
• Low power consumption
• Easy integration with microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc.)

Technical Specifications:

• Operating Voltage: 5V DC
• Quiescent Current: < 2 mA
• Working Current: 15 mA
• Measurement Range: 2 cm to 400 cm
• Resolution: 1 cm
• Measuring Angle: 15 degrees
• Trigger Input Pulse Width: 10 µs
• Echo Pulse Width: Proportional to distance
• Dimensions: 45mm x 20mm x 15mm

Applications:

• Obstacle avoidance systems
• Distance measuring
• Object detection
• Autonomous navigation for robots
• Liquid level measurement
• Proximity sensing

Usage:

1. Connection:
   • Connect the VCC pin to a 5V power supply.
   • Connect the GND pin to ground.
   • Connect the Trig (Trigger) pin to a digital output pin on the microcontroller.
   • Connect the Echo pin to a digital input pin on the microcontroller.
2. Operation:
   • To initiate a measurement, send a 10 µs high pulse to the Trig pin.
   • The sensor will emit an 8-cycle burst of ultrasound at 40 kHz and set the Echo pin high.
   • Measure the duration for which the Echo pin remains high to calculate the distance to the object (distance = duration * 0.034 / 2).
3. Programming:
   • Write a program on the microcontroller to send the trigger pulse, read the echo pulse duration, and calculate the distance.
   • Many microcontroller platforms, such as Arduino, have libraries available to simplify interfacing with the HC-SR04.

Caution:

• Avoid using the sensor in environments with excessive noise or strong ultrasonic interference.
• Handle the sensor with care to avoid damage to the ultrasonic transducers.
• Ensure proper connections to avoid incorrect readings or damage to the sensor.

Datasheet:
For detailed technical specifications, refer to the HC-SR04 Datasheet.