# Pololu Distance Sensor with Pulse Width Output, 130cm Max

**Type:** Product page · **SKU:** POLOLU-4071 · **Brand:** [Pololu](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/pololu-australia)
**Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-distance-sensor-with-pulse-width-output-130cm-max.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-distance-sensor-with-pulse-width-output-130cm-max.html.md))

This small lidar-based distance sensor reports the distance of objects up to about 130 cm (50") away with a pulsed signal similar to a hobby servo control ...

## Pricing

- **Price:** $38.40 (inc GST) — $34.91 AUD, exc GST
- **Quantity discounts:** 10+ $33.51 (exc GST) · 25+ $32.46 (exc GST)

## Availability & dispatch

- Available with a lead time — expect dispatch between Aug 31 and Sep 03.

## Description

This compact sensor makes it possible to measure the distance of objects up to about 130 cm (50") away using a simple digital pulse width interface (similar to a [hobby servo control signal](https://core-electronics.com.au/blog/17)). It uses a short-range lidar module to precisely measure how long it takes for emitted pulses of infrared, eye-safe laser light to reach the nearest object and be reflected back, allowing for 1 mm resolution. As long as the sensor is enabled, it takes continuous distance measurements and encodes the ranges as the widths of high pulses, which can then be timed by a microcontroller using a single digital input.

| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11154_209253440b9.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11154_1138444602d.png) |
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| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11161_154897e85b7.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11161_37599f1ec4d.jpg) |
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| [**\#4050: Digital output, 5cm**](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-digital-distance-sensor-5cm.html) | 5 cm | < 5 mm | 145 Hz | 0000 | irs16a |
| [**\#4052: Digital output, 10cm**](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-digital-distance-sensor-10cm.html) | 10 cm | < 5 mm | 115 Hz | 0010 |
| [**\#4054: Digital output, 15cm**](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-digital-distance-sensor-15cm.html) | 15 cm | < 5 mm | 95 Hz | 0100 |
| [**\#4066: Digital output, 25cm**](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-digital-distance-sensor-25cm.html) | 25 cm | < 1 mm | 100 Hz | 0000 | irs17a |
| [**\#4067: Digital output, 50cm**](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-digital-distance-sensor-50cm.html) | 50 cm | < 1 mm | 100 Hz | 0001 |
| [**\#4069: Digital output, 100cm**](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-digital-distance-sensor-100cm.html) | 100 cm | < 1 mm | 100 Hz | 0011 |
| [**\#4077: Digital output, 200cm**](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-digital-distance-sensor-200cm.html) | 200 cm | < 1 mm | 30 Hz | 1011 |

| **Pulse width output** (provides distance measurement) |
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| [**\#4064: Pulse width output, 50cm max**](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-distance-sensor-with-pulse-width-output-50cm-max.html) | ~50 cm | 1 cm | 3 mm | 50 Hz | 1110 | irs16a |
| [**\#4071: Pulse width output, 130cm max**](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-distance-sensor-with-pulse-width-output-130cm-max.html) | ~130 cm | 4 cm | 1 mm | 100 Hz | 0101 | irs17a |
| [**\#4079: Pulse width output, 300cm max**](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-distance-sensor-with-pulse-width-output-300cm-max.html) | ~300 cm | 4 cm | 2 mm | 30 Hz | 1101 |

**1** Effective range depends on object reflectivity and ambient lighting conditions.
**2** Objects closer than the minimum distance can still be detected, but the measured distance might be inaccurate. The minimum detection range is < 5 mm for irs16a boards and < 1 mm for irs17a boards.

These are the output graphs for the digital output versions that just report if an object is in their detection range:

| \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11151_14459e94304.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11151_161893d4a2f.png) \| \|---\| | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11152_1492650dce1.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11152_161712441a0.png) \| \|---\|---\| | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11153_15147671872.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11153_165206afe34.png) \| \|---\|---\| |
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| \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11270_15345089aa6.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11270_1733253634e.png) \| | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11271_154837e1216.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11271_1670865d2ba.png) \| \|---\|---\| | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11272_15637700695.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11272_16713404988.png) \| \|---\|---\| |
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|  | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11273_162551934d5.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11273_1707036dc59.png) \| |  |
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The output graph is a bit different for the versions that use a pulse width to encode the measured distance. The output for these versions is similar to hobby servo control signals and is shown below as a function of time:

| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11154_155369da88d.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11154_1138444602d.png) |
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**Comparison to Sharp Digital Distance Sensors**

These Pololu Digital Distance Sensors have the same form factor and pinout as Pololu's [carrier boards](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-carrier-with-sharp-gp2y0d805z0f-digital-distance-sensor-5cm.html) for the Sharp/Socle [GP2Y0D8x](https://core-electronics.com.au/sharp-gp2y0d805z0f-digital-distance-sensor-5cm.html) digital distance sensors. They are available in the same 5 cm, 10 cm, and 15 cm ranges, in addition to longer ranges of up to several meters. This means they can be used as replacements for these older modules, which are based on sensors from Sharp/Socle that are no longer in production, and the longer-range versions can serve as upgrades that provide enhanced detection and measurement capabilities. The sensors on these newer units are much thinner than the Sharp modules, so the zero-range point is approximately 7 mm closer to the PCB, and the beam angle of the newer units is wider. The pictures below show side-by-side comparisons of the two:

| \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11280_20376d5df3d.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11280_27673e4b9e1.jpg) \| \|---\| | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11281_184001eb547.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11281_74029a45044.jpg) \| \|---\|---\| | \| [![](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11282_84216d376d.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11282_49607a8ea0a.jpg) \| \|---\|---\| |
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**People often buy this product together with:**

| [![Pololu Distance Sensor with Pulse Width Output, 50cm Max](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11135_3779d30377.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-distance-sensor-with-pulse-width-output-50cm-max.html) | [Pololu Distance Sensor with Pulse Width Output, 50cm Max](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-distance-sensor-with-pulse-width-output-50cm-max.html) |
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| [![Pololu Digital Distance Sensor 50cm](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11228_37715a4c49.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-digital-distance-sensor-50cm.html) | [Pololu Digital Distance Sensor 50cm](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-digital-distance-sensor-50cm.html) |
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| [![Pololu Digital Distance Sensor 100cm](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/0J11229_38328021c4.jpg)](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-digital-distance-sensor-100cm.html) | [Pololu Digital Distance Sensor 100cm](https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-digital-distance-sensor-100cm.html) |
|---|---|

**Dimensions**

 | Size: | 0.85" × 0.35" × 0.136" |
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| Weight: | 0.4 g |

**General specifications**

 | Resolution: | 1 mm |
|---|---|
| Maximum range: | 130 cm[1](https://core-electronics.com.au/#note1) |
| Sampling rate: | 100 Hz[2](https://core-electronics.com.au/#note2) |
| Minimum operating voltage: | 3.0 V |
| Maximum operating voltage: | 5.5 V |
| Supply current: | 30 mA[3](https://core-electronics.com.au/#note3) |
| Output type: | digital pulse width |

**Identifying markings**

 | PCB dev codes: | irs17a |
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| Other PCB markings: | 0J13150 |

**Notes:**

1This maximum is only achievable for high-reflectance objects in good ambient conditions; lower-reflectivity targets or poor ambient conditions will reduce the maximum range.2Minimum.3Typical average current draw when enabled; disabling via the EN pin reduces it to around 0.4 mA. **File downloads**

- **[Dimension diagram of the Pololu Digital Distance Sensors (irs17a)](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/pololu-digital-distance-sensor-dimensions-irs17a_192972c53ab.pdf) (193k pdf)**
- **3D model of the Pololu Digital Distance Sensors (irs17a) (5MB step)**
- **Drill guide for the Pololu Digital Distance Sensors (irs17a) (22k dxf)**
    
    This DXF drawing shows the locations of all of the board’s holes.
 
**Recommended links**

- **[micro:bit MakeCode serial example for the Pololu Distance Sensor with Pulse Width Output, 130cm Max](https://makecode.microbit.org/96341-79144-80702-64516)**

## Images

- [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/i/m/image_328.jpg)