Hi, i'm now facing a problem with some wierd project i have to do in college. i'm building a distance detector using just a photodiore as my only sensor. the problem is my photodiode is giving me output that are extremely variable, and they often variate on their own even if nothing changes in the surrounding. do y'all have an idea of what can be the problem?
i'm using a classical fotoconductive configuration with the cathode at 5V and a 10k resistance to the ground

 

Hi
why not to use TSOP sensor, not a photodiode?

TSOP1738 datasheet(1/7 Pages) VISHAY | Photo Modules for PCM Remote Control Systems (alldatasheet.com)

If a photodiode is used, you need to build an amplifier for it. It's an adaptive to ambient ligt amplifier. In addition,the photodiode and the amplifier must be screened to eliminate sensitivity to noises. Not so easy as it seems at first glance

 

Instead of using only photodiode use an IR sensor which has a photodiode embedded in it. Simple IR sensor isn't gonna work here as it only gives 1's and 0's and will not give range of voltages. I would recommend IR sensor like this one.

 

Hi, i'm now facing a problem with some wierd project i have to do in college. i'm building a distance detector using just a photodiore as my only sensor. the problem is my photodiode is giving me output that are extremely variable, and they often variate on their own even if nothing changes in the surrounding. do y'all have an idea of what can be the problem?
i'm using a classical fotoconductive configuration with the cathode at 5V and a 10k resistance to the ground

You may have to filter out 60Hz or 50Hz noise that would come from ambient lighting in the room. It will actually be 120Hz or 100Hz though. Fluorescent lamps cause problems and so do incandescent bulbs. We don't see much change in the light output but it does change due to the line frequency sinusoidal waveform. It's enough to bother light detectors of various kinds.