Parallax X-Band Motion Detector

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Parallax X-Band Motion Detector

Page last updated 09 Mar 2015, by Dominic Ottaviano. 0 replies

The Parallax X-Band Motion Detector is a relatively small lower power (8mA) radar motion detector. It is capable of detection up to slightly over 30 feet and is able to sense movement through windows and walls. Sensitivity is adjustable via a potentiometer on the back of the device.

X-Band Motion Detector

Demo Program

Import program Parallax_XBAND_Demo

Demo Program for the Parallax X-Band Motion detector.

Library

Import library Parallax_X-Band

Library for setting up the Parallax X-Band Motion Detector.

Datasheet

http://parallax.com/sites/default/files/downloads/32213-X-BandMotionDetector-v1.1_0.pdf

Product Page

http://www.parallax.com/product/32213

Notes

Something to keep in mind is that this is a radar detector so the speed of an object can be measured with it. However as stated in the user manual the area of detection is very wide unlike the focused radar beams of police speed detectors. So knowing this, measurements of speed will only be accurate if a single object is moving within the beam width of the detector. If more than one object is moving the measurement will not be a true measure of speed but instead could be interpreted as the "magnitude" of total movement.

Theory of Operation

This device quantifies the "magnitude" or speed of movement into pulses on the OUT pin. The pulses are more closely spaced together for faster movement and further apart for slower movement.

Wiring

Parallax X-Band motion detector hooked up on a breadboard.

Breadboard Hookup

Pinout Table

X-Band Pins	mbed Pins
+5V	VU (5V )
EN	P26 (Or any Digital Out)
OUT	P25 (Or any Digital In)
GND	GND

Demo Program Video

API Documentation

Import library
Parallax_X-Band - xband Class Reference

Public Member Functions
	xband (PinName pin_enable, PinName pin_inputA, PinName pin_inputB)
	Initialize the xband motion detector and setup interrupts on specified pins.
	~xband ()
	Destructor.
void	enable (bool enable)
	Subroutine to enable and disable the detector.
int	read_count ()
	Get count value and return it as an integer.
void	reset_count ()
	Resets the count variable to 0.
bool	velocityack ()
	Checks if a new velocity value has been calculated.
float	read_velocity ()
	Get current velocity reading.

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