What this sensor is and where it fits
The Omron EE-SPY401 is a reflective diffuse photoelectric sensor in a through-hole package, designed for short-range object detection at a fixed 0.197 mm sensing distance. It uses an infrared LED and outputs an NPN open-collector signal that goes LOW (Light-ON) when the target is present. The 5 V supply and PLC-compatible output make it a direct fit for industrial control input cards — no level shifting needed between the sensor and a 5 V PLC input module.
0.197 mm sensing distance — what it means on the board
The 0.197 mm sensing distance requires the target to be nearly touching the sensor face. This is suited for precision gap detection or flag sensing in mechanisms where the target passes within a fraction of a millimeter.
NPN open-collector output and PLC wiring
The NPN open-collector Light-ON output sinks current when the sensor detects the target. At 5 V and 0.015 A switching current, it drives a standard PLC digital input directly — no external pull-up needed if the PLC input has an internal pull-up to its own supply. The 'Supports Connection With PLCs' feature means the output timing and drive strength are matched to typical PLC input thresholds. Wire the collector to the PLC input, the emitter to ground, and the sensor supply to 5 V. The 0.015 A rating is per-channel; do not parallel outputs to increase drive.
Active lifecycle and sourcing
The EE-SPY401 is listed as Active in production. It is available through independent distribution and can be quoted to order. For dual-sourcing, the EE-SPZ401-A shares the same package, supply voltage, and output type but uses retroreflective sensing with a mirror target at a longer 7.874 mm range.