Slot sensor with 5 mm gap — NPN open collector output
The Omron EE-SX673A is a through-beam slot-type optical sensor with a 5 mm slot width, designed for detecting the presence or position of objects passing through the gap. The NPN open collector output sinks up to 12 mA, making it directly compatible with standard PLC digital input modules or logic-level circuits operating at 5 V. Response time is 1 ms, which sets the maximum detectable object speed — at a conveyor line speed of 1 m/s, a 5 mm flag passes through the slot in 5 ms, leaving a 4 ms margin for the sensor to assert the output before the flag exits the beam.
Sensing distance and detection principle
The through-beam sensing method uses an emitter and receiver aligned across the 5 mm slot. The sensing distance is 0.197 mm (5 mm) — this is the physical gap the beam crosses, not a free-air range. Objects as small as 0.5 mm in diameter breaking the beam will be detected, provided they block the full optical path. Chassis mount with a slot-type housing means the sensor integrates into a machine frame or conveyor side-rail via two M3 screw holes. The mounting bracket is not included; the user provides the mechanical interface to align the slot with the target path.
Supply voltage and temperature envelope
Rated for a 5 V supply, the sensor draws its operating current from the same rail that powers the output load. The NPN output saturates to within 0.4 V of ground at 12 mA sink current, so the logic-low level is well below the 0.8 V threshold of a 5 V TTL input. Operating temperature range is -25°C to 55°C (TA). This covers indoor factory-floor environments and unheated storage areas but does not extend to outdoor direct-sunlight or oven-adjacent locations. The ambient temperature must stay within this band at the sensor body, not just the air around the machine.