Infrared Light Photo Detector Circuit This is a basic infrared light photo detector circuit In this circuit the light falling on the phototransistor

This is a basic infrared light photo detector circuit. In this circuit the light falling on the phototransistor will be from an Infrared Light Emitting Diode (IrLED) but otherwise it is the same as the phototransistor circuit shown above.

 When the light falling on the phototransistor (Q1) is blocked, its conductance will decrease and the voltage across Q1 will rise. When the voltage rises above 1/2 of the supply voltage the output of the comparator will turn ON and the LED will be lit.

Source: Infrared Light Photo-Detector