Retroreflective Sensors, Polarized Lens Option

Prism Reflector

The prism type reflector, as mentioned, polarizes the light. It turns it on its plane. Reflective tape cannot do this.

Polarized Lens Option:

Retroreflective sensors have a polarized lens option. This is the answer to false triggering caused by reflective targets. The light reflected off a shiny target is not polarized. It will trigger a standard retroreflective sensor, but it will not trigger a retroreflective sensor fitted with the polarized lens option. The polarized lens is not expensive, and the option is readily available, often from stock. The polarized lens filters out all light that is not polarized.
As shown above left, the reflector polarizes the emitted light before it bounces it back to the sensor.