ANPR Access Control PCB with IR Sensors

1. Define Objective

• Design a custom PCB for an ANPR vehicle access system.

• Interface with Raspberry Pi 4 to control:

  • Traffic lights

  • Buzzer

  • Gate motor

  • RFID module

  • IR sensors for vehicle detection

2. Select Components

• Headers (1x2, 1x4, 1x15, 3x1) – for modular connections

• 5.5mm DC Jack – 12V power input

• 1kΩ Resistors – for MOSFET gate pull-down

• IRLZ44N MOSFET + Heatsink – for switching loads

• Molex 48393-0003 Connector – secure 3-pin connections

• IR Sensors – for detecting vehicle presence

• Raspberry Pi 4 – main controller via GPIO

3. Design the PCB

• Route 12V input and distribute power

• Add headers for all peripherals (RFID, buzzer, lights, gate, IR sensors)

• Connect MOSFETs to control high-current devices

• Add GPIO header (1x15) for Raspberry Pi

4. Interface Raspberry Pi

• Use GPIOs to:

  • Read IR sensor signals

  • Read RFID tag

  • Control gate, buzzer, and traffic light

• Process ANPR camera feed over LAN

5. Manage Power

• Input: 12V via DC jack

• Output:

  • 12V for motors/lights

  • Optional 5V for logic-level devices (e.g., RFID, IR sensors)

6. Test System

• Check individual components (IR, RFID, MOSFET switching)

• Run Raspberry Pi code for full system logic

• Validate vehicle detection, authentication, and gate control

7. Deploy System

• Mount PCB and components securely

• Connect to gate hardware and ANPR camera

• Run live Python-based control from Raspberry Pi