Is it possible to control a lot (let's assume 100) of TCRT5000 IR distance sensors with one Arduino? So just use one or a few pins but not 100?

I am relativly new to the Arduino/electronics area and I know about the I2C protocol which would allow that but the TCRT5000 does not support I2C as far as I know.

I have seen people using it but I am not sure how, maybe there is another chip required? Any recommodations where to start?

[Datasheet TCRT5000](http://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/26406/VISHAY/TCRT5000.html)

**UPDATE**

Wow, what an overwhelming response! Thank you all for all the time and effort you put into this. I will add more details here, sorry that I didn't include them in the first place.

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**CLARIFIED QUESTION**

As it is not necessary to use the TCRT5000 and I think there might be better options I have to clarify more what I am trying to create:

I want to build the concept for a single tile in a board game which is able to:

* Illuminate the tile in any colour - I already have a good solution by using a low cost addressable LED strip and control it via the Fast LED library
* Detect if there is a piece on top of the tile - this is where I want(ed) to use the TCRT5000 for - and it is [very cheap](http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10Pcs-TCRT5000L-TCRT5000-Reflective-Optical-Sensor-New-Arrival-Practical-L-/380963315685?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item58b32edfe5&_uhb=1#shpCntId). But as there is already light in the tile maybe a photocell measuring the reflected light would be an option too.
* Optionally detect what *type* of piece is on top of the tile - that is not required but it would open a few more doors in developing the software driving the game. Thought about low cost RFID or magnet detectors. I don't think it is possible to get this cost efficient enough.
* It should be scalable - so preferably one tile would work independently.

The amount of tiles used in the game will be determined by the cost of a single tile, therefore it has to be as cost efficient as possible.

The cost efficiency if not for me - If I find good solutions for the concept I would like to publish it. And that is only possible if the game is affordable. 

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**GAME TILE**

One tile could look like this (not scaled properly, just a sketch) and contains a SD 5050 LED from a LED strip and a TCRT5000 to detect if there is anything on top of it.

![Game Tile](https://i.stack.imgur.com/mEQ7R.png)

The electronics will be covered by a frosted acrylic plate to diffuse the light and protect the components:

![Game Tile frosted](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rf7Xo.png)

Now the task is to detect a game piece on top of the tile: 

![Game Tile with piece](https://i.stack.imgur.com/13jDa.png)

The piece is obviously not always perfectly centred as the player will just put it somewhere on top of it. But the tile has to be able to detect if there is anything or not.

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**HELP**

As this starts to go way beyond the initial question and I realized how much I don't know about electronics yet I would like to ask for help with the project.

If anyone finds this idea interesting I would be happy to discuss more details about the project outside of StackOverflow.

As this is a private project I cannot really pay money but if we get to the stage where the game is published you will get a free copy of the game and at least one carton of beer ;)

Please write me at ledboardgame/gmail.com (replace the / with @) including your experience (just tinkering, evil mastermind, ...)