Optical Sensors - Distance Measuring

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
LE250KQP Banner Engineering	LASER DISPLACEMENT SENSOR; RANGE	2
LE550KC1Q Banner Engineering	SEN LASER 100-1000MM IO-LINK	3
SEN-14599 SparkFun	LIDARLITE V3HP	133
114991133 Seeed	SENSOR OPTICAL 40-2200CM	2
PBAT26UTA-VL Banner Engineering	PLASTIC FIBER, DIFFUSE REFLECTIV	22
7005785 LTI (Laser Technology, Inc.)	SENSOR OPTICAL 0.5-750M RS-232	3
DS50-P1112 SICK	SENSOR OPTICAL 20-1000CM ANALOG	4
LE550IC1Q Banner Engineering	LASER DISPLACEMENT SENSOR; RANGE	2
DS35-B15221 SICK	SENSOR OPTICAL 5-1200CM PSH-PULL	1
LE550DC1Q Banner Engineering	LASER DISPLACEMENT SENSOR; RANGE	2
LT3BDLVQ Banner Engineering	LT3 SERIES: LASER RETROREFLECTIV	6
101990620 Seeed	TFMINI S LIDAR MODULE - SHORT-RA	72
101990386 Seeed	SENSOR OPTICAL 25-1200CM	3
DFR0445 DFRobot	RPLIDAR A2 - 360 DEGREE LASER SC	48
DT50-P1114 SICK	SENSOR OPTICAL 20-1000CM ANALOG	0
AFBR-S50MV85G Broadcom	SENSOR OPTICAL 10M SPI	0
DT50-2B215252 SICK	SENSOR OPTICAL 20-3000CM ANALOG	3
LT3NU Banner Engineering	LT3 SERIES: DIFFUSE T.O.F. LASER	3
7005910 LTI (Laser Technology, Inc.)	SENSOR OPTICAL 0.5-750M RS-232	13
B5W-DB1452-2 Omron Electronics Components	THESE SENSORS ARE NOT LIGHT CONV	0

Optical Sensors - Distance Measuring

1. Overview

Optical distance measuring sensors are devices that use light-based principles to detect the distance between the sensor and a target object. These sensors operate on optical phenomena such as reflection, triangulation, time-of-flight (TOF), or structured light. They play a critical role in modern automation, robotics, automotive systems, and consumer electronics by enabling non-contact, high-precision distance measurements. Their ability to provide real-time data with minimal interference makes them indispensable in applications ranging from industrial quality control to autonomous navigation.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Characteristics	Application Examples
Laser Triangulation	High accuracy (micron-level), short-to-medium range (up to 1m), fast response	Robot arm positioning, 3D printing calibration
Time-of-Flight (TOF)	Long-range (up to 10m), moderate accuracy, operates in harsh lighting	Drone obstacle avoidance, warehouse automation
Structured Light	High-resolution 3D profiling, sensitive to ambient light	Biometric scanning, augmented reality (AR)
Photoelectric Proximity	Short-range (mm-level), binary detection, low cost	Smartphone proximity sensing, conveyor belt object detection

3. Structure and Components

A typical optical distance sensor comprises:

Light Source: Laser diode (650-940nm wavelength) or LED for emitting optical signals
Optical Receiver: CMOS/CCD sensor or photodiode array for detecting reflected light
Signal Processor: ASIC or DSP for time/distance calculation and noise filtering
Optical Lens: Focuses light onto the receiver and defines the field of view
Interface Circuit: Analog/digital output (I2C, UART, PWM) for system integration

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Description	Importance
Measurement Range	Operational distance limits (e.g., 50mm-5m)	Determines application suitability
Accuracy	Deviation from true value ( 0.1% of range)	Quality control in precision manufacturing
Resolution	Smallest detectable distance change (1 m-1mm)	Surface profiling and vibration analysis
Sampling Rate	Data acquisition speed (1kHz-1MHz)	Real-time motion control performance
Ambient Light Rejection	Ability to filter environmental interference	Outdoor/industrial reliability

5. Application Fields

Major industries utilizing optical distance sensors include:

Industrial Automation: Assembly line gap inspection, robotic welding guidance
Consumer Electronics: Smartphone face unlock, tablet gesture control
Automotive: Parking assistance, adaptive cruise control (ACC)
Medical: Non-contact patient positioning in radiation therapy
Smart Home: Vacuum robot cliff detection, automatic curtain control

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Specifications
STMicroelectronics	VL53L5CX	TOF sensor, 4cm-4m range, 64x64 zone array
Keyence	IL-300	Laser triangulation, 0.02% repeatability, analog output
Texas Instruments	OPT3101	AM-TOF, 10cm-8m range, 50Hz update rate
Cognex	DSMax	3D vision system, 120fps, 0.02mm resolution
LMI Technologies	Gocator 2300	Smart sensor, 2000 profiles/sec, IP67 rating

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations for sensor selection:

Match measurement range to application requirements (e.g., TOF for >2m distances)
Environmental factors: temperature, dust, and ambient light conditions
Integration constraints: form factor and interface compatibility (I2C vs. Ethernet)
Cost vs. performance trade-offs for mass production scenarios

Example: For a warehouse AGV navigation system, prioritize TOF sensors with >5m range, IP65 rating, and CAN bus interface.

8. Industry Trends

Emerging developments include:

Micromachining technologies enabling sub-mm sensor modules for wearable devices
AISensor fusion with IMUs and thermal sensors for enhanced reliability
AI-powered edge processing for real-time object classification
VCSEL light sources improving TOF accuracy in sunlight conditions

Market forecasts predict 12.3% CAGR in industrial optical sensors through 2027, driven by smart factory and autonomous vehicle adoption.