Optical Sensors - Distance Measuring

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
SEN-14599 SparkFun	LIDARLITE V3HP	133
SEN-15776 SparkFun	GARMIN LIDAR-LITE V4 LED	30
SEN-16977 SparkFun	TFMINI-S - MICRO LIDAR MODULE	36
SEN-14786 SparkFun	TFMINI - MICRO LIDAR MODULE	10
SEN-14032 SparkFun	GARMIN LIDAR-LITE V3	673
SEN-15871 SparkFun	SLAMTEC MAPPER PRO KIT - LASER M	0
SEN-15045 SparkFun	RPLIDAR A3M1 LASER RANGE SCANNER	0
SEN-14756 SparkFun	RPLIDAR A2M8 360 LASER RANGE SCA	0
SEN-15179 SparkFun	TFMINI PLUS - MICRO LIDAR MODULE	0
SEN-15180 SparkFun	TF03 LONG-DISTANCE LIDAR MODULE	0
SEN-13680 SparkFun	DISTANCE SENSOR LIDAR-LITE V2	0
SEN-14117 SparkFun	SENSOR MOTION SWEEP LIDAR MODULE	0
SEN-14588 SparkFun	TFMINI MICRO LIDAR MODULE	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.