How Laser Triangulation Sensor works

The laser triangulation sensor consists of a laser, detector and a lens before the detector to focus the beam on the detector. The detector is normally a CCD array. To do the measurement of height the laser emits a light on the surface. This laser beam is reflected from the surface and falls on the detector through the lens. Depending on the position of the beam on the detectors CCD array, the angle(α) is calculated and hence the height from the sensor to the target surface is detected. As the height increases the angle decreases and as the height decreases the angle increases.

Advantages of Laser Triangulation Sensor

• Since it is non contact there is no friction and wear
• Unlimited number of operating cycles since it is not contact
• Can measure distance to small targets since spot size of laser beam is very small
• High accuracy
• High Resolution
• High speed
• Good reliability
• Good linearity
• Long measurement ranges
  

Disadvantages of Laser Triangulation Sensor

• No measurement zone of few mm infront of the sensor. As the measurement range increases this also increases.
• Could be affected if the target surface is irregular
• Laser beam can be hazardous.

Applications of Laser Triangulation Sensor

• Ride height measurement on the car
• Displacement measurement
• Thickness measurement
• Tyre deflection 

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