Types and application fields of distance sensors

A distance sensor is a device widely used in various fields, which can accurately measure the distance between objects and sensors. This article will introduce several common ranging sensors and explore their applications in different fields.

Ranging sensor

1. Infrared sensor: Infrared sensors use the characteristics of infrared to measure the distance between objects and sensors. The sensor emits infrared light, and when it encounters an object, it is reflected back to the sensor. The sensor calculates the distance by measuring the reflection time. Infrared sensors are commonly used in fields such as reflective ranging, obstacle avoidance, and object detection.

2. Ultrasonic sensor: Ultrasonic sensors use the propagation speed of sound waves to measure the distance between objects and sensors. The sensor emits ultrasonic pulses, and when the beam encounters an object, it is reflected back to the sensor. The sensor calculates the distance by measuring the reflection time and sound speed. Ultrasonic sensors are widely used in fields such as unmanned vehicles, parking assistance systems, and security equipment.

3. Laser sensor: Laser sensors use the characteristics of laser beams to measure the distance between objects and sensors. The sensor emits a laser beam, which is reflected back to the sensor when it encounters an object. The sensor calculates the distance by measuring the flight time or phase difference of the laser. Laser sensors play an important role in fields such as industrial automation, building measurement, and robot navigation.

4. Millimeter wave radar: Millimeter wave radar uses the characteristics of millimeter waves to measure the distance between objects and sensors. The sensor emits millimeter wave signals, and when the signal encounters an object, it is reflected back to the sensor. The sensor calculates distance by measuring the reflection time and frequency changes. Millimeter wave radar is widely used in fields such as unmanned driving, traffic monitoring, and safety detection.

5. Photoelectric sensor: Photoelectric sensors use the characteristics of light to measure the distance between objects and sensors. The sensor emits a beam of light, which is reflected back to the sensor when it encounters an object. The sensor calculates the distance by measuring the intensity or optical path difference of the reflected light. Photoelectric sensors are widely used in industrial automation, assembly line testing, electronic equipment, and other fields.

6. Millimeter wave sensor: Millimeter wave sensor is a radar technology based on the millimeter wave frequency band, which can achieve high-precision ranging and imaging. It calculates the distance between objects and sensors by transmitting and receiving millimeter wave signals and analyzing the echoes of the signals. Millimeter wave sensors have important application value in fields such as unmanned aerial vehicles, safety monitoring, and medical diagnosis.

Summary: Distance measurement sensors are an important component of modern technology, which achieve distance measurement of objects through different principles and technologies. Infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, laser sensors, millimeter wave radar, photoelectric sensors, and millimeter wave sensors all play important roles in their respective fields. From industrial automation to intelligent transportation, from security monitoring to medical diagnosis, they all bring convenience and safety to our lives and work. With the continuous development of technology, the accuracy and performance of distance sensors will continue to improve, bringing more possibilities for a wider range of application scenarios.