ifm electronic - Distance measurement
- High-quality photoelectric sensors for different applications.
- Excellent price / performance ratio.
- Extremely compact laser distance sensor with 10 m range.
- Sensor for the detection of transparent objects (PET, glass, film etc.).
- Extensive range of system components for easy and safe mounting.
Overview ifm distance measurement
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Introduction
The continued development of the pmd technology (Photonic Mixer Device) now enables distance measurement to within a millimetre at high ranges using a laser sensor. The efector pmd laser sensor operates to the time-of-flight principle: A light beam is emitted by a transmitting element and reflected to the receiver element by an object. The measured time of flight relates to the distance from the sensor to the object.
Traditional time-of-flight sensors use a photodiode as receiver element. Additional electronics is used for signal acquisition and processing. Disadvantage: This sensor design is complex, large in size and therefore often not suitable for industrial position sensing. In comparison, the efector pmd sensor's receiver element is a "System-on-Chip" design: both sensor element and electronics for signal evaluation are integrated on a single silicon chip called a Photonic Mixer Device (PMD). The advantage: The sensor offers a high performance in a compact, industrially compatible housing.
"efector pmd" can be used for level measurement and positioning tasks, for example to position industrial trucks in high bay storage areas and to protect autonomous industrial transport systems against collision.
ifm electronic
ifm electronic gmbh is one of the leading manufacturers of automation technology world-wide. More than 3,000 employees in more than 70 countries develop solutions for 80,000 customers in the manufacturing industries. By optimising technical processes in the automotive, chemical and cosmetics industries or in environmental technology and automation of buildings ifm electronic has consistently set new standards and thus ensures tomorrow's production processes.
The family-run company with headquarters in Essen started with the invention of inductive proximity sensors in 1969. The German production in Tettnang on Lake Constance has ensured brand quality right from the start. Today "efector" stands for position and fluid sensors, object recognition, diagnostic and identification systems. The brand "ecomat" is synonymous with networking and control systems. In 2007 ifm made a turnover of more than € 410 million with above-average product quality, exceptional innovations and consistent close contact to the customer.
