ifm Launches a New Generation of OGD Laser Distance Sensors with a Detection Range of Up to 4 Meters

en.Wedoany.com Reported - ifm has launched a new generation of OGD laser distance sensors, featuring a compact housing and an integrated PMD (Photonic Mixer Device) time-of-flight measurement system, with the detection range extended to 4 meters. This product is designed for distance detection in industrial automation environments, capable of handling signal loss or errors caused by reflective metals, dark materials, and multicolored objects, and is suitable for detecting objects in high-speed continuous motion such as on conveyor belts and in material handling.

PMD technology offers resistance to reflection, background suppression, and high excess gain, enabling it to cope with external light interference and background reflections, providing a highly reliable digital distance measurement solution for assembly, logistics, and packaging production lines. OGD detection is unaffected by reflection angle and color, allowing stable measurement of the height and gaps of highly reflective metal parts, low-reflectance dark objects, and multicolored materials; it simultaneously outputs distance values and reflectance values, helping to confirm physical dimensions and surface material conditions, thereby improving process reliability.

The OGD features an M18 thread and can be set directly on the device or via IO-Link or 3-button operation, with visualization on an 8-segment two-color display. Its built-in Compa mode, when connected to a supported IO-Link master and using the backup & restore function, allows replacement of previous-generation OGD sensors without extensive reprogramming. IO-Link transmission avoids the signal loss of analog sensors, ensures high-precision measurement values, and supports remote diagnostics and parameter setting, reducing downtime and maintenance costs.

In metal roller conveyors, background suppression prevents reflections from the metal rollers from affecting detection, and objects of different colors can also be reliably detected. In the two-stage conveyor belt stop function, the first switching point triggers deceleration, and the second switching point stops the conveyor belt. This sensor can replace the 2 light sources typically required by photoelectric barriers, reducing procurement, installation, and wiring costs, and can be angled to align with the object being inspected, making it suitable for almost any installation situation.

The OGD can precisely and reliably inspect the position and orientation of small shiny or low-reflectance parts (such as O-rings and gears) online, detecting assembly errors such as a missing 5mm-thick O-ring. In-process inspection and pre-final quality inspection can minimize costly equipment downtime or batch failures; the earlier an error is found, the lower the cost and the faster the improvement.

In moving object detection, even under unfavorable lighting, the OGD long-range sensor can reliably detect reflective materials or rough-surfaced materials (such as foil), in both colored and dark shades; IO-Link reflectance data can detect lens contamination and prompt cleaning. The OGD series uses PMD time-of-flight technology, in which the laser source emits light waves, and when the light bounces off the target, the phase amplitude shifts, with the shift amplitude being proportional to the distance.

The sensor can reliably detect low-reflectance, shiny, or black objects; thanks to PMD technology, multicolored objects such as particleboard or pork belly can also be reliably detected; background suppression laser technology makes it extremely reliable even in the face of interference from movement, reflections, and external light; it is not limited by color or angle and is quick and easy to install.