Long Range Chromatic-Confocal Displacement Sensor

Chromatic Confocal Sensors are extremely clever optical devices.  They shine white light through a fiber optic cable which passes through a number of chromatic lenses  (similar to a prism).  The chromatic lenses focus light at different Z heights depending on the wavelength.  Only the in focus light is reflected back into the same fiber optic cable then analyzed with a spectrum analyzer (basically a prism/linear grating onto a linear CCD).  By knowing the wavelength of reflected light, a lookup table of distance vs wavelength can be created to create extremely fine Z measurements.  When operating them then at a distance of 125mm you can see the focused light spot is red but changes to green to blue at distance of 75mm.

These sensors can make non-contact distance measurements extremely accurately and work on mirror finishes where laser triangulation distance measurement sensors fail (as laser triangulation requires specular reflection).  Repeatability is 0.5um at 100mm so is the ultimate accurate distance sensor.

Also capable of detecting the reflections from the top and bottom reflections in glass and other transparent materials to allow non-contact single sided non-contact thickness measurements.

FSL offers this sensor in 100mm working distance with measurement range of 40mm (80mm-120mm) with 5um linearity and 0.5um repeatability. 

This device has both USB and Ethernet outputs and capable of making measurements at 17kHz.

Combine with a stage with linear encoders to create 3D displacement map.  

Or combine with a FSL laser for ultra precise autofocus on materials that cannot be seen with laser triangulation.

Specifications: