A SICK distance sensor works on two main principles — time-of-flight and laser triangulation — depending on the type and range of measurement required. In the time-of-flight method, the sensor emits a light pulse (often infrared or laser) toward a target and measures the time it takes for the reflected light to return. Since the speed of light is constant, the sensor calculates the distance using the time delay between emission and reflection. The formula used is simple: Distance = (Speed × Time) / 2. This method is ideal for long-distance measurements and is commonly used in SICK laser distance sensors, LiDAR systems, and area scanners.
In laser triangulation, the SICK sensor projects a light spot on the target object, and a receiver inside the sensor detects the reflected light at an angle. The position of this reflection on the receiver changes based on the object’s distance. Using trigonometric calculations, the sensor determines the exact distance to the object. This method offers high precision at shorter ranges and is widely used in applications like object profiling, edge detection, and part positioning. In summary, SICK distance sensors convert light reflections into distance data with high accuracy, making them ideal for automation, robotics, packaging, and quality inspection tasks where reliable and contact-free measurement is essential.