Coherent range-gated laser displacement metrology with compact optical head

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Metrology and Measurement Science

Background:

• Traditional laser displacement sensors often have bulky optical heads.
• Integrating and multiplexing numerous sensors can be complex and costly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, compact architecture for laser displacement metrology.
• To demonstrate a significant reduction in optical head size and complexity.
• To enable easier integration and multiplexing of sensor arrays.

Main Methods:

• Modulating outgoing laser light with a binary random noise code.
• Discriminating detected signals based on their unique propagation delay.
• Utilizing a single optical fiber for compact head connectivity.

Main Results:

• Achieved a displacement resolution of 1.1 nanometers root mean square (nm rms).
• Demonstrated a drastic reduction in the size and complexity of the optical head.
• Showcased the ease of integration and multiplexing capabilities for multiple sensors.

Conclusions:

• The developed architecture offers a significant advancement in laser displacement metrology.
• The compact and multiplexable design is suitable for large-scale sensor applications.
• The random noise modulation technique enables high-resolution, efficient displacement sensing.