WHITE PAPER

UNDERSTANDING
TRIANGULATION
LASER MEASUREMENT

WHAT IS A LASER?
The word laser is an acronym that stands for: Light Amplification
by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser is defined as any of
several devices that emit highly amplified and coherent radiation
of one or more discrete frequencies.

HOW CAN LASERS

BE USED?
Lasers are used in hundreds of
different applications:

• Commercial: holograms, barcodes, light show

• Communications: fiber optics
• Health and Medical: eye surgery, dentistry, skin treatment
• Home Electronics: DVD, CD, CD-ROM
• Industrial: cutting, welding, heating, alignment
• Measurement and Metrology: range sensing, surveying
• Military Weaponry: targeting, designating

TTL Laser
WHAT MAKES ONE
LASER DIFFERENT
FROM ANOTHER?
Laser radiation can be created using
different methods

Lasers come in different strengths; this power rating

is stated in megawatts (mW). They also come in
a variety of different wavelengths, which is stated
in nanometers (nm). The Center for Devices and
Radiological Health (CDRH) has assigned all
commercial lasers to a class-based on strength.
Here are the different classes and some examples
of their use:

• Class I – DVD player

• Class IIa – barcode scanner
• Class II – OGP triangulation laser
range sensors
• Class IIIa – laser pointers
• Class IIIb – laser light show
• Class IV – surgery

DRS Laser

02
HOW CAN A
LASER BE USED
TO MEASURE?
There are many different types of
laser range sensors:
• Confocal
• Interferometric
• Null (Foucault, knife-edge, pinhole)
• Triangulation

All laser range sensors work by sending out

laser light from an emitter to something directly
ahead and analyzing the light reflected back
to the sensor. The method used to analyze the
reflected light distinguishes one sensor type
from another. This analysis can be performed in
a number of different ways:

• Displacement
• Interferometry
• Time of flight (TOF)

TeleStar Probe Interferometric Laser

03
WHICH TYPE OF LASERS
DOES OGP ® USE?
OGP offers many types of lasers including triangulation, chromatic confocal
(Rainbow Probe), and interferometric (TeleStar Plus TTL and TeleStar
Probe). All triangulation laser sensors from OGP have the following
attributes in common:

• Source: Gallium Aluminum

Arsenide (GaAlAs) Diode
• Detector: CCD CAUTION
• Type: Laser Range Sensor LASER RADIATION
DO NOT STARE
• Configuration: Triangulation INTO BEAM
• CDRH rating: Class II 1.0 mW max power
• Power: 1.0 mW max 670 nm wavelength

• Wavelength: 670 nm CLASS II LASER PRODUCT

HOW DOES LASER

TRIANGULATION WORK?
Laser triangulation sensors determine height by analyzing reflected light using
the principle of displacement. The sensor’s laser diode projects a beam of light
onto the target object. Some of the light is reflected off the object onto a light-
sensitive detector built into the sensor. The detector records the position of the
reflected beam and reports a height measurement. If the target or the sensor
moves, the position of the reflection on the detector changes.

The CCD detector consists of a row of discrete photodetectors, referred to

as pixels. When the reflected light hits the detector the sensors electronics
determine the center of the imaged spot by looking at the intensity of each pixel.
One of the advantages of this type of detector is the ability to set a threshold.
A threshold is a moveable limit below which extraneous information, or noise,
can be ignored. The detector can also be set to ignore a condition known as
multiple spots. This condition arises when a surface reflection, or other light
source, creates a second center on the sensor.

TTL Laser

04
DOES “SPOT SIZE” Detector

MATTER?
Laser
Diode

The diameter of the beam, or spot size does matter.

The spot size can be no larger than the feature Laser
Beam
to be measured. A good rule of thumb is that the Optics

spot size must be less than one-tenth the size of

the smallest feature to be measured. Triangulation
sensors are designed to focus the laser beam Object Surfaces
to create the smallest spot at the sensor
standoff distance.

The standoff is defined as the distance from the

front of the sensor to the middle of the measuring
range. This is the point where the laser spot size is

Intensity
specified. The size of the beam is smallest at the
Pixel Elements
standoff point, but it is larger both inside and outside Threshold Length

this point. So the sensor with the smallest spot Pixel

Imaged Spot

size will also have the smallest standoff and

working range.
Beam Diameter Beam Diameter Beam Diameter

TRIANGULATION
Measuring
Standoff
Range

SENSOR Feature Feature Feature

TERMINOLOGY
Accuracy – The combination of errors that Measuring/Capture Range – The distance
come from both the dynamic resolution of the laser over which a sensor is able to gather
sensor and the movement of the stage. valid measurements.
For example, if the accuracy specification of
Spot Size – The diameter of the laser spot at
a system with a triangulation laser sensor is
the standoff distance.
2.0 + 6L/1000. This equation contains a
dynamic resolution component (2.0) and the Standoff – The distance from the sensor
error contributed by Z-axis movement (6L/1000). housing to the center of the measuring range.
Dynamic Resolution – The smallest detectable Triangulation – The angle between the laser
change in height when the sensor is moved beam and the sensor viewing axis.
horizontally over a NIST traceable step gage of
known height without moving the sensor in the
Z-axis. This value is independent of the capture
range but includes unintentional Z-axis movement
based on temperature or other physical variations.
The first number in an accuracy specification is the
dynamic resolution. For example leading the 2.0 in
the equation 2.0+ 6L/1000 is the dynamic resolution.
 DRS LASER
A DRS (Dynamic Range Sensor) Laser can
be added to OGP SmartScope® systems to
give you high-density surface profiles through
sophisticated laser triangulation. The DRS laser
is thoroughly integrated into, and supported by,
OGP’s Metrology Software. Both line and area
scans may be automatically programmed to
deliver high resolution Z axis profiles or high-
speed Z axis single point data can be collected
as part of a measurement routine. Two models
are available, one with red laser and one with
blue for better results on transparent or white
parts. The DRS laser is deployable, and retracts
conveniently out of the way when not in use.
When used as part of a multisensor platform
DRS lasers are mounted off the optical axis
and are interchangeable.

DRS-500 DRS-500B
TECHNICAL DRS-500 DRS-500B
SPECIFICATIONS (Red Laser) (Blue Laser)

Available for Most SmartScope Systems

Required ZONE3®, Measure-X®,

Metrology Software or Scan-X
Specular or diffuse Best for translucent
Type of Surface
reflective surfaces or white parts

Working Distance1 17 mm

Measuring Range2 500 μm

Spot Size3 (nominal) 16 x 23 μm 13 x 20 μm

Resolution4 0.125 μm

Accuracy5 1.0 μm

Triangulation Angle 70°

z 1 Distance in Z from the lowest point on the DRS laser to the middle of the 3 With spot size at best focus.
capture range. 4 Using high quality specular (polished glass) surface, 1σ.
2 Measuring Range is the Z-range over which the performance of the sensor is 5 Accuracy of the laser on horizontal specular surfaces within the measuring range.
linear and calibrated. System performance varies with machine type.

06
THROUGH-THE-LENS
(TTL) LASER
The TTL Laser is a through-the-lens option, which is completely integrated
within the optical system. Its unique coaxial design provides a large standoff
distance while maintaining a measuring speed twice as fast as a conventional
autofocus. But unlike video autofocus, which is best performed at high
magnification, Z-axis measurements with the TTL Laser deliver the same
precision regardless of the zoom lens setting. So you get fast, high accuracy
measurements all the time. The TTL Laser can also provide high-density
surface profiles, with both line and area scans. It is thoroughly integrated into,
and supported by OGP Metrology Software.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Required
ZONE3®, Measure-X®, VMS™
Metrology Software

Available for Motorized Zoom Optics Fixed Optics

Laser Lens 2.0x (Standard) 5.0x (Optional) 2.5x (Standard) 5.0x (Optional) 10.0x (Optional)

Working Distance 38.0 mm 19.0 mm 34.0 mm 33.5 mm 20.0 mm

Measuring Range1 500 μm 80 μm 600 μm 280 μm 80 μm

Spot Size2 (nominal) 8 x 6 μm 3 x 1.2 μm 16.3 x 8 μm 8.2 x 4 μm 4.5 x 1.3 μm

Resolution3 0.4 μm 0.2 μm 0.5 μm 0.2 μm 0.1 μm

Triangulation Angle 14° 35° 11° 21° 41°

1 Measuring Range is the Z-range over which the performance of the sensor is linear and calibrated.
2 With spot size at best focus.
3 Using high quality specular (polished glass) surface, 1σ.

TTL Laser

07
APPLICATIONS
OGP offers triangulation laser range sensors in two configurations: off-axis (DRS) and through the lens
(TTL). These sensors can be used to collect single points (focus) or to collect large a number of points
(scanning) and are available as an integrated part of SmartScope multisensor metrology systems.

Can an OGP laser probe help you?

Complex 3D Surface Scanning:

Written by: Chris Leone, Lab Manager

Advanced Coordinate Technology

Learn more about OGP Measurement Systems at ogpnet.com

OGP (Optical Gaging Products) is a division of Quality Vision International Inc (QVI®), a world leading manufacturer of precision multisensor metrology
systems for industrial Quality Control. Our metrology systems focus on measurement technologies that help manufacturers monitor dimensional
compliance to design specifications. First introduced in 1992, the famous OGP SmartScope® product family has become one of the world’s most
popular and versatile dimensional measurement systems. SmartScope systems are designed and produced at QVI corporate headquarters in
Rochester, NY, USA. Flash branded systems are sold in North America while Flash CNC and CNC systems are found outside North America.

World Headquarters: OGP Shanghai Co, Ltd: OGP Messtechnik GmbH: Optical Gaging (S) Pte Ltd:
Rochester, NY, USA Shanghai, China Hofheim-Wallau, Germany Singapore
585.544.0400 86.21.5045.8383/8989 49.6122.9968.0 65.6741.8880
www.ogpnet.com www.smartscope.com.cn www.ogpmesstechnik.de www.smartscope.com.sg

© 2023 Quality Vision International Inc. Specifications subject to change without notice. All rights reserved. Trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Export of this product
is controlled under U.S. Export Regulations. An Export License may be required for deliveries or re-export outside the United States. Part Number 791091-0823
08