Figure 6: Retroreflection
Reflective surfaces
The laser beam is almost completely deflected on reflective surfaces. This means that
an object hit by the deflected beam may be detected instead of the reflective surface.
Figure 7: Specular surfaces
Small objects
Objects that are smaller than the diameter of the laser beam cannot reflect the laser
light’s full energy. The portion of the light beam that does not reach the object is lost. If
all of the light reflected to the sensor is insufficient, the object may not be detected.
The portion of the light that does not reach the front object can be reflected by a larger
object in the background. If all of the light reflected to the sensor is sufficient, this
object is detected. This can lead to a corruption of the measured value.
Figure 8: Object smaller than the laser beam diameter
3.4.5
Object sizes
As the distance from the device increases, the laser beam expands. As a result, the
diameter of the light spot on the surface of the object increases.
1
2
Figure 9: Beam expansion
1
Expanded laser beam
2
Optical axis
3
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
14
O P E R A T I N G I N S T R U C T I O N S | LRS4000
8026338/0000/2022-02-15 | SICK
Subject to change without notice
