The non-contact, optical sensor systems pioneered by CORRSYS-DATRON provide a superior solution for the measurement of speed, distance, height, angle and other dynamic measurement variables.

As the driving force behind the development of the world’s first non-contact optical sensors, CORRSYS-DATRON has amassed a body of expertise in this area that is unparalleled by any organization in the world. Non-contact optical sensors operate using a sophisticated system comprised of precision optical and electronic components. Understanding the science behind the product

Inside every CORRSYS-DATRON Sensor is the highly advanced, yet exceptionally reliable CORREVIT® Optical-Grating System. Originally developed for the measurement of vehicle dynamics, this revolutionary new system was quickly proven to provide measurement capabilities ranging well beyond the original intended application.

Utilizing a high-intensity light source to illuminate the measurement surface, the optical component of the CORRSYS-DATRON Sensor observes the stochastic microstructure of the surface via an objective lens.

The acquired optical signal is projected onto a periodic prismatic grating within the system, where it is multiplied as details of the surface microstructure move across the grating. Resultant spatial frequencies are integrated over the sensor field to generate a correlated average value. Optimal matching of the grating period (typically 100-200 µm) to the spatial frequency spectrum of the surface microstructure effectively functions to maximize measurement accuracy.

The electronic signal-processing component of the system utilizes tracking filters to determine the representative center frequency, which is derived by calculating a mean value based on variance in the frequency spectrum. This representative center frequency allows reliable counting of signal periods, which are directly proportional to the distance that the observed surface has traveled relative to the sensor. Using this information, speed data can be derived for a gated length measurement.

Today, the evolution of CORREVIT® Optical Technology continues. Pushing beyond the perceived limits of measurement instrumentation, CORRSYS-DATRON research teams are now enabling increasingly complex capabilities with advanced grating designs and sophisticated integrated filter electronics.

New grating systems with multiple prismatic segments now make it possible to measure speed data in two dimensions, while a new 4-flank prismatic grating design detects the direction of movement relative to the sensor.

A prismatic grating is the key optical component of the non-contact sensor.

CORREVIT® optical sensors function by observing surface characteristics.