Key Laser Sensor Specifications for Analog Applications

In analog applications, Resolution and Linearity are two specifications used to describe sensors.

But not all specifications are equal indicators of real-world performance; let's break it down.

Resolution.

The resolution of a sensor tells you the smallest change in distance that the sensor can detect.

Resolution represents the best-case condition; but resolution can be impacted by target conditions, distance to the target, sensor response speed, and other factors.

For that reason it is not the best indicator of real-world preformance.

Linearity.

Linearity is the maximum deviation between an ideal straight-line measurement and the actual measurement.

It indicates how closely a sensor’s analog output can approximate a straight line when measuring across the sensor’s range. The more consistent the measurements are, the more linear the sensor.