What is a displacement tilt sensor?

Displacement tilt sensor is a non-contact 3-axis simultaneous measuring instrument that combines the autocollimator method and triangulation method. (Using patent No. 5330114 technology).

It is realized with a mirror (mirror target) that is totally reflective, similar to a 5-dimensional sensor. Unlike contact-type 3D measuring instruments, this is ideal for measuring minute objects that cannot be touched and high-speed moving objects that cannot be touched by objects that are measured in non-contact real-time by laser.

What is an autocollimator system?

A collimator is a device that artificially produces collimated light (light that travels in a straight line). The mechanism of the device refracts and emits light from a light source through a lens to produce collimated light. A machine that uses this mechanism to emit light inside is called an “autocollimator. In other words, it refers to a device that automatically emits light that travels straight ahead.

The displacement tilt sensor is equipped with a collimated light.
The collimated light emitted from the displacement tilt sensor enters the mirror target and is reflected. The reflected light enters the optics of the tilt measurement section of the displacement tilt sensor. The tilt measurement section is equipped with a lens.

The reflected light is focused by the lens. The focused collimated light forms an image on the position sensor. The light becomes a spot.

The position of this spot changes as the angle of incidence on the lens changes. This change in position is detected and the angle is measured without contact.　In other words, the method of using collimated light and focusing the reflected light with a lens to convert the spot position to an angle is called the autocollimator method.

What is the triangulation method?

The height measurement of the displacement tilt sensor is realized by the triangulation method.
The displacement tilt sensor is equipped with a laser that is irradiated at an angle to the target mirror. The obliquely illuminated light reflects off the target mirror and enters the sensor. The reflected light changes in height (position) as the height of the target changes. The height of the reflected light is detected by a position sensor to realize non-contact height measurement.

The triangulation method is a basic technology used in many laser displacement meters.