How does a laser rangefinder work?

[DariusP]

Summary: Laser rangefinder (distance meter) working principle

Hello, could anyone explain to me (or direct to) how a laser rangefinder/distance meter works?

I want to learn about it in as much detail as possible. All I could find so far were very premature explanations telling me that a laser shoots a light pulse and knowing the speed of light is able to calculate the distance.

I want more information and I want it to be as much in-depth as possible (physics and electronics behind it (+ how the electronics themselves work), how the signal is processed, etc).

If you ever saw and remember where I could find useful information then please direct me to it (or maybe you have a good understanding and could explain it here).

 

[Andy Resnick]

Summary: Laser rangefinder (distance meter) working principle

Hello, could anyone explain to me (or direct to) how a laser rangefinder/distance meter works?

I want to learn about it in as much detail as possible. All I could find so far were very premature explanations telling me that a laser shoots a light pulse and knowing the speed of light is able to calculate the distance.

I want more information and I want it to be as much in-depth as possible (physics and electronics behind it (+ how the electronics themselves work), how the signal is processed, etc).

If you ever saw and remember where I could find useful information then please direct me to it (or maybe you have a good understanding and could explain it here).

Google is your friend, although you are asking rather technical questions- for example, how to reject off-target reflections/scattering. How about if you start by figuring out how precise the internal clock needs to be to obtain a measurement accuracy of 0.1m?

https://precisionrifleblog.com/2013/10/29/how-do-rangefinders-work/

 

[berkeman]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_rangefinder

 

[sophiecentaur]

Summary: Laser rangefinder (distance meter) working principle

I want more information and I want it to be as much in-depth as possible

You want a complete instruction guide plus circuit diagrams and construction details? Is that a realistic expectation? PF is a discussion forum and not a teaching institution.
If you read around about the problem and have some specific questions arising from your research you will find PF a valuable source of specific help and advice.

 

[DariusP]

Ok, I will ask a simpler question then: does anyone know what parts constitute a laser distance meter/rangefinder?

I can probably try and deduce how each part works by myself.

 

[jbriggs444]

If you had read the first paragraph or two in either of the references provided, you would already know the answers:

A piece which generates light.
A piece which senses light.
A piece which measures the time between the one and the other.

 

[sophiecentaur]

@jbriggs444 I had to smile.
I wonder if the website Howthingswork could help here.

 

[DariusP]

I don't know what's up with these useless replies... not the first time too. Maybe people here are already stuck in post count addiction? Anyway - if anyone will ever come around this thread, feel free to visit this link I found:
http://www.ti.com/lit/ug/sbau305a/sbau305a.pdf
I'm sure you'll find something useful there

 

[berkeman]

I don't know what's up with these useless replies... not the first time too. Maybe people here are already stuck in post count addiction?

We try to help folks learn how to learn, not just spoonfeed them answers. Honestly, you showed so little effort of your own in this thread. Right up to posting that good link in your final post in this thread.

Thread is closed.