LaserDistanceControl

Overview

LaserDistanceControl is a panel-mount controller and measurement device. Two relays can be used to control any process and two alarming sources of information about a critical value. It uses laser light to measure the distance between the sensor and the object. The measurement is based on the ToF (time of flight) of light from the source (sensor) and is the reflection (object).

The measured distances can be shown in millimeters (mm) or inches (inch) in 18 different languages. Also, the device can be used to write measurement results in .CSV files. Configuration of a device is made with LaserDistance software.

Hardware installation

The LaserDistanceControl has to be mounted on a panel. The hole diameters have to be 97 x 72mm. The backside of the device is 45mm deep, so leave enough place to connect the cables. Powering off the device can be done with 220VAC or 110VAC. The sensor is connected with a 1-meter-long flat cable to the device.

By the installation place, please note that a device is about 45mm bold, so You have to leave enough place to access the cables and connectors from the sensor and from the programmer.

The sensor has two mounting holes, 20mm distance. By the mounting of the sensor, note that it needs to have a clear view of the measured object. Don't install the device in a humid environment, water tanks, etc. Also, the device must be used indoors and is not made for outdoor usage. Presents of high dust can affect the measurement. The possibility to reflect laser light can affect the measuring range.

Powering

LaserDistanceControl uses 220VAC for powering. The power connector is on the back side in the bottom left corner, marked on the PCB with "220V". Next to the powering terminal screw, is the switching port, marked on the PCB with "P-SW1". It interrupts the powering of the device. If You need this function, just install an interrupter for 220VAC. In case You don't need this function, just shortcut it, because if You remove the wire on that connector, the device still stays in a not powered state. For the wiring, use 1.5mm² cable, the maximal current that a device need is under 300mA at 220VAC.

Sensor installation

Sensing of the distance is done with the Time of Flight technique (ToF), provided by the STMicroelectronics VL53L0X ranging sensor. It has a measuring range of up to 1200mm in ideal condition.

The sensor has to be mounted with two screws to the "zero point", looking at the 90° to the measured object. The sensor uses 5VDC to power and communicate with the I²C protocol.

The sensor is connected with a JST-XH 4-pin connector to the PCB, over one 1-meter-long flat cable.

Relay installation

The device have two independent relays. Bot relays can be configured to be triggered or disabled by software. Maximal current by short intervals that can be switched is 10A by 220VAC. By contuose powering (more that 10 minutes or more that 6A) is recomended to use a contractor and to power the contractor from the relays. Continusily usage of relays over 10A for long time can produce overheat and demage the device.

To cable the relays, use 1.5mm² wire. On the PCB are tree terminal crews per relay, marked with NC, COM and NO. NC mean Normaly Closed, COM is Comon and NO is Normaly Open. The current state of the replays is presented also with a LED on PCB surface.

Configuration

For the configuration of the device, You must connect the USB cable to the device and to a computer with the installed LaserDistance software. At the time of the configuration, the device doesn't need to be powered over 220VAC, but it can be powered.

After You connected the device, start the program, scan for ports, and connect to the port of the LaserDistanceControl device. If the device was connected, You can see the device picture in the left bottom corner and the measured value in the right bottom corner. The current configuration can be saved to a file for a backup or for later changes.

In the LaserDistance software, You can configure multiple parameters, the measurement units, LCD language, alarming and relay. After You changed any parameter, just save it into the device. You don't need to restart the device after it, the changes will be presented immediately after You save the changes into the device.

Relays and alarms

The relays and the alarm have tree possible operational states:

• disabled - there is no action, the control is set to off
• if above - the alarm or the relay will be triggered if the distance rise above the defined value
• if below - the alarm or the relay will be triggered if the distance fall under the defined value

Measurement units

By measuring, the device can present the results in millimeters or in inches. Millimeters are SI units while inches are imperial units. The chosen unit will be presented on the LCD panel and in the software window. Also, if You made a measurement into a CSV file, it will save in the value that is configured in the device.

Language

The LaserDistanceLCD supports 18 languages: English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Hungarian, Croatian, Slovenian, Serbian, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, and Finnish. If You made the changes save them to the device.

Maintenance

The device doesn't require any special maintenance. To have an accurate measurement, check always if the sensor is free of dust. It is covered with dust, You will have false measurements. Is important that no other foreign object has to be between the measuring sensor and the measuring object.

Strong light can damage the sensor, and influence the measurement. Because of this, don't use this device in direct sun illumination or close to any very hot objects (because of infrared lights).