Optical displacement sensor

摘要

The optical displacement sensor modulates intensity of the light beam as a function of the physical displacement. The sensor includes a reflector positioned in a path of the light beam between a light source and a light detector. The reflector has a non-reflective portion surrounded by a reflective portion. Relative movement (displacement) of the beam and the reflector occurs as a function of a parameter which is being sensed. In a normal (no displacement) condition, the non-reflective portion can be positioned with respect to the light beam so that intensity of the light beam received by the detector is at a minimum, and the sensor is operating in a darkfield mode. Displacement from the normal position causes an increase in the light intensity received by the detector.