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This section provides an overview for distance measuring sensors as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 21 distance measuring sensor manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked distance measuring sensor companies as of January, 2025: 1.Migatron Corp., 2.Massa Products Corporation, 3.Nanjing KJT Electric Co,.LTD.
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Categories Related to Distance Measuring Sensors
A distance-measuring sensor is a device used to measure distances.
They have gained significant use in automated driving systems for automobiles and industrial machinery, and advanced safety systems for collision avoidance. The three primary types of distance-measuring sensors include LiDAR (optical), millimeter wave, and ultrasonic.
Most of these sensors employ a Time of Flight (TOF) mechanism, where a signal is emitted and the time it takes to be received back from the target object is used to measure distance.
Distance-measuring sensors are employed differently based on their specific method:
The LiDAR method, known for its high resolution and accuracy in position and shape recognition, is used in autonomous driving to measure 3D terrain shapes via airplanes and drones, and for object shape recognition. It's also applied in safety devices for automated guided vehicles to detect obstacle distances, and in systems that identify product shapes and dimensions for automatic sorting.
The millimeter wave method, notable for its long measurement range and environmental resilience, is used in human detection sensors for movement monitoring within a certain range and in security applications. It's also employed in adaptive cruise control, collision reduction braking systems, and blind-spot monitors for lane change assistance on highways.
The ultrasonic method, a cost-effective option, is limited to shorter detection distances of about 10 meters. It's suitable for motion sensors that activate lights upon detecting a person, for package detection on conveyors, and for car parking obstacle detection.
Stereo cameras, functioning as distance-measuring sensors, calculate distance from images. Often used in conjunction with millimeter-wave sensors in driver assistance systems, they provide image-based judgment alongside distance measurement.
Many sensors use the Time of Flight (TOF) mechanism, where distance is gauged by the time taken for a signal to be sent and received from the target object, depending on the method.
The LiDAR method uses laser light, which may be visible, ultraviolet, or near-infrared. Distance is calculated by emitting laser pulses and measuring the time to receive reflected light. It is highly precise, detecting small objects accurately, but less suitable for transparent or dusty environments and complex lighting conditions.
Employing electromagnetic waves in the millimeter wave spectrum, this method comes in pulse and FMCW systems. Pulse systems calculate the distance from the time taken for reflected radio waves to return, while FMCW systems use frequency variation over time and the beat frequency from transmitted and reflected signal interference. This method is effective over long distances, resistant to bright and dusty environments, but less effective with radio wave-absorbing materials.
This method transmits ultrasonic pulses and calculates the distance from the time taken for reflections to return. It's cost-effective and works in various mediums, but its range is limited to 10 meters, and it's less effective with sound-absorbing materials.
Stereo cameras use dual cameras to capture images and gather positional data. The distance to the object is determined by triangulation using the cameras' positional information. However, image data collection is challenging in dark or strongly backlit environments, affecting detection accuracy.
Smartphones often incorporate ToF sensors as distance-measuring sensors. This technology enhances autofocus accuracy in smartphone cameras by precisely calculating the distance between the subject and camera, even in challenging focus environments. It enables 2D images to be processed as 3D data, improving object recognition accuracy in images, with significant potential in virtual and augmented reality technologies.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Massa Products Corporation, based in Massachusetts, United States, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in ultrasonic sensor technology. Founded in 1945 it serves industries such as Oceanographic, the chemical and allied, the oil patch and mining, among others. It engineers and manufactures sonar and ultrasonic products for use in the water and air. The company is certified in ISO 9001:2015 and its products catalog includes Ultrasonic Level Sensors For Distance Measurement, Industrial Ultrasonic Air Transducers, among others.
Riegl USA Inc., established in 1978, is headquartered in Winter Garden, Florida, and is a manufacturer of 3D laser scanners. Their product range includes airborne, mobile, industrial, and terrestrial laser scanners, mobile mapping systems, and laser distance meters. RIEGL's software packages are provided along with the scanners, designed for different applications from optimizing the acquisition workflow in the field, via providing tools for data control, right to providing functions for data processing. Riegl USA Inc. holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, providing surveying solutions to various industries such as land surveying, construction, mining, forestry, and transportation
Pepperl+Fuchs, Inc. was founded in Mannheim, Germany in 1945 developing the forerunner of the proximity switch. Pepperl+Fuchs continues to develop proximity sensors as well as other industrial sensors including ultrasonic sensors, rotary encoders, positioning systems, display and signal processing, vibration monitoring, industrial communication, and signal processing as well as related accessories and software. Explosive protection products include safety barriers, surge protection, wireless solutions, HMI systems, power supplies, electrical explosion protection equipment, level measurement, and related software.
Migatron Corporation, headquartered in Woodstock, Illinois since 1979, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in ultrasonic sensors and controllers. The company offers intrinsically safe sensors, set point controllers, zener safety barriers, close range sensors, and self-contained sensors used in object detection, people counting, distance measurement, loop control, and liquid level detection. It is an ISO 9001, ATEX, and IECEx certified company, offering products to the oil & gas drilling, petroleum, chemical, and manufacturing sectors.
ONExia Inc is based in Exton, Pennsylvania and is a robotics integrator, custom machine builder, and industrial distributor. ONExia specializing in manual process automation and assists manufacturers of all sizes increase throughput with cutting edge technology. ONExia works with customers to develop turnkey custom machines including 2D & 3D vision system integration, software design & development, and machine safety services. ONExia uses robotics to automate line packaging. ONExia also offers robot palletizers that are compatible with new or existing packaging lines.
Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., established in 1953 and headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a manufacturer of sensors and emitters for both visible and invisible light. It stocks products like LEDs, lamps, and photodiodes used in several industries, including consumer electronics, dental imaging, and environmental monitoring. The sensor and light source components are also available as modules and units that can be incorporated into systems the company develops, like optical measurement systems or imaging systems. The ISO 9001-certified company stocks over 15,000 devices, units, and systems that ship to over 100 destinations worldwide, and it has ten research and production bases.
Nanjing KJT Electric Co., Ltd., founded in 2009, is a sensor switch manufacturer specializing in sensors and industrial switches. Based in China, its tech products find applications in industrial mechanical equipment and automated assembly lines across industries such as transportation, plastics, metallurgy, chemistry, textiles, tobacco, food processing, and printing. Its solutions are about location verification, signal transmission, automatic counting, and velocimetry. its product line includes Micro switch, Laser ranging sensor, Magnetostrictive position sensor, Capacitive proximity sensor, High and low temperature proximity sensors, among others.
Chengdu JRT Meter Technology Co., Ltd., headquartered in China, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in laser distance measurement technology. Established in 2004, it works designing and producing precision laser distance sensors and modules for a wide range of applications, including construction, robotics, and industrial automation. The company is certified in ISO 9001:2015 and its products catalog includes Distance Sensor Short Range, Lase Rangefinder Sensor, Micro Laser, High Precision, Long Range Distance Sensor, among others.
Omron Corporation, started in 1933 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of automation components, equipment, and systems, and it developed the first contactless proximity switch in 1960. It has four domains, including industrial automation, electronic components, healthcare, and social systems, and it provides products and services in around 120 countries and regions. Some of its products include microsensing devices, access control systems, industrial robots, surveillance cameras, and blood pressure monitors. In 1971, it developed the first online cash machine, and in 1972, it established Japan’s first welfare factory.
Baumer Electric AG was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in the city of Frauenfeld, Switzerland. The ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified company provides sensor solutions for digitalization, packaging, railway, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. A sample of the company’s sensor product listings includes object detection, distance measurement, force sensors, accessories, and connectivity devices. The company offers product support for setup and installation, product functionality, and optimized product usage.
Balluff was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Neuhausen, near Stuttgart, Germany. Balluff is a manufacturer of sensor and automation solutions for customers globally. Balluff serves many industries including life sciences, semiconductors, metalworking, fluid power, and mobile equipment. Balluff’s product line consists of sensors and connectivity components, accessories, complete systems, and software. Balluff offers services to assist customers across the range of finding solutions, deploying solutions, training, as well as support.
Micro-Epsilon was originally founded in Osaka and Micro-Epsilon America was founded in 1998, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Micro-Epsilon develops, manufactures, and distributes sensors to aerospace, battery production, glass production, wind power, precision optics, medical technology, transportation, semiconductor, and other industries. Micro-Epsilon’s sensor product categories include inductive, capacitive, laser, confocal, laser distance, magneto-inductive, draw-wire, rotation speed, color, paint thickness measurement, and fiber optic sensors in addition to interferometers and other sensor equipment.
Founded in 1890 in Missouri, Emerson Electric Co., is a technology and engineering company that provides various solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets globally. Business segments include automation solutions, AspenTech, and commercial & residential solutions segments. The Automation Solutions segment offers measurement and analytical instrumentation, industrial valves and equipment, and process control software and systems. The AspenTech segment provides asset optimization software for enhancing performance through a combination of modeling, simulation, and optimization capabilities. The Commercial & Residential Solutions segment offers residential and commercial HVAC products, system protector and flow control devices, and IoT thermostats.
SensoPart, Inc. was founded in 1994 and headquartered in Germany with US operations based out of Bingham Farms, Michigan. The ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing company serves the automotive, robotics, plastics, solar, and other industries with photoelectric sensors and image processing products. The company’s products include optical sensors, vision sensors, ultrasonic sensors, inductive sensors, and accessories. Together they are used in manufacturing detection & inspection, product identification, a diverse array of measuring tasks, product positioning, and color detection.
Saddle Brook Controls is a division of Ribble Engineering, which was founded in 1933 in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. Saddle Brook Controls is a manufacture as well as a designer, distributor, and support service provider of automation solutions for factory automation. Product groups include PLCs, controllers, Remote IO devices, HMIs, industrial computers, machine vision and inspection machines, motion devices, drives, motor controls, enclosures, circuit breakers, safety products, sensing and control products, power supplies, and UPS.
Rockwell Automation, Inc. was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Milwakee, WI. Rockwell Automation provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions around the world. Rockwell Automation operates through their intelligent devices, software & control, and lifecycle services segments with both hardware and software products and services. The Intelligent Devices segment offers drives, motion, safety, sensing, industrial components, and configured-to-order products. The Software & Control segment provides control and visualization software and hardware, information software, and network and security infrastructure solutions. The Lifecycle Services segment provides consulting, professional services and solutions, and connected and maintenance services through independent distributors.
GZ Cyndar Co., Ltd., a multinational corporation headquartered in Guangzhou, China, was founded a decade ago and specializes in offering advanced smart sensors and industrial automation technology solutions on a global scale. GZ Cyndar Co., Ltd. is an internationally recognized company that provides advanced smart sensor and industrial automation technology solutions worldwide. Cyndar emphasizes providing professional smart sensor solutions with a solid devotion to delivering quality products, tailored system integration, and effective cost management.
Slentech is a supplier company specialized in Process Equipment and Industrial Sensors & Instrumentation. Based in Melbourne, Australia, and established in 2018, its products catalog offers Industrial Transducers & Transmitters, Flow Meters, Water Meters, Pneumatic Controls, Data Loggers, among others within Australia, New Zealand & Oceania region. It serves businesses that automate the production, processing and distribution in the Oil & Gas, Mining, Chemical, Pulp & Paper, Food & Beverage, Power & Utilities, and other industries.
AutomationDirect.com was founded in 1994 to provide solutions for the industrial automation market and has been growing its list of offerings ever since. AutomationDirects’ extensive catalog includes individual components such as cables, various controls, I/O devices, relays, gauges, fittings, and sensors to complete systems. Many parts and devices, especially PLC units are customizable. AutomationDirect.com also provides support via video instructions, online manuals, a learning library, an active community forum to further assist customers.
Ranking as of January 2025
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Migatron Corp. |
10.1%
|
| 2 | Massa Products Corporation |
8.3%
|
| 3 | Nanjing KJT Electric Co,.LTD |
6.5%
|
| 4 | SensoPart Inc. |
5.9%
|
| 5 | Slentech |
5.3%
|
| 6 | Saddle Brook Controls |
5.3%
|
| 7 | RIEGL USA, Inc. |
5.3%
|
| 8 | AutomationDirect Inc. |
5.3%
|
| 9 | Onexia, Inc. |
5.3%
|
| 10 | Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. |
5.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the distance measuring sensor page as of January 2025. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
5 | 41.7% |
|
China
|
5 | 41.7% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 8.3% |
|
Australia
|
1 | 8.3% |
143 products found
143 products
Pal Giken Co., Ltd.
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Dimetix's D Series Laser Distance Sensors are at the forefront of the industry thanks to continuous development and innovation. Measure long distan...
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Very Fast Response
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■Features Measures the distance to the object using the TOF (Time of Flight) method.
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This is a sensor that detects the position of parts (wood, metal, live wires) behind the wall. By pressing the device against the wall and moving i...
Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc.
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■Frequency 3,040 ~ 3,060 MHz (fixed) ■Output power (peak) 25kW ■Duty ratio/pulse width 0.001/1.00μsec ■Others RoHS compatible
Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc.
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Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc.
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