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This section provides an overview for fiber optic sensors as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 18 fiber optic sensor manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked fiber optic sensor companies as of July, 2025: 1.Littelfuse, Inc, 2.Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., 3.Omega Engineering, Inc..
Table of Contents
A fiber optic sensor is an optical waveguide inside a thin fiber-like optical fiber made of resin or quartz glass, which is used for various sensing applications in manufacturing sites.
Fiber optic sensors have a flexible, thin cable and a small sensor head that enables detection in confined spaces and detection of small objects, and are suitable for detection in a wide range of environments because they are not affected by electromagnetic influences. Depending on the material of the optical fiber coating, fiber sensors can also be used in high-temperature environments or in the presence of oil or chemicals.
The main application of fiber optic sensors is object detection. They can detect the presence or absence, passage, or moving speed of an object in the detection area where light is irradiated.
Since fiber sensors detect by shading or reflecting light, they can detect the presence or absence and color of general solids such as wood and resin as well as metals, and can also detect transparent glass, etc. They are widely used in various manufacturing sites, from non-contact general product detection to detection and the positioning of extremely small products in narrow spaces.
In addition, fiber optic sensors can detect not only solids but also liquids, strain, and temperature, and current sensors that measure the current value flowing through conductors without contact are also in practical use.
Fiber optic sensors are composed of a light emitting part, which consists of a cable-like fiber unit that emits light while passing it through and a fiber amplifier that has a light source and optical amplification functions, and a light receiving part that receives the light.
The optical fiber, which is the core of the fiber unit, consists of a core with a high refractive index and a cladding with a low refractive index.
Fiber amplifiers are mainly structured with optical amplifiers and detection circuits between the light emitter and receiver. Rare earth doped fiber is used as the most important optical amplifying medium, and detection is performed by amplifying the incident light through the induced emission of excitation light. Depending on these features, some products are equipped with sensitivity adjustment and the ability to set or change threshold values.
Fiber optic sensors can be broadly classified into two types: those with separate fiber units and fiber amplifiers and those with built-in fiber amplifiers, and their detection methods include transmission, reflection, retro-reflection, and limited reflection types.
Fiber optic sensors perform various types of detection based on the information (wavelength and light intensity) of light emitted from the light-emitting part and received by the light-receiving part.
The most basic detection principle is to detect the presence or absence of an object when the light from the light-emitter to the light-receiver is interrupted. It is possible to detect the passage of an object by blocking the light for a short period, or to measure the speed of movement of an object by measuring the reflection time if a light-receiving means is also provided on the light-emitting side.
Although transparent objects such as glass are difficult to detect because light passes through them, detection is possible by precisely measuring the change in light intensity due to the change in refractive index on the surface (air ⇔ glass).
Fiber Optic Sensors are used to detect not only solids but also liquids by utilizing the light refracting property of liquids.
The tube-mounted type projects light from the wall of the tube. If there is no liquid in the tube, the light travels straight ahead, and if there is liquid, the light is refracted and enters the light-receiving side. This allows detection of the presence or absence of liquid. This type can detect transparent liquids, but not opaque liquids that do not allow light to pass through.
In the wet type, the light emitter and receiver are placed parallel to each other inside a conical resin tube, and when not in contact with liquid, the light is refracted by the cone and returns to the light-receiving side. When wet, the refractive index changes and light does not return. This is how wetted liquid is detected.
In this way, fiber sensors are used to detect the presence of liquid, liquid level, and water leakage. In the detection of liquids, the resin tubes are often made of Teflon, which can be used for chemicals and high-temperature water, and are applicable to a wide range of applications.
The color of an object is determined by the wavelength distribution of the reflected light according to the reflectance or refractive index relative to the wavelength (color) of the irradiated light. This can be used to detect color with a fiber sensor.
Optical fiber has a dual structure of core and cladding in the radial direction, but by irradiating special ultraviolet light in the manufacturing process, regions with partially different refractive indices can be generated at regular intervals in the axial direction. The image of an optical fiber in this case is a series of cylinders with FBGs at both ends.
Since FBGs reflect only specific wavelengths depending on the spacing and refractive index generated, when the optical fiber expands or contracts due to temperature changes, the wavelength of the reflected light and the time it takes for the reflected light to return will change. This allows the fiber to be used as a temperature sensor.
Also, when installed in a structure, the fiber length changes with the distortion of the structure, making it possible to use it as a strain sensor. In addition to large buildings, tunnels, pipelines, etc., the sensor can be applied to structures that are constantly subjected to external forces, such as offshore wind power generation, which is a form of renewable energy. When a weight is connected, the length of the optical fiber changes according to the acceleration force applied when the weight moves, so it can also be used as an acceleration sensor.
The Faraday effect is used to detect the current value using a fiber sensor. When an electric current flows through a conductor, a concentric magnetic field is generated according to the right-hand thread law. The Faraday effect is a phenomenon in which the polarization plane of light passing through an optical fiber along this magnetic field rotates according to the intensity of the magnetic field. The current value is detected by measuring the angle of rotation of the polarization plane.
Fiber optic sensors generally use LED light, which is carried by an optical fiber to the detection area and illuminated by a lens. The most common problems with fiber sensors is the deterioration of the LED light over time and adhesion of dirt on the lens. When these conditions occur, the light intensity of the irradiated light decreases, causing false detection and leading to equipment trouble, so fiber amplifiers are used.
The function of the fiber amplifier is to detect and compensate automatically for the decrease in light intensity. It detects changes in LED light over time and raises the output accordingly to maintain the light intensity at a constant level. It also sets object detection by the rate of decrease rather than the amount of decrease in light intensity and automatically compensates by judging the relative light intensity ratio between the emitting and receiving light.
In this way, products and functions that compensate for the shortcomings of fiber optic sensors are being developed one after another, and their good use will prevent problems.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Littlefuse was founded in 1927 and headquartered in the United States. Littlefuse is a diversified industrial technology manufacturing company with customers globally. Littlefuse has products segments which are electronic, industrial, and transportation. Electronic segment products include fuses and fuse accessories, positive temperature coefficient resettable fuses, polymer electrostatic discharge suppressors, and varistors. Transportation products include blade, resettable, and high-current and high-voltage fuses, as well as battery cable protectors; fuses, switches, relays, circuit breakers, and power distribution modules. The Industrial segment offerings include contactors, transformers, and temperature sensors for use in renewable energy and energy storage systems, electric vehicle infrastructure, HVAC systems.
OMEGA Engineering Inc., founded in Norwalk, CT, in 1962 is a manufacturer of products used to measure temperature and humidity, flow and level, and pressure. The company's product portfolio includes thermocouple probes and assemblies, pressure gauges and switches, and air velocity measurement systems, wireless systems and portable optic sensors. The company serves markets including Automotive and Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy and Energy Storage and Electronics and IT Infrastructure. The company also offers customer services that include support, custom research projects and customized services.
Banner Engineering Corporation, established in 1966 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial automation products. They offer an extensive range of sensors, including proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, and limit switches, for detecting object presence, position, and speed. Additionally, Banner provides a different types of switches, such as pushbuttons, toggle switches, and rotary switches, to control electricity flow and offer system feedback. Their wide array of controls includes PLCs, HMIs, and motion controllers, enabling automation of industrial processes.
Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., founded in 1981 and based in Denver, Colorado, is a manufacturer, distributor, and supplier of precision power conversion, measurement, and control solutions. Its products, include AC-DC power supply units, DC-DC conversion products, and high voltage amplifiers, which are used in mission-critical applications across various industries such as healthcare, telecommunications, and industrial equipment. The company offers on-site support, capable of securing and mounting products, managing electrical connections, and conducting tests as per specifications.
Wenglor Sensoric LLC is a supplier and manufacturer of smart sensor and image processing technologies and solutions. Established in 1983, the company is headquartered in Tettnang, Germany. The company's main activities encompass the design, manufacturing, and distribution of sensor solutions for automation and industrial applications such as Sensors, Machine Vision, Connection and Network Technology and Accessories. Wenglor Sensoric specializes in sensors for position, distance, color, and image recognition, catering to industries like automotive, packaging, and logistics. The company offers a range of services including technical support and consultation.
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.
Ono Sokki is a Japanese electronic measurement equipment manufacturer with over 70 years of history. Since 1954, as the first company in Japan to develop digital tachometer for jet engines, we have been active as professionals in automotive testing, as well as mechanical acoustics and vibration analysis. Our expertise led to the development of Japan's first box-type FFT analyzer. We provide industry-leading high-precision instruments with comprehensive support, backed by reliable calibration and maintenance services.
Optex Fee Co., Ltd., was established in 2002 and based in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of factory automation sensors and solutions. The company offers an extensive and diversified product portfolio including photoelectric sensors, fiber-optic sensors, displacement sensors, non-contact thermometers, vision sensors, and other industrial automation products. These sensors and solutions play a pivotal role in enhancing manufacturing processes across a spectrum of industries, including automotive, electronics, and packaging.
Datalogic was founded in 1972 along the outskirts of Bologna, Italy. The company is a manufacturer of scanning and optical devices for industries such as retail, manufacturing, transportation & logistics, and healthcare. The company’s product lines include fixed and handheld scanners for retail and industrial purposes, vehicle-mounted computers and handheld computers, laser marking systems, and other industrial scanners and data-sensing machines. The company offers aftercare services including ease of care service.
Takex Europe Ltd. is based in Basingstoke, England, UK, and is a manufacturer of anti-intruder sensors and photo sensors that was established in 1999 as the European subsidiary of Japan’s Takenaka Sensor Group. The company’s product lineup includes passive infrared (IR) sensors for motion detection applications, IR beams for detecting gasses that absorb IR light, and beam towers for disguising the position and number of beams in a space. The company mainly serves clients in the security, transportation, and automation industries.
Tri-Tronics, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, USA, is a manufacturer of performance sensors and encoders established in 1954 and acquired by Garmin Ltd. in 2011. The company specializes in photoelectric sensors and encoders used for detecting shape and color, transmitting light in hazardous or inaccessible environments, and measuring distance or thickness. It also offers elevator door protection products, such as its InvisiGuard-brand infrared beam with a universal power supply for detecting doorway obstruction. The company primarily serves clients in the packaging, elevator production, and medical services industries.
HBK, formerly named HBM, is a global ISO9001 and ISO14001-certified company founded in 1950. It is known for providing the best technology and expertise in test and measurement. With branches in 30 countries, it provides clients with different solutions ranging from sound and vibration to propulsion efficiency and weighing. Examples of product offerings include transducers, amplifiers, sensors, strain gauges, data acquisition systems, etc. Such products are used in different markets, including aerospace, automobiles, telecom audio, and more. Besides supplying products, they also entertain their customers with after-sales services.
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.
Autonics Corporation, established in 1977 and based in Busan, South Korea, is a developer and manufacturer of automation products, which are marketed worldwide. Some of its products include sensors, peripheral connection equipment, motion devices, control devices, and process automation instruments. The automation products are used in various industries, including automotive, packaging, machine tools, metal, and marine. The company has 12 international offices spanning over 100 countries, a fully automated warehouse system, and various international quality certifications, including RoHS, CE, UL, and EAC. Its safety products meet the functional safety standards IEC 61508 and mechanical safety standards ISO 13849.
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.
Schlüter Automation und Sensorik GmbH, established in 1967 and headquartered in Todtnau, Germany, serves as a manufacturer and supplier specializing in automation and sensor solutions. The company's primary product categories include industrial sensors, control systems, and automation equipment. It caters to a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, automotive, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. Its products catalog includes optical sensors, safety light curtains, magnetic field switches, inductive detectors, laser distance sensors, among others.
Bywave Sensing Technology, established in 2016 and headquartered in Haidian, China, specializes in manufacturing optical fiber sensors and advanced demodulation technologies. The company's own manufacturing technology includes high-performance MEMS Fabry-Pérot (FP) cavity fiber sensing, Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensing, and demodulation techniques based on white light interference and scanning spectroscopy. The company offers a range of products, including the White Light Interference Demodulator, Fiber Bragg Grating Demodulator Module, Accelerometer Sensor, Pressure Sensor, Micro Strain Sensor, and more. These products are employed across diverse sectors such as medical, petroleum, electric power, military, transportation, and more.
OMRON Industrial Automation is the UK branch of OMRON, originally founded in Japan in 1933. OMRON Industrial Automation serves food and beverage industry, panel board design, automotive manufacturing industries among others. OMRON Industrial Automation products categories include automation systems such as industrial PCs and human machine interfaces (HMI), safety such as safety switches and safety logic control systems, switching components such as solid state relays, motion & drives such as motion controllers, sensing such as photoelectric sensors, software, robotics, quality control & inspection systems, as well as control components including power supplies and digital panel indicators.
Ranking as of July 2025
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Littelfuse, Inc |
14.5%
|
| 2 | Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. |
11.8%
|
| 3 | Omega Engineering, Inc. |
10.7%
|
| 4 | wenglor sensoric LLC |
9.6%
|
| 5 | Banner Engineering Corporation |
9.0%
|
| 6 | OMRON Industrial Automation |
6.2%
|
| 7 | Bywave Sensing Technology |
4.6%
|
| 8 | SensoPart Inc. |
4.1%
|
| 9 | Datalogic S.p.A. |
3.8%
|
| 10 | Pepperl+Fuchs Inc. |
3.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the fiber optic sensor page as of July 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
|
6 | 54.5% |
|
Japan
|
2 | 18.2% |
|
Italy
|
1 | 9.1% |
|
Germany
|
1 | 9.1% |
|
China
|
1 | 9.1% |
52 products found
52 products
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