IN Brief:
- ifm’s new OGD distance sensors use PMD time-of-flight technology for millimetre-precision measurement.
- The OGD560 laser class 2 model extends reliable detection up to four metres.
- IO-Link support enables remote configuration and simultaneous output of distance and reflectance values.
ifm has introduced a new generation of OGD distance sensors, adding wider operating ranges, millimetre-precision measurement, and improved detection of challenging surfaces for industrial automation applications.
The updated OGD series uses photonic mixer device time-of-flight technology to measure distance values with millimetre precision. The sensors are designed for object positioning, presence checking, quality control, handling systems, robotics, assembly automation, conveyor technology, and logistics.
The OGD560 laser class 2 model doubles the previous range and enables reliable error-proofing at distances up to four metres. For close-range applications, the OGD540 is intended for process verification where precision is needed near the sensor.
The new generation can detect dark, reflective, and otherwise difficult objects. ifm’s Ultimate Black Mode is designed to maintain detection performance on surfaces that typically disrupt optical measurement, including jet-black products and high-gloss materials.
The sensors can output both distance and reflectance values. Reflectance data can be used for object identification in sorting tasks, while distance values support measurement, presence checking, and positioning. The devices can output values via analogue output or IO-Link, or signal them through a switching output.
ifm is offering the OGD range in plastic and stainless steel housings, giving users options for light-duty and more demanding environments. Configuration can be carried out directly on the device using three operating keys and a four-digit display, or remotely through IO-Link. A red-green display change indicates the status of the current measurement.
Factory sensing is moving from simple detection towards richer measurement data. A basic photoelectric sensor can confirm whether an object is present. A distance sensor that also provides reflectance information can support decisions around position, orientation, surface condition, and product identification.
That capability is useful in automated production environments where product variation is increasing. Manufacturers are handling different colours, finishes, packaging types, and material properties on the same lines. Sensors that struggle with black plastics, glossy surfaces, angled objects, or reflective metals can create false rejects, missed detections, and machine stoppages.
PMD time-of-flight technology calculates distance from the phase shift between transmitted and reflected light. This allows compact sensors to make robust distance measurements while suppressing background effects and handling a wider range of surface conditions than some conventional optical approaches.
IO-Link adds a further layer of usefulness. Sensors are becoming part of the data layer in automated machines as well as the electrical control layer. Remote parameterisation reduces commissioning time, while process values can be used by PLCs, edge devices, or maintenance systems to monitor changes over time. In high-mix production, digital configuration and process data can reduce manual intervention.
The new OGD series fits that direction in industrial electronics: more capable sensors, more diagnostic data, and easier integration into connected automation systems. For machinery builders and plant operators, the practical gain lies in reducing edge-case detection failures while extracting more information from each sensing point.
