Lasers are great for applications requiring precise resolution. In
the animation at left, the material passing underneath the laser sensor
is being measured for flaws. The red bar represents a meter. The meter
is reading the linear output from the laser and responding accordingly.
The laser's analog signal could be going to a Red Lion or Veeder-Root
panel meter, a drive, an analog card in a programmable controller, etc.
The thing to understand is that the output from the laser sensor is
linear. Laser sensors can be used when you need exact precision. You
might need a series of outputs to occur over a very short distance.
You might, as per this example, need to respond if the thickness of
a material varies.
