How does a laser distance meter work? Laser or ultrasonic distance meter - which device works better?

The distance meter is a small, handy measuring device. Using a distance meter, you can easily and accurately measure a distance or an area, even down to 1 mm. What works is a distance meter suitable for? What is the equipment of the distance meter and what additional functions can it have? Is a laser distance meter better than an ultrasonic distance meter? We compare.

What is the distance meter for?

The distance meter enables various types of measuring work. Thanks to the distance meter, it is easy to measure the area or volume, also in hard-to-reach places, such as high ceilings without climbing a ladder. The distance meter is used to measure distances indoors and outdoors, e.g. on a construction site. The device measures with an accuracy of up to a few millimeters, although manufacturers often provide an error tolerance of 1 mm, as in the case of a laser distance meter. In practice, it allows measuring distances from several dozen cm to over 100 meters, although its theoretical range is much larger (up to 200-300 m). The distance meter works well in all types of work in which distance measurements are needed, i.e. in construction, assembly, finishing, design, surveying, etc. Distance measurement is only the basic function of a rangefinder. It has many more possibilities.

How does a laser distance meter work?

The distance meter sends a laser beam to the selected target - the measured point. The optical-electronic system is responsible for sending the laser (electromagnetic) pulse, receiving this signal, and analyzing it. After reaching the measured object, the laser reflects off its surface and returns, thanks to which the electronic system measures the distance of this path.

How does an ultrasonic distance meter work?

The principle of operation of an ultrasonic laser is similar. The transmitter in this type of rangefinder, instead of an electromagnetic wave, sends a sound wave. In this case, the device measures the time that elapses between the sending of the ultrasonic signal and the receipt of the returning echo.

Laser or ultrasonic distance meter - a comparison

  laser distance meter ultrasonic distance meter

measurement precision

high (e.g. 1 mm, phase distance meter) low
range very large, up to 1000 m small measurement range (up to several meters)
measurement reliability high measurement reliability, even in difficult terrain conditions and through obstacles (Pythagoras function) reliability of measurements only in empty rooms or in an open space (any objects / objects on the measurement path may generate errors)
transparent objects measurement no measurement possible measurement possible
measurement to objects reflecting the signal at a high angle effective ineffective
use in engineering applications, integration with measurement and calculation software possible limited possibility

 

Distance meter equipment and additional functions

A distance meter is a device equipped with many useful functions. They often relate to the management of measurement results. An important function of the distance meter is the ability to transmit measurement results to a free application available for iOS and Android. The application allows you to create sketches or photos of measured objects and apply the obtained dimensions to them. Data transmission takes place in real-time. This allows you to conveniently create measurement documentation without the need for traditional notes on paper. Measurement results can be saved in PDF format, and then printed or sent by e-mail to the selected address.

With the distance meter, apart from the distance, we can also measure the surface area, volume, cubature, angles, and the area of ​​triangles (useful when measuring hard-to-reach surfaces). In turn, the function called point-to-point allows you to measure the distance between two points from one position. It is especially useful when we do not have direct access to one of the points. There are also distance meter models equipped with an integrated compass, an inclination sensor, and automatic endpoint correction. Specialists will also appreciate the stakeout function. It enables measuring segments with the same interval "a" (or the same length), removing from the user the need to make calculations in the memory, which inevitably involves the possibility of making a mistake. Instead of looking for the next results on the steel rule scale, it is convenient to move the distance meter according to the instructions on the screen and place markers at successive zero points. There is also a possibility of staking out sections alternately for two fixed lengths "a" and "b", for example, a fence span and a fence post - the distance meter will keep us informed about successively marked out points.

A practical function in the distance meter is the backlit screen, activated in low light or working after dark. The distance meter also uses the activity control function - the device turns off automatically after approx. 3 minutes of inactivity. Thanks to this, we do not have to remember to turn off the distance meter and we save the batteries.