Optical short-range radar for level control measurement

Level control systems based on the optical measuring principle are playing an increasing role in widely divergent industrial fields. High-reliability pulsed GaAs laser diodes are well suited to the production of small and compact high-power transmitting light sources for radar systems with short-range application, working against targets with low reflectance, as is generally the case in the field of industrial level control measurement. The paper reports on a novel optical radar system which has been installed in continuous casting installations to measure the bath level in the mould with an accuracy of better than 10 mm over a large range. The maximum range as a function of material reflectance is estimated, taking into account the most relevant influencing parameters inherent in the industrial process.