Basically, two modes of operation of the digital laser rangefinder can be distinguished, based on:
- Triangulation
- The LIDAR Principle
In triangulation, a target point is aimed at by the laser from two different positions. Knowing the basic length - the distance between the two points of view - and the use of angle sets, the distance can be calculated.
The second mode of operation is based on the "LIDAR" principle (LIDAR = Light detection and ranging). A laser beam emitted by the laser range finder is reflected by a target point and detected by a light sensor installed in the device. A precision watch measures the elapsed time from emission to detection of the laser beam. The distance covered by the light is calculated from time and speed of light by the laser distance measuring device and shown on the display. The monochromatic light is guaranteed using special filters and allows perfect distance measurement in various weather and environmental conditions.