Laser Technology TruSense S300 Series User manual

LTI TruSense S300 Series Integration Manual 1st Edition
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Copyright © [2016] Laser Technology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized duplication, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.
Laser Technology, Inc.
TruSense®S300 Series
User’s Manual

LTI TruSense S300 Series Integration Manual 1st Edition
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Copyright © [2016] Laser Technology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized duplication, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.
LTI TruSense® S300 Series User’s Manual
1st Edition
Part Number 0144958
Copyright Notice:
Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on
the part of Laser Technology Inc. No part of this manual may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval systems,
for any purpose other than the purchaser's personal use, without the express written consent of Laser
Technology, Inc.
Copyright (c)[2016] Laser Technology, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorizedduplication, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.
Printed in the United States of America
Trademarks:
TruSense is trademark of Laser Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owner.
Patents:
This product is covered by pending patent applications and/or one or more of the following issued
patents: 5,612,779 and 6,445,444
LTI Contact Information: Laser Technology, Inc.
6912 S. Quentin Street
Centennial, CO 80112
Phone: [phone]
1-877-OWN-A-LIT (USA and Canada)
Fax: [phone]
Web Site: www.lasertech.com
Email: [email protected]

LTI TruSense S300 Series Integration Manual 1st Edition
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LTI TruSense S300-Series User’s Manual (0144958) Change Log
Revision History
Date Revision Description of Changes
Original document
Approval History
Date
Revision
Description of changes

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Table of Contents
1INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................................7
PURPOSE ....................................................................................................................................................................................7
BASICPACKAGE............................................................................................................................................................................7
ACCESSORY ITEMS ........................................................................................................................................................................7
SAFETYPRECAUTIONS ....................................................................................................................................................................7
MOUNTING THE TRUSENSE S300 ....................................................................................................................................................7
2OEM MODELS..............................................................................................................................................................8
3GETTING STARTED .......................................................................................................................................................8
MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUE...........................................................................................................................................................8
Acquiring a Target...............................................................................................................................................................8
Window Application............................................................................................................................................................9
Beam Diameter .................................................................................................................................................................10
Transmit Receive Lens.......................................................................................................................................................10
Measurement Reference...................................................................................................................................................10
Hazardous Locations .........................................................................................................................................................10
Sunlight .............................................................................................................................................................................11
4INTERFACE................................................................................................................................................................. 12
ELECTRICAL ...............................................................................................................................................................................12
I/O..........................................................................................................................................................................................12
MECHANICAL.............................................................................................................................................................................12
ALIGNMENT ..............................................................................................................................................................................12
5CONFIGURATION....................................................................................................................................................... 14
GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE UTILITY .................................................................................................................................................14
CONFIGURE SENSOR TAB .............................................................................................................................................................14
TERMINAL WINDOW...................................................................................................................................................................15
RANGE UNITS TAB......................................................................................................................................................................15
TARGETS TAB ............................................................................................................................................................................16
DATA RATE TAB .........................................................................................................................................................................16
EXTERNAL PORT TAB...................................................................................................................................................................17
EXTERNAL PORT S330 ................................................................................................................................................................17
4-20 MATAB............................................................................................................................................................................17
6SERIAL COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL ....................................................................................................................... 18
DEFAULT SETTINGS .....................................................................................................................................................................18
7SERIALCOMMANDS...................................................................................................................................................21
$AU DISPLAY BOARD AUX BOARD STATUS ...............................................................................................................................21
$BA RS232BAUD RATE........................................................................................................................................................21
$CL CONVERT ERROR CODE TO ERROR MESSAGE .......................................................................................................................22
$CO DISPLAY $GO COMMANDPARAMETERS .............................................................................................................................22
$DB DISPLAYBANNER ...........................................................................................................................................................22
$DE ERROR CODE FORMAT ....................................................................................................................................................23
$DM TARGET MODE ..............................................................................................................................................................23
ADVANCED TARGET DISPLAYS .......................................................................................................................................................24
First, Second, Third ............................................................................................................................................................24
Last Two (Farthest, Second to Farthest) ............................................................................................................................24
First, Strongest, Last ..........................................................................................................................................................24
First, Second, Third, Strongest, Last ...................................................................................................................................24
MEASUREMENTOUTPUTMESSAGES...............................................................................................................................................25
First Target ........................................................................................................................................................................25

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Strongest Target ................................................................................................................................................................25
Last Target ........................................................................................................................................................................25
First, Second, Third Targets................................................................................................................................................25
Last 2 (Farthest and Second to Farthest) Targets...............................................................................................................25
First, Strongest, Last Targets..............................................................................................................................................25
First, Second, Third, Strongest, and Last Targets................................................................................................................25
$DT Time Since Power ON ............................................................................................................................................26
$FD Reset Factory Default...........................................................................................................................................26
4-20 Current Loop Setting ............................................................................................................................................27
$GO Start Distance Measurement .................................................................................................................................27
$HV High Voltage Status .............................................................................................................................................28
$ID InstrumentIdentification.......................................................................................................................................28
$IS $IS<CR><LF>.........................................................................................................................................................29
$MA Manual Start ........................................................................................................................................................29
$MU Change Measurement Unit...................................................................................................................................30
$OP Output Precision...................................................................................................................................................30
$OZ InstrumentTemperature ......................................................................................................................................30
$PD Power Down and Restart Unit with New Baud Rate ..............................................................................................31
$PE Set Update Period ................................................................................................................................................31
$RD Set Trip Distance ...................................................................................................................................................31
$SN InstrumentSerial Number.....................................................................................................................................32
$ST Stop DistanceMeasurement .................................................................................................................................32
$SU Save User Settings ................................................................................................................................................32
$TG RemoteTrigger .....................................................................................................................................................33
$UO User Offset ............................................................................................................................................................34
$VO Turn Laser Pointer On (S310 and S330 Only)..........................................................................................................34
$VF Turn Laser Pointer Off (S310 and S330 Only) .........................................................................................................34
$WU Warm Up Period ...................................................................................................................................................35
8 APPLICATION REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................. 36
APPLICATIONEXAMPLES ...............................................................................................................................................................36
HARTCOMMUNICATION .............................................................................................................................................................38
SDI-12COMMUNICATION............................................................................................................................................................39
9SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................................................................................................40
10 ERROR CODES ........................................................................................................................................................... 41
11 TROUBLESHOOTING .................................................................................................................................................. 41
12 CARE AND MAINTENANCE.........................................................................................................................................42
OPERATING TEMPERATURE...........................................................................................................................................................42
MOISTURE AND DUST PROTECTION................................................................................................................................................42
CLEANING .................................................................................................................................................................................42
RETURNING SENSOR FOR REPAIR ...................................................................................................................................................42
13 DIAGRAMS - WIRING AND PINOUTS.......................................................................................................................... 43
7054674 OEM CABLE ...............................................................................................................................................................43
7054671 EXTERNAL CABLE:12 VPOWER DOWNLOAD CABLE........................................................................................................44
4824758 C ABLE I NTEGRATION C ABLE WITH L EADS ......................................................................................................................45
7054691EXTERNALCABLE:RUGGEDIZEDENCLOSURE TERMINAL BLOCK CABLE.......................................................................................46
S330 4-20 CABLE WITH OPTIONAL PC CONNECT (1 OF 2) ..................................................................................................................47
S3304-20 RUGGEDIZEDENCLOSURE TERMINAL BLOCK WITH OPTIONAL PC CONNECT (2 OF 2) ..................................................................48
S300 /S310 I/O TRIGGER CABLE WITH OPTIONAL PC CONNECT (1 OF 2)...............................................................................................49
S300/S310 I/O TRIGGER RUGGEDIZED ENCLOSURE TERMINAL BLOCK W/OPTIONAL PC CONNECT (2 OF 2) ...................................................50
S300/S310 SDI-12RUGGEDIZED ENCLOSURE TERMINAL BLOCK WITH OPTIONAL PC CONNECT (1 OF 2).....................................................51
S300 /S310 SDI-12 CABLE WITH OPTIONAL PC CONNECT WIRING DIAGRAM (2 OF 2)............................................................................52

LTI TruSense S300 Series Integration Manual 1st Edition
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14 DIAGRAMS - MECHANICAL .................................................................................................................................. 53
RUGGEDIZED ENCLOSURE ...........................................................................................................................................................53
3004956 TANK ADAPTOR..........................................................................................................................................................54
3004960 4INCH FLANGE ..........................................................................................................................................................55
3004957 DUST/SPLASH TUBE...............................................................................................................................................56
77035137 MOUNTING PLATE .....................................................................................................................................................57
1134749 SUN SHADE INDUSTRIAL MOUNT .....................................................................................................................................58
3004959 S WIVEL M OUNT ........................................................................................................................................................59
HOUSED MODEL DIMENSIONS WITHOUT LENSES ...............................................................................................................................60
OEM MODEL DIMENSIONS ..........................................................................................................................................................61
9APPENDIX A – RUGGEDIZED ENCLOSURE FOR THE TRUSENSE S300 SERIES ...............................................................62
RUGGEDIZED ENCLOSURE PARTS LIST .............................................................................................................................................64
RUGGEDIZED ENCLOSURE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS &CAUTIONS...................................................................................................66
10 APPENDIX B - DEFINITIONS........................................................................................................................................67
11 APPENDIX C - S300 INTENSITY READING.................................................................................................................... 69
12 APPENDIX D - S3XX OFFSETS .....................................................................................................................................70
13 APPENDIX E - DIFFUSER LENSES................................................................................................................................. 71
14 APPENDIX F - FINDING THE COM PORT ..................................................................................................................... 72
15 APPENDIX G – S300 SERIES CAPTURE LOG GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE.......................................................................74
16 APPENDIX H - GRAPHIC UTILITY CONTRAST COLOR ................................................................................................... 79
List of Figures
Figure 1 Intensity Alignment ................................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 2 Main Utility Page ....................................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 3 Reading Configuration............................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 4 Terminal Window ...................................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 5 Range Units Tab......................................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 6 Targets Tab ................................................................................................................................................ 16
Figure 7 Data Rate Tab ............................................................................................................................................ 16
Figure 8 External Port Tab ....................................................................................................................................... 17
Figure 9 4-20mA Tab ............................................................................................................................................... 17
Figure 10 Tank and Silo Liquid................................................................................................................................. 37

LTI TruSense S300 Series Integration Manual 1st Edition
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1 Introduction
Purpose
This document defines and provides the means to control the interfaces for the Laser Technology TruSense S300
series laser sensors for the following configurations:
 S300 = TRIG, SDI-12, RS232 without alignment laser
 S310 =TRIG, SDI-12, RS232 with alignment laser
 S330 = 4-20 HART, RS232 with alignment laser
This manual represents the S300 Series models. S300 is used as a generic term for all S300 Series
models.
BasicPackage
 S300 Series Sensor or S300 OEM Sensor
 Communication Cable with Flying Leads
 LTI Limited Warranty
Accessory Items
 Power/Comm Cable
 Universal Mounting Plate
 Diffuser Lenses
 Sun Shade
 Swivel Mount
SafetyPrecautions
•Avoid staring directly at the laser beam for prolonged periods. The TruSense S300 is designed to
meet
FDA eye safety requirements and is classified as eye safe to FDA (CFR21). Note: The
TruSense 310 and S330 have a Class 2 Alignment Laser that is not rated eye safe. Class I 7
mm limits, which means that virtually no hazard is associated with directly viewing the laser
output under normal conditions. As with any laser device, however, reasonable precautions
should be taken in its operation.
•It is recommended that you avoid staring into the transmit aperture while firing the laser. The
use of optical instruments with this product may increase eye hazard.
•Do not use the laser within 15 meters (50 feet) of a prism. The reflective energy from a prism
within this range can oversaturate the laser receiver, resulting in permanent damage to the
sensor.
•Never point the instrument directly at the sun. Exposing the lens system to direct sunlight, even
for a brief period, may permanently damage the laser transmitter.
•Effective for the S310 and S330 only: The Class 2 Alignment Laser Exit Aperture is located on
the upper portion of the Front Plate between the Transmit and Receive Lenses of the Class 1
Measurement Laser:
ALIGNMENT LASER = CLASS 2
MEASUREMENT LASER = CLASS 1
Mounting the TruSense S300
IMPORTANT!
When mounting the S300, always use a washer between the housing feet and the screw head.
Do not exceed 5 inch-pounds of torque when securing.
For more information on S300 accessories,
please visit:
http://www.lasertech.com/Laser-Sensors.aspx

LTI TruSense S300 Series Integration Manual 1st Edition
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OEM Models
Due to the sensitivity of the OEM models, LTI recommends all ESD, Electrostatic Discharge procedures as
outlined in ANSI/ESD S20.20, ESD Association Standard for the Development of an Electrostatic Discharge Control
Program for Protection of Electrical and Electronic Parts are followed whenever handling an OEM sensor.
2 Getting Started
•LTI recommends getting familiar with the
sensor operation and configuration in a
controlled environment.
•After unpacking, power on the unit with the
supplied cabling and connect the DB9 pin
serial connector (optional) to a serial I/O
device such as a PC.
•A DB9 to USB adaptor is required if the PC
does not have a DB9 serial port available. A
ready to use power and communication
cable is available from LTI, see Accessory
Items from previous page.
•Connect using either the supplied Interface
Software or a terminal emulation program
such as HyperTerminal.
•Default=115200 baud rate, no parity, 8
data bits, 1 stop bit, no flow control.
Sensor Performance
LTI sensors come with a variety of target mode and configuration settings than can optimize the sensor
to a particular application and set of conditions. This set up flexibility is one of the primary advantages
of LTI sensors. LTI’s algorisms with respect to target discrimination, target acquisition and target
extraction are what set it apart from other laser sensors.
Measurement Technique
Acquiring a Target
The S300 uses infrared laser light to measure distance. This invisible light is emitted from the transmit
lens of the sensor, reflects off of the target and returns to the receive lens of the sensor. The exact
distance is then calculated by comparing the return time to the speed-of-light constant.
The ability of a laser sensor to measure to a target depends on the target’s reflectance and any
interference between the sensor and target such as dust, fog, or foliage. Reflectance is determined by
color, opacity, distance, and the reflection angle as well as the density of any ambient interference
between the sensor and the target. For example, a lighter colored target is generally more reflective
than a darker one and thick dust will reduce the signal strength more than light dust.
The S300 is a highly-sensitive precision sensor and can measure to most targets within its range
specification. This includes penetrating light dust or fog using the Last target mode, for instance. A
general rule of thumb when measuring through fog or dust is if you can visually see the target, the
sensor likely can as well. Remember, humans see in the visible light spectrum whereas the LTI laser
sensor utilizes the Infrared spectrum (IR) 905. Certain objects will appear differently in these two
spectrums, which is why the human eye test is only a general rule of thumb and not an absolute test of
what the laser sensor is able to detect.

LTI TruSense S300 Series Integration Manual 1st Edition
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Liquids & Fluids Application
The S300 series sensor is engineered and specifically designed to directly measure all types of fluids,
including those that are highly reflective (such as clear water), turbulent and without regard to their
dielectric properties. The S300 generates reliable results by stabilizing the reflections picked up by the
receiver and by smoothing out the reflective peaks and valleys caused by fluids in random motion.
Optional Beam Diffuser
The optional beam diffuser is available to spread the laser beam wider than the standard 3mrad
divergence. This option is typically recommended when measuring still or turbulent clear liquids. To
enhance performance, in may be also used in the following conditions:
•measuring liquids in random motion
•measuring liquids where mounting the sensor at 90° to the liquid surface
(± 5°) is not guaranteed
The optional beam diffuser is not necessary or should not be used when
measuring over a distance of 50 meters (164 feet), when measuring down a long
and narrow stilling well or bypass pipe, or when other obstacles such as pipes, mixing blades, etc. are
located very close to the sensor’s beam.
Window Application
When measuring through a window, ensure the face plate of the sensor is 3 mm or closer to the window.
Reflections will increase with a larger gap and could result in measurement error. This is due to
“crosstalk”. Crosstalk occurs when a reflection from a very close reflector like a window is combined with
the actual target reflection and could lead to an inaccurate measurement.
Borosilicate glass typically works well. Also, there is no degradation using plane glass or even plastic.
Soda lime glass will not give the best results.
Typically, a transmission of over 90% is desirable. Through uncoated glass, there is about a 4%
reflection loss on each surface of the glass (a total of 8% going through the glass), so it’s better if each
side is coated with an anti-reflection coating. This can reduce the reflection loss to close to 0%.
Foam Application
Unless the foam is very low-density and laser light will get through it, the laser will likely measure to the
top of the foam while it is present. However, the use of a stilling well or by-pass pipe can mitigate this
condition. These devices allow the fluids to enter through perforations and reach the same level as the
rest of the vessel, but reducing the amount of agitation and foam that may be present outside of the
stilling well. Another technique to counter foam is to create a small “wash-down” area at the side of the
tank which will clear a small area through the foam, down to the material layer. Shoot the laser through
this spot.
If both the foam layer and the material layer below it are required to be monitored, two separate S300s
can be set up to provide both measurements. For example, one can be used inside a stilling well and
the other outside to measure both targets.

LTI TruSense S300 Series Integration Manual 1st Edition
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Stilling wells and by-pass pipes are techniques used to calm turbulent fluids in vessels or rapids in rivers,
offering a calmer, cleaner surface to measure to. Often stilling wells can mitigate issues arising from
agitation, flow, foam and other conditions that might compromise accuracy.
Dense Steam Application
The presence of steam is a particularly challenging condition. Like most scenarios, it depends on the
density & composition of the steam and the nature of the surface to be measured: composition, clear or
opaque, still or turbid, etc. A general rule of thumb is that if you can see through it, the laser will be
able to as well.
Beam Diameter
Beam Diameter at the Target = Free Aperture + (Divergence x Range)
Example:
Distance to the Target
= 100 m
Divergence
= 3 mrad
Free Aperture
Beam Diameter at the Target
= 23 mm
= 0.023 + (0.003 x 100) = 323 mm
Therefore, beam diameter is 32.3 cm at 100 m or 12.7 inches at 328 feet.
Transmit & Receive Lens
Viewing the sensor from the front (refer to adjacent
illustration), the transmit lens is on the left side, as
indicated by the red arrow. The receive lens is on the
right side.
Measurement Reference
Distance measurements are from the sensor front plate
to the target as shown in the figure to the right.
Hazardous Locations
LTI recommends using the Ruggedized Housing Enclosure designed to house the S300 (see Appendix A
of the document for more information). This can be mounted to an adaptor and flange for easy
installation in a tank or silo. A dust tube will attach to the adaptor and provides a ¼ X 18 NPT access
for an air tube to provide positive air pressure inside the tube to prevent dust from settling on the
sensor lens.