DDA-Y & DDB-Y Industrial Laser Distance Sensor (Phase-Shift)
Phase-shift laser distance sensors: 0.2-100 m range, millimeter accuracy, RS485 Modbus RTU, switching or analog output.
🔍 Click to enlarge · 1/10Technical Specifications
| Measurement Principle | Phase-shift |
|---|---|
| Output (DDA-Y) | 2×NPN/PNP switching output (≤36V/0.5A) + RS232/RS485 (hardware-selectable, Modbus RTU), no analog output |
| Output (DDB-Y) | 2×NPN/PNP switching output + analog output (0-5V/0-10V/4-20mA/0-20mA/0-24mA) + RS232/RS485 |
| Measuring Range | 0.2 m starting distance, rated maximum 10 / 20 / 30 / 50 / 100 m |
| Measurement Accuracy | ±(2 mm + distance × 1/10000) |
| Resolution | 1 mm |
| Response/Sampling Frequency | 1-40 Hz (5 selectable levels) |
| Communication / Networking | Modbus RTU, supports 64 units on one bus |
| Laser | 660±15 nm, ≤1 mW, Class II (visible red) |
| Laser Spot Size | ⌀6 mm @1 m, ⌀8 mm @10 m, ⌀12 mm @20 m, ⌀16 mm @30 m |
| Analog Output Accuracy (DDB-Y) | Voltage output error 0.2%+0.5mV; current output error 0.2%+0.005mA |
| Switching Output Rating | ≤DC36V/0.5A, transistor open-drain/collector output, 2 channels |
| Operating Voltage | DC15-30V |
| Power Consumption | <3W |
| Protection Rating | IP67 |
| Connector | M12 8-pin |
| Over-temperature Protection | >70°C shutdown, resumes below 70°C |
| Working Temperature | -10°C to 50°C |
| Storage Temperature & Humidity | -20°C to 60°C, 20%-85% RH |
| Housing Material | Die-cast zinc alloy |
| Dimensions | 88.45 × 40 × 59.3 mm (including connector) |
Overview
DDA-Y and DDB-Y are industrial-grade phase-shift laser distance sensors that project a visible red laser (Class II, 660±15 nm) onto a target surface and calculate distance from the returned signal, for non-contact position, displacement, thickness, and distance measurement. Both series come in five range variants (10/20/30/50/100 m) sharing the same housing, display, and communication protocol. DDA-Y outputs digital data plus two switching outputs only; DDB-Y adds a configurable analog output (voltage or current).
They are intended for machine builders, system integrators, and plant engineers who need reliable long-range position feedback for automation, material handling, or structural monitoring, and who want to wire the sensor directly into a PLC via switching outputs, an analog loop, or an RS-485/Modbus RTU network. Measurement error is ±(2 mm + d × 1/10000) at speed level 1 with 1 mm resolution, and up to 64 units can share one RS-485 bus using Modbus RTU.
Features & Benefits
Millimeter-class accuracy out to 100 m
Measurement error is ±(2 mm + d × 1/10000) at speed level 1, with 1 mm resolution; at a 50 m reading this works out to roughly ±7 mm, allowing the sensor to be used for closed-loop positioning rather than only proximity/collision alarms.
Five range options, one common platform (0.2-10/20/30/50/100 m)
DDA-Y10/20/30/50/100 and DDB-Y10/20/30/50/100 all start measuring from as close as 0.2 m and share the same housing, display, buttons, and communication interface, so customers select the range they actually need without switching product families.
RS-485 Modbus RTU multi-drop networking, up to 64 units on one bus
All sensors share a single twisted-pair RS-485 bus (station addresses 1-64), reducing wiring and PLC analog input channel count for multi-point applications such as multi-bay level monitoring or several cranes on one line. A 120 Ω/8 W terminating resistor is recommended at the bus end if communication is unstable.
DDB-Y covers five analog output standards, field-selectable without re-wiring
DDB-Y can be set, via the on-device menu with no PC required, to output 0-5 V, 0-10 V, 4-20 mA, 0-20 mA, or 0-24 mA, with a stated accuracy of 0.2%+0.5 mV (voltage) or 0.2%+0.005 mA (current), so it matches whatever analog input card a customer's PLC/DCS already has, and the min/max distance mapped to the output span is user-configurable.
Two switching outputs for direct alarm/interlock wiring, no PLC required for simple thresholds
Each unit has two transistor switching outputs (open-drain/collector, rated up to DC 36 V/0.5 A), each independently configurable in the on-device menu with normally-open/normally-closed logic and a low/high distance threshold window, letting a two-stage alarm (pre-warning + stop) be wired directly to a relay or warning light without extra logic.
On-board 128×32 display and 4-button menu — no PC needed for setup or daily reading
The unit shows station number, live measured distance, and unit directly on a 128×32 dot-matrix screen, and every setting (speed level, switching thresholds, analog range, communication parameters, language) is configured via 4 buttons without connecting a laptop; the backlight auto-turns-off after 30 minutes or can be set to stay always on.
Built-in over-temperature protection (auto shutdown above 70°C)
When the sensor body temperature exceeds 70°C, measurement automatically shuts down and resumes once the temperature drops back below 70°C, protecting the unit rather than risking sensor failure in hot installation locations.
IP67 die-cast zinc-alloy housing, DC15-30V, under 3 W
The housing is IP67-rated die-cast zinc alloy, powered by DC15-30V at under 3.0 W consumption, connected via an M12 8-pin connector, rated for -10°C to 50°C operation and -20°C to 60°C storage (20%-85% RH) — suitable for installation in dusty or washdown industrial environments without a protective enclosure.
Applications
Models & Ordering Information
DDA-Y Series — digital and switching output only
DDB-Y Series — adds configurable analog output
How to Select
- Choose the range tier (10/20/30/50/100 m) based on the actual installation distance, allowing some margin — all five tiers start measuring from 0.2 m.
- Choose DDA-Y if the downstream system only needs digital communication (RS232/RS485/Modbus RTU) plus switching-output alarms, for lower cost with no analog output.
- Choose DDB-Y if the downstream PLC/DCS/instrument needs an analog signal, and confirm whether the analog input card is voltage-type (0-5V/0-10V) or current-type (4-20mA/0-20mA/0-24mA); note that DDB-Y outputs voltage or current, not both at the same time.
- Confirm the communication interface: RS232/RS485 is switchable in the on-device Communication Settings menu — use RS485 with Modbus RTU (1-64 units) for multi-unit networking or long cable runs.
- Confirm the switching-output alarm logic: each of the two channels must be set independently for normally-open/normally-closed operation and a low/high distance threshold window, and must not exceed DC 36V/0.5A.
- Confirm the installation environment matches the working temperature range of -10°C to 50°C and IP67 protection rating.
📘 Need the full method? NPN vs PNP Sensor Outputs Explained
When NOT to specify the DDA-Y — and what to use instead
The task needs micron-level thickness, height, or runout measurement rather than metre-range positioning.
Why not: DDA-Y/DDB-Y accuracy is stated as ±(2 mm + d × 1/10000) — a millimeter-class figure at distances of 0.2 m or more, not a micron-class figure suited to fine dimensional inspection.
Use instead: a laser displacement sensor (triangulation/CMOS type) rated in micron repeatability at a short standoff distance
The target sits closer than 0.2 m to the sensor.
Why not: All ten DDA-Y/DDB-Y variants (10/20/30/50/100 m range codes) measure starting only from 0.2 m; no rated performance is published below that.
Use instead: a short-reference-distance laser displacement sensor designed for near-field measurement
The controller needs voltage and current analog signals output at the same time, or the DDA-Y model is expected to provide any analog output.
Why not: DDA-Y has digital and switching outputs only, with no analog output at all; DDB-Y's analog output is field-configurable to one of five standards (0-5V/0-10V/4-20mA/0-20mA/0-24mA) but voltage and current cannot be active simultaneously.
Use instead: the DDB-Y variant, configured for the single analog standard that matches the PLC/DCS input card actually in use
The installation site regularly runs above 50°C ambient, or the sensor body can reach 70°C during a thermal cycle.
Why not: rated working temperature is -10°C to 50°C, and built-in over-temperature protection automatically shuts down measurement above 70°C body temperature, resuming only once it drops back below 70°C.
Use instead: checking with the factory for a high-temperature-rated option, or relocating/shielding the sensor from the direct heat source
The switching output needs to drive a load heavier than a relay coil or indicator light directly.
Why not: the two transistor switching outputs are rated only up to DC 36 V / 0.5 A (open-drain/collector); exceeding this can permanently damage the unit.
Use instead: wiring the switching output into an interposing relay or a PLC digital input rather than the high-power load directly
The application is a personnel-safety interlock (machine guarding, area protection, or an emergency stop chain).
Why not: DDA-Y/DDB-Y is documented only as an industrial position/distance measurement sensor with standard switching, analog, and RS-485 outputs — no safety-rated approval is documented for it.
Use instead: a certified safety device such as a safety light curtain or safety laser scanner for personnel-protection interlocks
Specifications we do not publish yet
We only publish a figure once we are confident it is true. The items below are still being validated through further testing and real-world customer feedback, so for now we would rather leave them open than guess. If one of them matters to your design, ask us for the latest validated status.
- Whether the switching outputs genuinely support PNP wiring, or are NPN open-collector only — the manual's wiring diagrams show only NPN examples despite "NPN/PNP" in the model description
- Laser spot size at the 50 m and 100 m range codes — only the 1 m/10 m/20 m/30 m spot diameters are published
- The exact laser-safety standard basis for the "Class II" marking, and which EU directives the CE mark on the datasheet covers
- Whether the RS-485 120Ω/8W bus terminating resistor ships standard with the unit
- Repeatability as a separate figure from the stated accuracy formula, and MTBF/service-life data
- Cable length and full connector pin-out beyond the M12 8-pin designation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DDA-Y and DDB-Y series?
How accurate is the measurement at long range, such as 50 m or 100 m?
How many sensors can be networked together?
Can the analog and switching outputs be used at the same time?
What happens if the sensor overheats?
What is the laser safety classification?
Does the sensor need a computer to configure?
What is the switching output rating, and can it drive a relay directly?
What is the minimum measuring distance (dead zone)?
Is RS232 or RS485 fixed at the factory, or can it be changed later?
Works Well Together
On the same machine or line, DDA-Y is typically ordered together with: Relay & Timer Modules · Laser Displacement Sensors · LiDAR Scanners
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Micron-class CMOS triangulation in a 65-gram body: five range grades, resolution from 2 um, and your choice of 4-20 mA, 0-10 V or RS485 - now fully documented from the 2026 factory datasheet.
DLD-100D Single-Line TOF Scanning LiDAR
Single-line TOF scanning LiDAR with up to 100 m range, selectable 280°/360° scan angle and 0.08° resolution.
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