A process controller (102, 202, 402, 502, 602, 702) comprising: at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706); and a control unit; characterized in that: the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706) is integrated into the process controller (102, 202, 402, 502, 602, 702), wherein the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706) includes an optical detector (108, 212) operable to receive a return light profile reflected from an object, and output an electrical signal based on the return light profile, wherein the return light profile is indicative of a condition of the object (112, 114); and the control unit is in communication with the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706), wherein the control unit is configured to interpret the electrical signal received to measure the condition of the object (112, 114) and control a controlled device based on the measured condition of the object (112, 114), wherein the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706) further includes an optical source configured to emit a light profile toward the object (112, 114) and the optical detector (108, 212) is configured to receive the return light profile reflected by the object (112, 114), wherein the control unit measures the condition of the object (112, 114) based on the return light profile from the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706) and controls a controlled device based on the determined condition. at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706); and a control unit; characterized in that: the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706) is integrated into the process controller (102, 202, 402, 502, 602, 702), wherein the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706) includes an optical detector (108, 212) operable to receive a return light profile reflected from an object, and output an electrical signal based on the return light profile, wherein the return light profile is indicative of a condition of the object (112, 114); and the control unit is in communication with the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706), wherein the control unit is configured to interpret the electrical signal received to measure the condition of the object (112, 114) and control a controlled device based on the measured condition of the object (112, 114), wherein the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706) further includes an optical source configured to emit a light profile toward the object (112, 114) and the optical detector (108, 212) is configured to receive the return light profile reflected by the object (112, 114), wherein the control unit measures the condition of the object (112, 114) based on the return light profile from the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706) and controls a controlled device based on the determined condition. the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706) is integrated into the process controller (102, 202, 402, 502, 602, 702), wherein the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706) includes an optical detector (108, 212) operable to receive a return light profile reflected from an object, and output an electrical signal based on the return light profile, wherein the return light profile is indicative of a condition of the object (112, 114); and the control unit is in communication with the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706), wherein the control unit is configured to interpret the electrical signal received to measure the condition of the object (112, 114) and control a controlled device based on the measured condition of the object (112, 114), wherein the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706) further includes an optical source configured to emit a light profile toward the object (112, 114) and the optical detector (108, 212) is configured to receive the return light profile reflected by the object (112, 114), wherein the control unit measures the condition of the object (112, 114) based on the return light profile from the at least one optical sensor (104, 206, 406, 506, 606, 706) and controls a controlled device based on the determined condition.