Laser pointer with reduced risk of eye injury
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A transmittive method of protecting an optical sensor from damaging effects of laser pointers and laser illuminators, the method comprising:
- imposing a circular polarization state on radiation of the laser pointers and the laser illuminators said circular polarization handedness being one of right-hand or left hand; and
incorporating with the optical sensor a thin layer of a material capable of blocking light;
(a) within a spectral range encompassing the wavelengths of laser pointers and the laser illuminators;
(b) having the circular polarization handedness imposed on the laser pointers and the laser illuminators; and
(c) said material transmitting light of circular polarization handedness opposite to the circular polarization handedness imposed on radiation of the laser pointers and the laser illuminators.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, apparatus, systems and methods for making and using laser pointers and laser illuminators with reduced risk of optical sensor damage such as eye injuries due to laser radiation from the pointer or illuminator, while scattered beams from the laser pointer or laser illuminator are visible to the optical sensor.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A transmittive method of protecting an optical sensor from damaging effects of laser pointers and laser illuminators, the method comprising:
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imposing a circular polarization state on radiation of the laser pointers and the laser illuminators said circular polarization handedness being one of right-hand or left hand; and incorporating with the optical sensor a thin layer of a material capable of blocking light; (a) within a spectral range encompassing the wavelengths of laser pointers and the laser illuminators; (b) having the circular polarization handedness imposed on the laser pointers and the laser illuminators; and (c) said material transmitting light of circular polarization handedness opposite to the circular polarization handedness imposed on radiation of the laser pointers and the laser illuminators. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An optical system comprising:
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at least one laser system producing a circularly polarized radiation output comprising an electro-optical beam control system for directing and shaping a laser beam and varying its power; at least one optical sensor for monitoring the laser beams; a circular polarization blocking device for protecting the optical sensor form the laser beams, wherein the blocking device comprises; a blocking layer applied as a coating on a substrate selected from the group consisting of;
car windows, airplane windows, optical windows, spectacles, goggles, ballistic goggles, lenses, and contact lenses;wherein the blocking layer includes a cholesteric liquid crystalline material system having reflection bandgap that encompasses the radiation wavelength of the laser pointer, attenuates the transmitted radiation of the circular polarization corresponding to the laser pointer by at least approximately 100 times, and has over approximately 90% transmission for radiation circularly polarized with opposite handedness. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification