Systems, devices, and methods for laser projectors
First Claim
1. A wearable heads-up display (“
- WHUD”
) comprising;
a support structure that in use is worn on the head of a user;
a transparent combiner carried by the support structure and positioned in a field of view of at least one eye of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user; and
a laser projector carried by the support structure and positioned and oriented to direct laser light towards the transparent combiner, the laser projector comprising;
at least one laser diode;
a power source;
a photodetector responsive to laser light output by the at least one laser diode;
a beam splitter positioned and oriented to direct a first portion of laser light from the at least one laser diode along a first optical path towards the photodetector and a second portion of laser light from the at least one laser diode along a second optical path towards an output of the laser projector; and
a laser safety circuit communicatively coupled to the photodetector and responsive to signals therefrom, the laser safety circuit comprising a switch that mediates an electrical coupling between the power source and the at least one laser diode, wherein in response to a signal from the photodetector indicative that a power of the laser light output by the at least one laser diode exceeds a threshold, the switch interrupts a supply of power to the at least one laser diode from the power source.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Laser safety systems, devices, and methods for use in laser projectors are described. A laser projector includes any number of laser diodes that each emit laser light, a shared laser diode power source, a photodetector to detect a power/intensity of a portion of the laser light, a beam splitter to direct a first portion of the light towards the photodetector and a second portion of the light towards an output on the projector, and a laser safety circuit responsive to signals from the photodetector. The laser safety circuit selectively electrically couples/uncouples the laser diodes from the power source depending on the power/intensity of the laser light detected by the photodetector. Particular applications of the laser safety systems, devices, and methods in a wearable heads-up display are described.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A wearable heads-up display (“
- WHUD”
) comprising;a support structure that in use is worn on the head of a user; a transparent combiner carried by the support structure and positioned in a field of view of at least one eye of the user when the support structure is worn on the head of the user; and a laser projector carried by the support structure and positioned and oriented to direct laser light towards the transparent combiner, the laser projector comprising; at least one laser diode; a power source; a photodetector responsive to laser light output by the at least one laser diode; a beam splitter positioned and oriented to direct a first portion of laser light from the at least one laser diode along a first optical path towards the photodetector and a second portion of laser light from the at least one laser diode along a second optical path towards an output of the laser projector; and a laser safety circuit communicatively coupled to the photodetector and responsive to signals therefrom, the laser safety circuit comprising a switch that mediates an electrical coupling between the power source and the at least one laser diode, wherein in response to a signal from the photodetector indicative that a power of the laser light output by the at least one laser diode exceeds a threshold, the switch interrupts a supply of power to the at least one laser diode from the power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- WHUD”
Specification