Laser-based devices utilizing multiple laser beams
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a first laser transmitter having a first self-mix carrier frequency;
a second laser transmitter having a second, different, self-mix carrier frequency;
a single monitor photodiode (A) to receive a first optical signal from the first laser transmitter, (B) to receive a second optical signal from the second laser transmitter, (C) to output a single electric signal that corresponds to both the first optical signal and the second optical signal;
a single laser receiver to receive the single electric signal and to generate from it a spectrum that corresponds to both (i) a self-mix signal of the first laser transmitter, and (ii) a self-mix signal of the second laser transmitter;
a laser usefulness estimator, to estimate a self-mix signal usefulness of the first laser transmitter, by comparing a Root Mean Square (RMS) amplitude of the self-mix signal of the first laser transmitter to one or more pre-defined threshold values;
a selective activation module (a) to selectively de-activate the first laser transmitter and (b) to maintain the second laser transmitter activated, if an estimated self-mix usefulness value of the first laser transmitter is below a particular pre-defined threshold value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A laser-based device or sensor includes: a first laser transmitter having a first self-mix carrier frequency; a second laser transmitter having a second, different, self-mix carrier frequency; a first monitor photodiode to receive a first optical signal from the first laser transmitter, and to output a first electric signal; a second monitor photodiode to receive a first optical signal from the second laser transmitter, and to output a second electric signal; an electric connection to connect together the first electric signal and the second electric signal, forming a combined electric signal; a single laser receiver to receive the combined electric signal and to generate from it a spectrum that corresponds to both (i) self-mix signal of the first laser transmitter, and (ii) self-mix signal of the second laser transmitter. Alternatively, a single monitor photodiode is used, receiving self-mix signals from multiple laser transmitters, and outputting a single electric signal to a single laser receiver.
4 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a first laser transmitter having a first self-mix carrier frequency; a second laser transmitter having a second, different, self-mix carrier frequency; a single monitor photodiode (A) to receive a first optical signal from the first laser transmitter, (B) to receive a second optical signal from the second laser transmitter, (C) to output a single electric signal that corresponds to both the first optical signal and the second optical signal; a single laser receiver to receive the single electric signal and to generate from it a spectrum that corresponds to both (i) a self-mix signal of the first laser transmitter, and (ii) a self-mix signal of the second laser transmitter; a laser usefulness estimator, to estimate a self-mix signal usefulness of the first laser transmitter, by comparing a Root Mean Square (RMS) amplitude of the self-mix signal of the first laser transmitter to one or more pre-defined threshold values; a selective activation module (a) to selectively de-activate the first laser transmitter and (b) to maintain the second laser transmitter activated, if an estimated self-mix usefulness value of the first laser transmitter is below a particular pre-defined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification