Optical fault monitoring
First Claim
1. In an optical system comprising a light source, a light outlet, and an optical element disposed between the light source and the light outlet, a method of monitoring for optical system faults, the method comprising:
- detecting, via a light sensor directed toward an interface surface of the optical element closest to the light source, an intensity of light traveling from the interface surface of the optical element to the light sensor;
comparing the intensity of light detected to one or more threshold intensity values;
identifying an optical system fault condition based on comparing the intensity of light detected to one or more threshold values; and
modifying operation of the optical system based upon the optical system fault condition, wherein modifying operation of the optical system includes one or more of changing a power state of the optical device and providing a warning message for display on a display device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments related to monitoring for optical faults in an optical system are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides, in an optical system comprising a light source, a light outlet, and an optical element disposed between the light source and the light outlet, a method of monitoring for optical system faults. The method includes detecting, via a light sensor directed toward an interface surface of the optical element closest to the light source, an intensity of light traveling from the interface surface of the optical element to the light sensor, and comparing an intensity of light detected to one or more threshold intensity values. The method further includes identifying an optical system fault condition based on comparing the intensity of light detected to one or more threshold values, and modifying operation of the optical system.
189 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In an optical system comprising a light source, a light outlet, and an optical element disposed between the light source and the light outlet, a method of monitoring for optical system faults, the method comprising:
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detecting, via a light sensor directed toward an interface surface of the optical element closest to the light source, an intensity of light traveling from the interface surface of the optical element to the light sensor; comparing the intensity of light detected to one or more threshold intensity values; identifying an optical system fault condition based on comparing the intensity of light detected to one or more threshold values; and modifying operation of the optical system based upon the optical system fault condition, wherein modifying operation of the optical system includes one or more of changing a power state of the optical device and providing a warning message for display on a display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An optical device, comprising:
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a light source configured to output a beam of light; a diffractive optical element configured to receive the beam of light on a light-source side of the diffractive optical element and to diffract the beam of light to form a structured pattern; a photodetector directed toward the light-source side of the diffractive optical element, the photodetector configured to measure an intensity of light traveling from the light-source side of the diffractive optical element; and a controller configured to detect an optical fault condition by monitoring the intensity of light as measured by the photodetector and comparing the intensity of light to one or more threshold values and apply a response action upon detecting the optical fault condition, wherein the response action includes one or more of changing a power state of the optical device and providing a warning message for display on a display device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a depth-sensing camera comprising a light source, a light outlet, and a diffractive optical element disposed between the light source and the light outlet, a method of monitoring for optical faults, the method comprising:
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detecting via a photodetector located on a light-source side of the diffractive optical element an intensity of light traveling from the diffractive optical element; comparing the intensity of light to one or more threshold values; if the intensity of light is less than a first threshold value, identifying an optical fault due to a change in a location of the diffractive optical element and applying a first corrective action; and if the intensity of light is greater than a second threshold value, identifying an optical fault due to a physical object located on a light-outlet side of the diffractive optical element, and in an optical path of the diffractive optical element, and applying a second corrective action. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification