Detection of configuration changes among optical elements of illumination system
First Claim
1. An illumination system comprising:
- a light source configured to generate an illumination signal;
one or more optical elements aligned to direct a portion of light of the illumination signal;
a light detector positioned to receive light directed from the one or more optical elements, wherein the light detector is configured to generate an output signal based on the light directed from the optical element; and
control circuitry connected to monitor the output signal of the light detector, wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect a change in a configuration position of one or more elements of the illumination system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Technology for detecting a change in a configuration position of one or more elements in an illumination system is described. A light source generates an illumination signal, and an element of the system directs a portion of the light of the signal back to a light detector. In one example, the portion of light is reflected back to the light detector. By monitoring an output signal of the light detector based on the directed light, control circuitry can detect that a position of an element of the system has changed. In one example, an off-the-shelf integrated circuit laser diode package including a monitor photodiode can be used with a reflective element. In one example, the reflective element is a tilted optical element. Changes can be detected in the configuration of one or more optical elements of the illumination system which are outside the laser diode package.
187 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An illumination system comprising:
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a light source configured to generate an illumination signal; one or more optical elements aligned to direct a portion of light of the illumination signal; a light detector positioned to receive light directed from the one or more optical elements, wherein the light detector is configured to generate an output signal based on the light directed from the optical element; and control circuitry connected to monitor the output signal of the light detector, wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect a change in a configuration position of one or more elements of the illumination system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for detecting a change in a configuration position of one or more elements in an illumination system, the method comprising:
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causing a light source to generate an illumination signal; directing a portion of the illumination signal by at least one of the optical elements of the illumination system to a light detector; monitoring a response of the light detector to the directed light for thereby detecting a change in the configuration position of one or more of the elements in the illumination system; and modifying operation of the illumination system responsive to detecting the change in the configuration position of the one or more elements. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An illumination system comprising:
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an integrated circuit light source package comprising within the package a light source for generating an illumination signal and a light detector; an outer structural element of the illumination system for supporting the integrated circuit light source package and one or more optical elements located outside the package, including a reflective element for reflecting a portion of light of the illumination signal; the light detector being positioned to receive light reflected back from the reflective element located outside the integrated circuit light source package; the light detector generates an output signal based on the light reflected back from the reflective element; and control circuitry communicatively coupled to the light detector for monitoring the output signal of the light detector to determine whether there has been a change in the configuration position of the one or more optical elements outside the integrated circuit light source package. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification