Optical Element Integrity Monitoring for Laser Leak Shutdown
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Active light emitting modules in electronic terminals, such as those used for 3D sensing, can cause eye injuries if the optical elements like diffractive optical elements or diffusers become damaged or fall off, allowing high-power laser light to leak.
Innovation Solution
An optical element monitoring system with a detection line on the substrate connected to a microprocessor to monitor resistance or voltage values, triggering the module to turn off the laser when abnormalities are detected, ensuring the optical element is undamaged or attached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an optical element (diffractive optical element or diffuser) is disposed at the light emission direction of the laser to disperse or diffuse light, then eye injuries caused by laser light are avoided, but the risk of laser light leakage increases if the optical element is damaged or falls off
Solution Approach 1:
The detection line is integrated into the optical element during manufacturing, establishing a monitoring capability before the optical element is installed in the active light emitting module. This preliminary integration ensures that the monitoring function is already in place and operational when the module begins use, enabling immediate detection if the optical element becomes damaged or detached.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection line provides real-time feedback on the integrity of the optical element by monitoring resistance or voltage changes. When the optical element is damaged or falls off, the detection line's electrical properties change, triggering a feedback signal to the control circuit, which then shuts down the laser to prevent laser light leakage and eye injuries.
2Reliability
If a detection line is integrated into the optical element with conducting wires connected to a microprocessor, then real-time monitoring of optical element integrity is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection line is merged with the optical element as a single integrated component rather than separate parts. The detection line is formed as part of the same manufacturing process that creates the optical element, combining the optical function and the monitoring function into one unified structure. This reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element serves multiple functions: it disperses or diffuses laser light for its primary optical purpose, and simultaneously acts as an integrity sensor through the integrated detection line. The same physical structure performs both optical modulation and damage detection, eliminating the need for separate sensing components and reducing system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple optical elements and detection lines are disposed to monitor different regions, then monitoring accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detection line is segmented into multiple sections that can be distributed across different regions of the optical element. Each segment independently monitors its local area, and the collective coverage of all segments provides comprehensive monitoring of the entire optical element. This segmentation approach enables comprehensive monitoring while maintaining a relatively simple single-layer structure that is easier to manufacture than multiple separate detection systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents eye injuries by promptly turning off the laser when the optical element is damaged or falls off, maintaining safety while keeping the structure simple and costs low.
Implementation Method 1
the microprocessor is used to monitor a resistance value of the detection line or a voltage value at the two ends of the detection line in real time
Data Source
AI summary
An optical element, an optical element monitoring system, and a method monitor in real time whether an optical element such as a diffractive optical element or a diffuser in an active light emitting module is damaged or falls off, and turn off a laser when the optical element is damaged or falls off.