Optical Hazard Avoidance via Visible Warning Beam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preventing or mitigating optical damage from laser hazards, especially from invisible beams, are inadequate as they either fail to detect unknown individuals or animals within the hazard zone or do not effectively stimulate avoidance responses, leading to potential temporary or permanent ocular damage.
Innovation Solution
An optical hazard avoidance device that combines a visible light source, such as LEDs or lasers, with a controller to stimulate involuntary and/or voluntary physiological and behavioral responses, like blinking or gaze aversion, to mitigate exposure to optical hazards by alerting individuals to the presence of a potentially damaging beam and reducing their exposure time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a high power laser beam is used for industrial processes or targeting, then the effectiveness and range of the laser is improved, but the risk of ocular damage to unknown individuals or animals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by emitting a visible warning beam before the hazardous laser beam is activated. This warning beam alerts unknown individuals or animals to the impending laser operation, giving them time to avert their eyes or move out of the hazard zone before exposure to the high power beam occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a visible light source as an intermediary between the control system and unknown individuals/animals. This intermediary visible beam serves as a communication channel to convey the hazard warning, bridging the gap between the operator's intent and the unknown persons' awareness without requiring direct detection or interaction with them.
2Reliability
If invisible laser beams are used, then the laser can operate without visible indication, but individuals cannot detect the beam and cannot react to avoid damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by emitting visible light (typically green or red) from the visible light source to indicate the presence and timing of the invisible laser beam. This visible indication changes the optical properties of the hazard zone, making the invisible beam detectable to the human eye and allowing individuals to respond appropriately.
3Measurement precision
If rangefinders and detection systems are used to detect humans and animals, then targeted incapacitation can be achieved, but the devices may still cause ocular damage and are not 100% effective in detecting all individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detection function from the system by eliminating the need for rangefinders or active detection of unknown individuals. Instead of actively seeking out and detecting persons or animals, the system simply provides a universal visible warning that covers the entire hazard zone, regardless of whether anyone is present or detected.
4Reliability
If engineering and safety controls are implemented to block or confine the optical hazard, then damage outside the confined area is prevented, but controls may fail or be impractical in field use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling unknown individuals or animals to protect themselves through the visible warning beam. Rather than requiring the system to actively contain or protect them through complex engineering controls, the warning beam provides them with the information needed to take their own protective actions, such as averting their eyes or moving out of the hazard zone.
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
The device effectively reduces ocular exposure to hazardous laser beams by inducing reflexive responses, allowing for higher power laser operations while ensuring safety, as it can initiate avoidance reactions before the hazardous beam is activated, thereby preventing or minimizing damage.
Implementation Method 1
a visible light source, such as LEDs or lasers
Implementation Method 2
a visible light source, such as LEDs or lasers
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A source providing a nominal hazard that could cause ocular damage within a given range from the source, such as a first laser, is mitigated by an optical hazard avoidance device, such as a second laser, that stimulates voluntary, involuntary, or both voluntary and involuntary responses, either physiological or behavioral or both physiological and behavioral, within one or more hazard zones, such as by inducing gaze aversion within the viewer. The optical hazard avoidance device may include one or more interlocking devices or other devices for interrupting the firing of the source. For example, a visible laser beam induces gaze aversion, pupil contraction or a combination of gaze aversion and pupil contraction, reducing the dose rate or exposure of the ocular tissue to damaging radiation from a primary source, which may be combined with a motion sensor or human face detection device. In one example, the primary source is a UV Raman detector and the visible laser beam is selected to induce gaze aversion.