A compact, portable Raman spectrometer makes fast, sensitive standoff measurements at little to no risk of eye injury or igniting the materials being probed. This spectrometer uses differential Raman spectroscopy and ambient light measurements to measure point-and-shoot Raman signatures of dark or highly fluorescent materials at distances of 1 cm to 10 m or more. It scans the Raman pump beam(s) across the sample to reduce the risk of unduly heating or igniting the sample. Beam scanning also transforms the spectrometer into an instrument with a lower effective safety classification, reducing the risk of eye injury. The spectrometer's long standoff range automatic focusing make it easier to identify chemicals through clear and translucent obstacles, such as flow tubes, windows, and containers. And the spectrometer's components are light and small enough to be packaged in a handheld housing or housing suitable for a small robot to carry.

An anti-dazzle imaging camera is provided that includes a photorefractive crystal that is wavelength-agnostic. The photorefractive crystal is configured to receive an optical beam. When the optical beam includes no laser, the photorefractive crystal is configured to pass the optical beam unchanged to an imaging detector. When the optical beam includes a laser, the photorefractive crystal is configured to attenuate the laser to generate a modified optical beam and to pass the modified optical beam to the imaging detector.

An apparatus (1) for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects (2) by successive, selective layer-by-layer exposure and thus successive, selective layer-by-layer solidification of construction material layers of a construction material (3) that can be solidified by means of laser radiation in a process chamber (10) of the apparatus, comprising an exposure device (5) provided for generating laser radiation for selective exposure and thus selective solidification of respective construction material layers, and a detection device (11) provided for detecting the entering of laser radiation into a process chamber limiting element at least partially limiting the process chamber (10) and/or for detecting the penetration of laser radiation through a process chamber limiting element at least partially limiting the process chamber (10).

A compact, portable Raman spectrometer makes fast, sensitive standoff measurements at little to no risk of eye injury or igniting the materials being probed. This spectrometer uses differential Raman spectroscopy and ambient light measurements to measure point-and-shoot Raman signatures of dark or highly fluorescent materials at distances of 1 cm to 10 m or more. It scans the Raman pump beam(s) across the sample to reduce the risk of unduly heating or igniting the sample. Beam scanning also transforms the spectrometer into an instrument with a lower effective safety classification, reducing the risk of eye injury. The spectrometer's long standoff range automatic focusing make it easier to identify chemicals through clear and translucent obstacles, such as flow tubes, windows, and containers. And the spectrometer's components are light and small enough to be packaged in a handheld housing or housing suitable for a small robot to carry.

Systems and methods are provided for filtering coherent infrared light from a thermal background for protection of infrared (IR) imaging arrays and detection systems. A Michelson interferometer is used for coherent light filtering. In an implementation, a system includes a fixed mirror, a beam splitter, and a moving mirror which can be controlled translationally, as well as tip/tilt. The Michelson interferometer may be used as an imaging system. For imaging applications, a system may comprise a tunable array of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) mirrors. A mid-wave IR interferometer with electronic feedback and MEMS mirror array is provided.

The present application discloses a nano-textured attenuator which includes a body defining in in the aperture, a measurement aperture, at least one beam dump aperture, at least one coupling fixture may be formed on or positioned on the body, a first nano-textured beamsplitter is positioned within the body and configured to transmit 85% to 99.9999% of an input signal therethrough while reflecting 0.0001% to form at least one partially attenuated signal, at least a second nano-textured beamsplitter is positioned within the body and is configured to transmit 85% to 99.9999% of an input signal therethrough while reflecting 0.0001% to form at least one attenuated measurement signal, and at least one camera is communication with the measurement aperture be configured to measure at least one optical characteristic of the attenuated measurement signal.

An apparatus includes a substrate and first and second electrical connectors. The apparatus also includes at least one first conductive trace positioned in, on, or over the substrate. The at least one first conductive trace forms an electrical connection between the first and second electrical connectors. The at least one first conductive trace is configured to be damaged by laser energy to break the electrical connection between the first and second electrical connectors. The apparatus further includes an indicator electrically coupled to the at least one first conductive trace. The indicator is configured to generate feedback based on whether the electrical connection between the first and second electrical connectors has been broken.

An apparatus includes a substrate and first and second electrical connectors. The apparatus also includes at least one first conductive trace positioned in, on, or over the substrate. The at least one first conductive trace forms an electrical connection between the first and second electrical connectors. The at least one first conductive trace is configured to be damaged by laser energy to break the electrical connection between the first and second electrical connectors. The apparatus further includes an indicator electrically coupled to the at least one first conductive trace. The indicator is configured to generate feedback based on whether the electrical connection between the first and second electrical connectors has been broken.

A laser projection system having built-in safety systems is disclosed. Further disclosed is a method of operating a laser projection system such that safe operation is a factor only of meeting a threshold distance between the laser unit and an audience member. To accomplish safe operation at the threshold distance, the laser projection system is pre-calibrated to operate below maximum permitted exposure levels at the threshold distance. In this manner of operation, laser lighting can be accomplished by non-laser professionals without the complexity, external sensors, and need for calibration at the venue.

A laser lighting module for a vehicle headlight includes at least one laser, a scanning arrangement, a light conversion device, a safety mirror, a safety detector and a safety controller. The laser emits light in a first wavelength range and the scanning arrangement moves a beam of the light within a scanning solid angle so a spot of the light moves across the light conversion device. The light conversion device converts a fraction of the light to converted light in a different wavelength range than the first and emits a mixture of transmitted and converted light. The safety mirror is arranged within the scanning solid angle such that at least 90% of the transmitted light hits the safety mirror. The safety controller receives the control signal, generated by the safety detector from the safety detection light, and switches off the laser if the control signal exceeds a first threshold value.