Laser Presentation System Using a Laser Pointer US

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Laser Presentation System Using a Laser Pointer US Patent #6761456 Nicolas Brown Oct. 10,

Laser Presentation System Using a Laser Pointer US Patent #6761456 Nicolas Brown Oct. 10, 2014

Problem Statement § Use of laser pointers during presentations presents a safety hazard if

Problem Statement § Use of laser pointers during presentations presents a safety hazard if inadvertently directed towards the audience § Devise some way of disabling the laser when pointed away from the projector screen

Prior Art (1) § Proposed Solution: Only turn on the laser when it’s point

Prior Art (1) § Proposed Solution: Only turn on the laser when it’s point at something bright (i. e. the projection screen) § Disadvantage: Hard to calibrate, easy to fool § Japanese Patent Application 2000 -321530

Prior Art (2) § Proposed Solution: IR emitter placed on top of the projection

Prior Art (2) § Proposed Solution: IR emitter placed on top of the projection screen; IR receiver on tip of laser pointer § Disadvantage: Emitted IR light could reflect off of audience, enabling the laser in their direction § Japanese Patent No. 2591667

Patent Design (1) Issued: July 2004 § Proposed Solution: Laser (30) will only emit

Patent Design (1) Issued: July 2004 § Proposed Solution: Laser (30) will only emit light when sensor (32) is illuminated by IR emitter (50) on projector (20)

Patent Design (2) § What if the laser is flipped over? ? § No

Patent Design (2) § What if the laser is flipped over? ? § No problem! Shutter will fall into place due to gravity when laser is inverted

Patent Design (3) Other Variants:

Patent Design (3) Other Variants:

Does this Problem Exist? § According to medical literature: No… § “An ordinary laser

Does this Problem Exist? § According to medical literature: No… § “An ordinary laser pointer is safe, unless a user chooses to stare at its uncomfortable brilliant light for more than 10 seconds at close range” (Mainster et. al. , 2004) § “In conclusion, laser pointers … if used appropriately are not an eye hazard, and even if used inappropriately will not cause permanent eye damage” (Marshall, 1998) § A 34 y/o male who stared into a 5 m. W, 670 nm laser for 30 -60 seconds suffered detectable macular injury but no loss in visual acuity (Luttrull and Hallisey, 1999)