Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser device (10) for projecting a structured light pattern (9) onto a scene (15). The device is formed of several arrays (1) of semiconductor lasers (2), each array (1) comprising an irregular distribution of emission areas (2a) of the semiconductor lasers (2). One or several imaging optics (4) image said arrays (1) to an imaging space and superpose the images of said arrays (1) in the imaging space to form said light pattern (9). The proposed laser device generates a light pattern with high contrast and efficiency which may be used for 3D imaging systems, e. g. in automotive applications.

Abstract: The invention describes a heating system (13) for heating a body (1) of a preform having a material thickness bounded by a first surface (2) and a second surface (4). The heating system (13) comprises at least a light source arrangement (12) which is arranged to emit a number of directed light beams (17) and a coupling arrangement (15, 21) realized to deliberately couple light from the light source arrangement (12) in a specific direction into the body (1) during at least a certain minimum period such that the light is essentially guided along a longer path (19) between the first (2) and second surface (4). Furthermore, the invention concerns a method of heating a body (1) of a preform.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser device comprising at least one large area VCSEL (101) and at least one optical feedback element (201, 301) providing an angular-selective feedback for laser radiation emitted from the laser. The angular-selective feedback is higher for at least one portion of laser radiation emitted at angles ?>0 to the optical axis (601) of the laser than for laser radiation emitted on said optical axis (601). The invention also refers to a method of stabilizing a laser emission of a large area VCSEL in a desired angular distribution (501, 502). With the proposed device and method, the intensity distribution of a large area VCSEL can be stabilized in a desired shape, for example a ring shape.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical element for VECSELs or VECSEL arrays. The optical element is formed of a substrate (200) which is transparent at least in a wavelength region of optical radiation. A first interface of the substrate (200) comprises one or several curved regions forming part of an optical lens or of an array of optical lenses (220) integrated in the substrate (200). The substrate (200) further comprises one or several optical mirrors (210) formed on a second interface of the substrate (200) opposing the first interface or embedded in the substrate (200). The optical mirrors (210) are arranged and designed to back reflect a fraction of optical radiation incident on the first or second interface. The optical mirrors (210) are flat mirrors or curved mirrors having a radius of curvature different from the radius of curvature of the curved region (220).

Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting apparatus (10) for providing processing light for processing an object. Groups of light sources generate light for processing the object, wherein the groups of light sources are imaged onto a working plane (17) by an imaging unit (16) for producing the processing light. The resulting intensity distribution is configured such that, if the intensity distribution is integrated in a spatial integration direction, the resulting integrated intensity distribution has an intensity dip, wherein one or several of the groups of light sources are controllable independently from the other of the groups of light sources for modifying the integrated intensity distribution. This allows using the lighting apparatus in a processing apparatus such that perpendicular to a processing line, along which an object is to be processed, in particular, to be sealed, the object can be processed relatively homogenously, thereby improving the quality of processing the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser device comprising an array of several large area VCSELs (101) and one or several optics (201, 202) designed and arranged to image the active layers of the VCSELs (101) of said array to a working plane (501) such that the laser radiation emitted by the active layers of all VCSELs (101) or of subgroups of VCSELs (101) of the array superimposes in the working plane (501). The proposed laser device allows the generation of a desired intensity distribution in the working plane without the need of an optics specially designed for this intensity distribution or beam profile.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting apparatus (10) for providing processing light for processing an object. Groups of light sources generate light for processing the object, wherein the groups of light sources are imaged onto a working plane (17) by an imaging unit (16) for producing the processing light. The resulting intensity distribution is configured such that, if the intensity distribution is integrated in a spatial integration direction, the resulting integrated intensity distribution has an intensity dip, wherein one or several of the groups of light sources are controllable independently from the other of the groups of light sources for modifying the integrated intensity distribution. This allows using the lighting apparatus in a processing apparatus such that perpendicular to a processing line, along which an object is to be processed, in particular, to be sealed, the object can be processed relatively homo genously, therey improving the quality of processing the object.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method of operating a self-mixing interference sensor and a corresponding self-mixing interference sensor device. In the method the laser (1) of the device is controlled to periodically emit a laser pulse followed by an emission period of laser radiation having a lower amplitude. The pulse width of the laser pulse is selected such that the pulse after reflection at the object (3) re-enters the laser (1) during the emission period of laser radiation with lower amplitude. The corresponding SMI signal has an increased signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heating system for heating a living being, for instance, a person (2) within a vehicle (1) being preferentially a hybrid car or an electric car. The heating system comprises an infrared laser system (5, 6) for illuminating the living being with infrared laser light, thereby heating the living being. Thus, heating radiation is used, which has a high collimation and which can be focused relatively easily. The heating can therefore be confined to a certain region, in which the living being is located. The heating can even be confined to the living being or to parts of the living being only. This more focused heating allows for a reduction of the energy consumption.

Abstract: A security system is described, comprising a sensor module (15) which accommodates a laser sensor (10) working with self-mixing interference. The laser sensor (10) generates measurement data which are related to the velocity of an object such as the body of a human being and, optionally, the distance between the laser sensor (10) and the object. Dependent on the measurement data assembled by the laser sensor (10) and supplied to a control circuit (30) such as an airbag computer, the airbag computer activate security means such as an airbag (35)in order to prevent injuries of the human body. Furthermore, a method of driving such a security system is described.

Abstract: A sensor system is described, using self-mixing laser sensors (10) and an analyzer circuit (30) in order to determine the velocity of a vehicle, such as a car, and the rotational velocity of a wheel (20) of the car. Deviations between the velocity of the vehicle and the rotational velocity of the wheel (20) can be used to determine sliding of the wheel (20) and, finally, the traction or, more specifically, the coefficient of driving friction between the wheel (20) and the surface the car is driving on. Furthermore, a vehicle control system is described, initiating test accelerations of a wheel (20) by means of a control circuit (50) and control means (300, 400) in order to determine the coefficient of driving friction during driving. The test accelerations initiate short periods of sliding of the wheel (20) and the sliding is detected by means of the sensor system.

Abstract: A sensor module (1) for measuring the distance to a target and/or the velocity of the target (50), the sensor module (1) comprising at least one laser source (100), at least one detector (200) being adapted to detect modulated laser light and at least one control element the control element (400) being adapted to vary the focus point of the laser light and/or the intensity of the laser light and/or the direction of the laser light. The control of the laser light emitted by the laser source (100) either by active optical devices as variable focus lenses or controllable attenuators or passive optical elements in combination with arrays of laser sources (100) and detectors (200) enable flexible and robust sensor modules.

Abstract: A method for driving a high-pressure gas discharge lamp of a projector system, which is suitable to produce and to supply to a light valve device during a projection interval (4) a light beam of a basic color which is selected from several basic colors (G, R, B). The lamp is driven by a lamp current. During said projection interval light valves of the light valve device are controlled in a pulse width modulation manner to have each valve provide a respective wanted light integral over said projection interval. During at least one of a number of successive projection intervals associated with one basic color a magnitude of the lamp current is temporarily reduced for at least a time that all light valves can be controlled for said one basic color.

Abstract: The invention relates to a velocity determination apparatus for determining a relative velocity between a first object (12), to which the velocity determination apparatus is attachable, and a second object (1). The velocity determination apparatus comprises a laser (3) having a laser cavity (4) for emitting first radiation (5), which is reflected by the second object (1), wherein the reflected radiation interferes with the first radiation (5) within the laser cavity (4). An interference signal detector (7) detects an interference signal depending on the interference within the laser cavity (4) and a velocity determination unit (8) determines the relative velocity based on the interference signal. A reliability value determination unit (9) determines a reliability value for indicating the reliability of the determined relative velocity based on at least one of the group consisting of the detected interference signal, the determined relative velocity and a characteristic of the laser.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical element for VEC-SELs or VECSEL arrays. The optical element is formed of a substrate (200) which is transparent at least in a wavelength region of optical radiation. A first interface of the- substrate (200) comprises one or several curved regions forming part of an optical lens or of an array of optical lenses (220) integrated in the substrate (200). The substrate (200) further comprises one or several optical mirrors (210) formed on a second interface of the substrate (200) opposing the first interface or embedded in the substrate (200). The optical mirrors (210) are arranged and designed to back reflect a fraction of optical radiation incident on the first or second interface. The optical mirrors (210) are flat mirrors or curved mirrors having a radius of curvature different from the radius of curvature of the curved region (220).

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser based printing apparatus (100) using laser light sources (111, 112, 113, 402, 404, 406, 604, 606, 808, 810) for supplying energy to a target object (120) to form an image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a switchable dual wavelength solid state laser with a solid state gain medium (1) which is selected to emit optical radiation at a first wavelength with a first polarization and of at least a second wavelength with a second polarization different from said first polarization when optically or electrically pumped. A polarizing device (7) is arranged within the laser cavity, said polarizing device (7) being adjustable at least between said first and said second polarization. The two end mirrors (2, 3) of the laser cavity are designed to allow lasing of the solid state laser at the first wavelength when the polarizing device (7) is adjusted to the first polarization, and to allow lasing of the solid state laser at the second wavelength when the polarizing device (7) is adjusted to the second polarization. The proposed solid state laser allows an easy switching between two emission wavelengths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser device comprising an array of several large area VCSELs (101) and one or several optics (201, 202) designed and arranged to image the active layers of the VCSELs (101) of said army to a working plane (501) such that the laser radiation emitted by the active layers of all VCSELs (101) or of subgroups of VCSELs (101) of the array superimposes in the working plane (501). The proposed laser device allows the generation of a desired intensity distribution in the working plane without the need of an optics specially designed for this intensity distribution or beam profile.

Abstract: The invention describes a heating system (13) for heating a body (1) of a preform having a material thickness bounded by a first surface (2) and a second surface (4). The heating system (13) comprises at least a light source arrangement (12) which is arranged to emit a number of directed light beams (17) and a coupling arrangement (15, 21) realized to deliberately couple light from the light source arrangement (12) in a specific direction into the body (1) during at least a certain minimum period such that the light is essentially guided along a longer path (19) between the first (2) and second surface (4). Furthermore, the invention concerns a method of heating a body (1) of a preform.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an atomic frequency acquisition device comprising a gas cell (400) filled with an atomic gas, a laser light source (100) emitting a laser beam which enters the gas cell (40) and excites a first energy transition of the atomic gas, a local oscillator (700) for generating an oscillator frequency in a frequency range including a frequency of a HFS transition of the atomic gas, and a modulator (600) modulating the laser light source (100) so as to emit laser radiation modulated with the oscillator frequency. An optical reflector (500) is arranged behind the gas cell (400) to reflect the laser beam after passage through the atomic gas so as to re-enter the laser cavity. A photodetector (200) detects beat frequencies caused by self-mixing interference within the laser cavity.