[Laser] IR laser Array??? Safety Note

[Karel Kulhavy]

> 
> 
> 	Dear RB and Group,
> 
> 	If you have a viewing method, such as the camera, it is a GOOD
> idea to leave it on ALL the time when it is possible power may be applied
> to the laser.
> 	WARNING:
> 
> 	Specular surfaces are those which reflect.  This is a very loose
> and general use of the term, but is useful in the area of safety.
> Specular Reflections of laser energy can be as dangerous, and in some
> cases More dangerous than non reflected energy.

Yes, my glasses are curved the way that the resulting mirror's focus is
just the length of my arms. Many times when I clean them and sun is
shining, I get the reflection into my eye and see sunglare
_all_over_the_surface_ of the lens. It is less than 5% reflectivity
because the glasses are coated, but nevertheless it's very annoying!
It's what the specular reflections are all about.

Best thing it to avoid NIR sources completely and use visible. I have
build LED communicating system 10Mbps full duplex / 1km as DIY
construction (http://ronja.jikos.cz) and am thousand times happy it's
visible and not NIR.  WYSIWYG. What You See Is What You Get (onto your
retina ;-))

visible power LEDs and visible laser LEDs (Fabry Perrots) are very cheap
and easy to operate today.

Clock