LMS Laser Measurement System

Laser beams can damage the eye even with a very brief exposure to the retina. For this reason, the DIN has specified that a laser with even 1 mW of output power has to be examined in its effects on humans in order to ensure the safety of a laser system.

In the past, a precise measurement analysis proved to be rather difficult. With its new laser measurement system LMS-2, LOBO electronic – a German company from Aalen – set a new standard in safety-related assessments of scanned laser radiation which was enthusiastically received by experts. Even the American-based "International Laser Display Organisation" (ILDA for short) declared this system the "Product of the Year".

The permitted maximum radiation affecting the eye is stipulated in the German DIN standard 56912. All measured values have to be compared to this standard. It is there that LOBO electronic's new measuring system comes into play: within a matter of seconds, it can determine whether the laser system operates within the DIN standard values.

In the past, this kind of inspection required multiple devices such as power meters, photo diode storage oscilloscopes, etc., and especially a lot of time to evaluate the data through calculation procedures in comparison to the maximum radiation values stipulated in the DIN standard. The LMS system, however, only consists of a detector (LD-2), a data logging system LMS-2, a laptop as well as the corresponding software package LS-2.

The LMS can be operated network-independent and neatly fits into a handy transport case. With only the press of a button, a fully-automated measurement can be initiated. The results are immediately shown on the display and compared to the corresponding maximum radiation values. The results can also be displayed in a graphical format and printed with additional data – this way it can be immediately determined whether a laser's radiation is safe and within standards. It is irrelevant whether it is scanned or continuous wave (CW) radiation.

The Si-PIN detector LS-2 is calibrated for a range of 450 - 700 nm. The aperture of the measuring head of 7 mm corresponds exactly to the maximum aperture of the human iris. All components are designed for laser systems with an output power of up to 40 W. Depending on the performance class, mitigation elements are available. Due to the scanning frequency of 10 MHz, even larger distances to the laser source are possible.