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- Jun 12, 2011
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Ok so I'm currently an electronics engineering technology major, junior level. I'm working on a personal project that involves creating a laser based range finder. I'm planning on using a camera and triangulation to do this. Right now I'm trying to figure out the components I need to get this done, on the laser emitter side that is.
I'm sorry if these are really basic questions and I appreciate if anyone is willing to help answer them anyway. I've been reading and searching for the last couple days and just want to get a couple questions ironed out for sure.
1. What items are required to run a laser diode? From what I can tell I need a driver and housing (with adjustable lens). From what I can gather, relatively simple constant current/voltage circuits are sufficient for a basic red laser diode, but other wavelengths require more complex circuitry. Is this correct? However if I bought a module, I would just need a source to power it?
2. This range finding "system" needs to be usable outdoors in full daylight at a range of up to around 15ft. Based on these requirements would it be dangerous if pointed at something reflective like a bare piece of metal?
edit: just wanted to end by saying this is a pretty cool board. Now that I'm looking into lasers more I think I might make them a hobby. Pretty cool stuff here.
I'm sorry if these are really basic questions and I appreciate if anyone is willing to help answer them anyway. I've been reading and searching for the last couple days and just want to get a couple questions ironed out for sure.
1. What items are required to run a laser diode? From what I can tell I need a driver and housing (with adjustable lens). From what I can gather, relatively simple constant current/voltage circuits are sufficient for a basic red laser diode, but other wavelengths require more complex circuitry. Is this correct? However if I bought a module, I would just need a source to power it?
2. This range finding "system" needs to be usable outdoors in full daylight at a range of up to around 15ft. Based on these requirements would it be dangerous if pointed at something reflective like a bare piece of metal?
edit: just wanted to end by saying this is a pretty cool board. Now that I'm looking into lasers more I think I might make them a hobby. Pretty cool stuff here.
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