Xbox 360 Kinect IR Laser LPM Test

Is the Xbox 360 Kinect IR Laser Safe?

This is a topic of another thread but I thought it would be helpful for others with this question to have it all in the OP. I will update this as others add there knowledge to it.

This is a 100% unbiased assessment.

I only own a Radiant Electronics. Radiant Electronics - Home Radiant Alpha LPM. So I can't preform .10 mW I can only see 1 mW increments.

That said heres my findings....

After the 1st setting it to 0 setting the dial, I never touched the the dial afterwards so it should be as accurate as I could get it with what I have. I took time trying to aim the IR lasers as directly as possible and let it setting the meter for about 5 min and then took readings, then I removed the Kinect and waited 5 min and took a reading...

At 2 ft




At 2 ft



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At 1 ft



Sorry forgot to take a picture of the 0 reading but I did it, Kinda dumb of me, when I remembered I moved things and said ah forget it...

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6 inches



6 inches



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3 inches



3 inches



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2 inches



2 inches



Now at this point of (2 inches) we now have to consider that the heat of just the unit is a factor...Not pointed at the Sensor and it's heat from just the body of the unit, It is possible that the Kinect Body heat is also factored into the 3 inch Testing Range....




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Now any closer is just going to be pointless as the unit it self is generating heat.

I personally think that at 3-4 Feet plus your going to be fine and have no problems, it's people who are going closer than 2 feet that are going get hurt and this is warned on the package....And would conclude that it is eye strain thats hurting and not any kinda damage. You have to understand if you had damage you would see a black spot or have haze vision....

Now at this point I'd really don't know to much about beam strength to add any more of my thoughts, I'd rather some experienced members take these findings and state a more factual statement on it's safety. And I'll update the OP with it. Hope this helps some people understand whats going on

I think this use LEDs, they have a big (broadband) wavelength emitting and maybe that makes it a little more safe.. Dunno then.

IIRC, TJ has a damaged eye by a LED.

Leodahsan said:

I think this use LEDs, they have a big (broadband) wavelength emitting and maybe that makes it a little more safe.. Dunno then.

IIRC, TJ has a damaged eye by a LED.

Click to expand...

Unless they changed anything, as far as I know it is a IR Laser, not a LED.

I don't have a xbox, I'm just guessing..

The Xbox Kinect does use an IR laser but infrared
light is harmful with prolonged exposure over
years and years at the levels you are recording.

jnhowett said:

The Xbox Kinect does use an IR laser but infrared
light is harmful with prolonged exposure over
years and years at the levels you are recording.

Click to expand...

You have to remember that I am testing in the 2 foot or less range ( and your advised to not use the device in this range) and so the Laser per sq foot is more condensed....

I would love someone with some real knowledge to tell us some facts they can read off this. :wave:

You could try looking into a camera with it..

Ive found this post by an eurobot member

http://www.planete-sciences.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14789


Kinect uses a class 3b laser inside downgraded by optics in front of it to a supposed class 1.

At this point, if half of what i read is thruth, considering that Microsoft itself admits the device is supossedly harmfull or not depending just on distance, and that they are not offering more involvement on this, i conclude that i dont want this device around me.

Too much opake marketing. A too little laser class warning on an almost hidden place. And too many ppl reporting eyestrain and increasing every day.

I think Microsoft wanted to win at all cost motion gesture battle and that they went too far, too soon.

If im wrong PLEASE PROVE IT. I would like Microsoft to offer more info on this. But their silence is suspicious at least and the fact is that kinect is harmfull for eyes in short distance and that the laser class is being reported by that guy to be 3b downgraded.

userwords said:

If im wrong PLEASE PROVE IT.

Click to expand...

And I can read minds.

If I'm wrong, PLEASE PROVE IT.

Cyparagon are you channeling Carnac the Magnificent?:crackup:

As good as the Radiant Alpha is, its is a budget LPM , you'd need an optical , or ophir sensor , at these low power levels i think your wasting your time with TEC based sensor.

Well, not in proving that its fairly safe. Provided you can assert the beam actually hits the sensor (using a digicam or something), you can at least assess its, for example, below 5 mW.

To get lower readings with a thermal sensor the heat from the device will be problematic at closer ranges - you may need to insert an long-IR filter (say 1000 nm) to block most of that out.

Ped's Right this meter isn't really giving us to much information. If I get a better LPM I will redo the test to get a more accurate reading