18W-20W IR Laser Power Transmitter...

[lasersbee]

Just watched this interesting EEVblog video of
a not yet on the market Power Transmission
product/project that I see some safety problems
with... It is claimed to deliver 5 watts of power
at ~5 meters using a Tracking Laser Beam.

Jerry

 

[RedCowboy]

The size of the receiver shown on the devices is a pretty small area, the concern being eye damage not fire, maybe the transmitter has to get an un interrupted return signal that the full beam is being received and starts with a low power hand shake beam, so it will break the bean in an instant if the return signal says the beam is blocked or partially blocked, the transmitter could use AI to look at the pathway as well, still it seems like a lot, also what about eyeglass wearers, supposedly we can take a lot of IR but it seems like a hazard.

INFO >>> http://www.wi-charge.com/technology/

---EDIT---

Yep, it says it breaks the beam if the pathway is blocked, this is a potential problem that the beam needs to have a clear pathway, that it could be dangerous otherwise, a faulty control circuit and you could have a dangerous beam.

 

[Encap]

Just watched this interesting EEVblog video of
a not yet on the market Power Transmission
product/project that I see some safety problems
with... It is claimed to deliver 5 watts of power
at ~5 meters using a Tracking Laser Beam.
Jerry

It is same marketing rubbish that Wicked Lasers spewed--"FDA Approved". The FDA does not approve any product, either a product does or does not comply with the rules and regulations.

Agree safety problems, expensive, system efficiency poor--many issues.
Stupid product, waste of time investor $s scam, will never fly.

Just what everyone needs in their home a 20W IR laser & no laser goggles, :crackup:

 

[paul1598419]

Seems like not only a bad idea, but a bit of hyperbole as well. If the laser could deliver 5 watts of power to the trains, a hand blocking the IR beam would likely be a painful experience too. Line of sight charging is also a bad idea because you can never know what might redirect the beam as most would not even think of an active laser firing above their heads.

 

[Cyparagon]

One deal-breaker that jumps out at me is the waste heat of the receiver/transducer. 5W in at 50% efficiency means 5W of waste heat. That is an enormous amount of heat for something with no heat sink. It's just not possible. Even if there was a magical substance that could withstand hundreds of degrees, it would burn anyone that touched it.

Oh, and this would be many hundreds or perhaps thousands of dollars. How many people are going to pay that much for a phone charger?

What about dust? Cat hair? anything beyond a tiny amount on the receiver is going to burn it. That's a hefty repair bill.

The FDA does not approve any product

Look up variances. They are required for many laser show applications for example.

 

[Encap]

Look up variances. They are required for many laser show applications for example.

Perhaps you are not understanding what I was saying/meant.
Yes, I know about "variances".
Saying "FDA Approved" or that a product has "FDA Approval" in conjunction with marketing a laser product to the general public is just marketing grovel-speak rubbish, BS, nonsense by marketing hustlers hustling.

FDA says very clearly:
"1.The approval of a laser light show variance is limited to approval of the conditions of the variance that specify the required means of radiation safety and protection that apply to the laser products covered by the variance. This approval in no way constitutes FDA approval, certification, or endorsement of those laser products produced under the variance. Further, the variance is not a license for the manufacturer, because the approval of a variance does not depend on a determination of the competence of the manufacturer to meet the specified conditions."

From Item #1 page 20 "Laser Compliance Guide, Page 20 APPENDIX B: CLARIFICATION OF CERTAIN LASER LIGHT SHOW REQUIREMENTS", see: https://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocuments/UCM095304.pdf

PS Congrats on 2,000,000 +reps :beer:

 

[Atomicrox]

While I agree it's a bad idea, perhaps they are using ~1400nm lasers which are considerably safer than 800-1100nm.

 

[lasersbee]

While I agree it's a bad idea, perhaps they are using ~1400nm lasers which are considerably safer than 800-1100nm.

A Watt of Laser Power is a Watt of Laser Power...
Both can blind you equally.
Just because you can't see it doesn't make it
safer...

Jerry

 

[Atomicrox]

The part of the eye that absorbs that power depends on the wavelength. Visible light will go straight to the retina and do a lot of damage. Higher WL IR will stop at the cornea and do less damage. UVC does cumulative damage.

This MPE chart illustrates the fact but unfortunately it does not have a line for ~1400nm:

 

[Cyparagon]

A Watt of Laser Power is a Watt of Laser Power...
Both can blind you equally.

As pointed out in the post above, that isn't true at all. Note the log scale. The graph says 2-5 orders of magnitude (100 to 100,000 times the power!) of mid IR has comparable danger to that of visible light. That is an enormous difference.

"Lasers with emission wavelengths longer than ≈ 1.4 μm are often called “eye-safe”, because light in that wavelength range is strongly absorbed in the eye's cornea and lens and therefore cannot reach the significantly more sensitive retina." Source

Of course, that's not to say something goofy like 50 watts of 1.4 micron light is harmless, but a watt of 1.4 micron light would do little damage compared to a watt of 577nm for example.

 

[lasersbee]

I stand corrected...:thanks:
Good to know...

Jerry

 

[kecked]

Water stronglynabsorbs ir. A humid or rainy day could ruin the devices ability to work in a hurry. Not to meantion fog, haze, vog, smoke, smog, and of course the polywog
The navy uses 1450for signaling between ships. The Russians use something similar to blind