macklin@garnet.berkeley.edu (Macklin Burnham) (03/28/89)
is considered a class IIIb device. What measures are necessary to keep someone from looking into the transmitter long enough to sustain retinal damage? Since our potential applications for this technology would involve unattended operation on rooftops, I'm looking for reassurance that the infrared beam is not powerful enough or focused enough to be a hazard.
macklin@garnet.berkeley.edu (Macklin Burnham) (03/28/89)
[reposting, with blnk lines. sorry] What about the issue of laser safety? The LACE unit has a 20mw laser in it, and is classified as a class III-b device. How do you prevent someone from looking into the transmitter long enough to incur retinal damage? Our applications would involve unattended operation of these boxes on rooftops, and I'm seeking reassurance that the transmitted beam is not powerful enough, or not tightly enough focused,to present a hazard.
scarter@caip.rutgers.edu (Stephen M. Carter) (03/30/89)
In article <22125@agate.BERKELEY.EDU> macklin@garnet.berkeley.edu (Macklin Burnham) writes: >What about the issue of laser safety? The LACE unit has a 20mw laser in it, >and is classified as a class III-b device. How do you prevent someone from >looking into the transmitter long enough to incur retinal damage? Our >applications would involve unattended operation of these boxes on rooftops, >and I'm seeking reassurance that the transmitted beam is not powerful enough, >or not tightly enough focused,to present a hazard. I asked the installer this question. He stated that they are considered safe at about 20 feet. He advised not going up to the front of the unit and looking into the beam, but other than that they should cause no harm. Being that they are rooftop devices, you need only plan the mounts such that you keep safety in mind. This shouldn't be to difficult for most roof tops (eg use back corners). Stephen Carter Rutgers - CAIP PS: They focus the units at the factory for your desired distance such that the beam is about 6 foot diameter on the other end, if that helps any caculations.
ron@ron.rutgers.edu (Ron Natalie) (03/30/89)
Well, in our installation it is moutned on the edge of the eleveator shack on the building. To look into it you'd have to dangle your self over the edge of a 8 story drop. Of course, we'd notice right away because your head would block the signal and interrupt our Ethernet :->. -Ron