Patent ID: 11899160
Assignee: LASERMOTIVE, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  H  Y | IPC G  H

Claim 0:
1. A system to detect obstacles to a power beam using time domain multiplexing of a plurality of emitter signals, comprising:
a plurality of emitters and a plurality of detectors that form a light curtain patterned about the power beam, the plurality of emitters surrounding the power beam having an emitter module including:
one or more first emitters arranged to emit a first guard beam signal during an assigned time slot A, the first guard beam signal emitted in proximity to the power beam; and
one or more second emitter arranged to emit a second guard beam signal during an assigned time slot B, wherein time slot A is different than time slot B, the second guard beam signal emitted in proximity to the first signal; and

the plurality of detectors surrounding the power beam, the plurality of detectors including:
one or more first detectors arranged to respond to the first guard beam signal emitted by the one or more first emitters during time slot A;
one or more second detectors arranged to respond to the second guard beam signal emitted by the one or more second emitters during time slot B,
a controller that directs operations of one or more first detectors and one or more second detectors,
wherein the controller determines that an absence of a first guard beam signal or a second guard beam signal is indicative of a foreign object near or impeding the power beam.