Patent ID: 6616301
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: F41H,H01S

Abstract:
A hand-held laser flashlight for emitting an eyesafe light dispersion pattern into an ambient environment, the laser flashlight comprising:a housing having an exit face; a first emitter disposed within the housing for emitting a first coherent light beam towards the exit face of the housing along an optical axis, the first coherent light beam having a wavelength and up to a maximum power; a first optical system disposed within the housing along the optical axis, intermediate the first emitter and the exit face, configured to provide a first output laser beam having a spatial profile that is substantially gaussian, a wavelength, and an intensity; and a light transmissive beam expander disposed along the optical axis proximate to the exit face of the housing, the beam expander being configured and adapted for limiting the intensity of the first output laser beam at the exit face of the housing and at all distances beyond the exit face of the housing, for any power of the first emitter, up to and including the maximum power, to a level which is always less than the ANSI safety standard adapted for the wavelength of the first output laser beam.