Patent ID: 7534994

Claim:
A laser scanning system comprising: a laser light source emitting a laser light beam; an optical subsystem, including at least one diffractive optical element, that directs a first portion of the laser light beam into a scanning region and directs a second portion of the laser light beam to an optical detector, wherein the optical detector generates a first electrical signal in response thereto; a temperature control element, in thermal contact with the laser light source, that is capable of adjusting temperature of the laser light source; signal processing and control circuitry, operably coupled between the optical detector and the temperature control element, that generates a second electrical signal representing change in characteristic wavelength of the laser light beam emitted from the laser light source based upon the first electrical signal, and controls the temperature control element to adjust temperature of the laser light source based upon the second electrical signal; wherein said signal processing and control circuitry generates a binary mode switching signal having a logic level indicating whether said second electrical signal exceeds said predetermined threshold value, wherein said binary mode switching signal is supplied to a microcontroller programmed to execute a control routine that controls said temperature control element so as to adjust temperature of said laser light source in response to the logic level of said binary mode switching signal; wherein said control routine controls said temperature control element so as to either heat or cool said laser light source when the logic level of said binary mode switching signal indicates that a change in the characteristic wavelength of said laser light source occurred in said laser scanning system; and wherein said control routine controls said temperature control element to maintain the temperature of said laser light source when the logic level of said binary mode switching signal indicates that a change in the characteristic wavelength of said laser light source did not occur in said laser scanning system.