Patent ID: 8002186

Claim:
A laser power control arrangement in an electro-optical reader for reading indicia, comprising: an energizable laser for emitting a laser beam having an output power along a path; an internal light detector inside the laser, for monitoring the output power of the laser; an external light detector outside the laser, for monitoring the output power of the laser independently of the internal light detector; a guide positioned outside the laser in the path of the laser beam, for guiding the laser beam from the laser to the external light detector; a controller operatively connected to each light detector, for controlling a monitored output power of the laser beam by deenergizing the laser when the monitored output power of the laser beam exceeds a safe power level limit; and a focusing lens positioned along the path downstream of the laser, wherein the guide has a passage through which a major fraction of the laser beam passes along the path to be focused by the focusing lens, and wherein the guide includes a light pipe outside the passage for reflecting a minor fraction of the laser beam as reflected laser light, and for guiding the reflected laser light to the external light detector in a direction transverse to the path.