Laser

English for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”‘ Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.
Laser lighting can be used to achieve special types of lighting for industrial image processing, such as structured lighting. The beam of the laser can take on various shapes, which, with the exception of the point or line shape, are generated with the aid of diffractive optical elements.
While normal lighting produces a two-dimensional image (x and y), lasers can often be used to generate information about the spatial contours (z) can be obtained. If the spatial offset of obliquely projected laser lines and other patterns is evaluated, this is also referred to as → laser triangulation. Laser light is normally linearly polarized.
Problems with the evaluation of laser lines can occur due to so-called “speckles”. This describes the grainy, glittering bursts of light that are visible to the eye on rough surfaces of paper, wood, plastics and metals. The reason for this is the coherent light of the laser. The surface irregularities lead to a superimposition and to three-dimensional interference, which is perceived in the human eye (on the retina) or on the camera sensor.
A laser line is therefore no longer displayed as a sharp line, but as a blurred line. These can interfere with subsequent image processing in measurement applications or → laser triangulation systems.
The accident prevention regulations UVV “Electrical systems and equipment” (BGV A2/VBG 4), UVV “Laser radiation” (BGV B2/VBG 93) and UVV “Safety marking at the workplace” (BGV A8/VBG 125) must be observed when using lasers in Germany.