Laser vs. Camera

[Bradfo69]

I'm reasonably certain I know the answer but, should probably just ask anyway. We recently installed several security cameras in my facility including two in the ballroom. I had a discussion with the installers regarding the lasers and they were supposed to check with the manufacturer regarding the potential for damage. As it's worked out, with the aiming of the one I was concerned with, it doesn't "see" where I normally place my projectors. The projectors themselves would be about positioned about 12 feet outside the closest edge of the view. So, beams will cross it's field of view but not any possible direct hit from projector aperture directly into the camera CCD or whatever it uses. I assume I'm fine, correct?

[buffo]

beams will cross it's field of view but not any possible direct hit from projector aperture directly into the camera

Yep - you're fine.

Just make sure that a beam can't be reflected into the camera! (Bounce off a truss pole or a bounce mirror, for example.)

But yeah, to damage the camera the beam must physically enter the lens of the camera and strike the imaging device (either CCD or CMOS, depending on the camera).

Adam

[Bradfo69]

Damn.... the company that installed them just happened to go in and remotely zoom the camera out and refocus it so, it may just get a projector into it's field of view. The wall is closed that divides the ballroom so I won't see for sure until later today. Push comes to shove, I'll just cover the camera if I get an event that wants lasers.

[dkumpula]

I believe the same is true with video projectors. As long as the DLP projection area isn't overlapping where a laser is located, you should be OK. I learned this the hard way (twice!) by frying two DLP projectors after re-aiming to cover an area that included a laser projector. I've since replaced my video projectors with three LCD models which I've never heard of getting toasted by relatively low power lasers.

-David

[norty303]

I've since replaced my video projectors with three LCD models which I've never heard of getting toasted by relatively low power lasers.

Go and search out my post from summer a few years ago.... Panasonic PLC-XP100 LCD prism assembly, roughly £2200.... No laser projector more than 3.5W or so

[dkumpula]

Ahh, I do recall that thread now, Norty.

How did the damage manifest itself? A single dot that was out in one color or a malfunctioning line / cascade failure like you see in the DLPs? Those were 1.3" LCD panels receiving only 1 color each after the prism, so you'd think that those things would be very resilient. A couple years back, I asked Patrick Murphy if he had ever heard of the three LCD models being damaged and he had not.

All of this said, I'm dealing with 2.4W max in my space, albeit with short throws. In addition, I've been buying refurbished short-throw projectors, so even if I do toast one, it's less than a $400 loss . . which is nearly chump-change in this field!

[swamidog]

i humbly suggest the term "brad unit" be used to define the value 400$

c.

Ahh, I do recall that thread now, Norty.

How did the damage manifest itself? A single dot that was out in one color or a malfunctioning line / cascade failure like you see in the DLPs? Those were 1.3" LCD panels receiving only 1 color each after the prism, so you'd think that those things would be very resilient. A couple years back, I asked Patrick Murphy if he had ever heard of the three LCD models being damaged and he had not.

All of this said, I'm dealing with 2.4W max in my space, albeit with short throws. In addition, I've been buying refurbished short-throw projectors, so even if I do toast one, it's less than a $400 loss . . which is nearly chump-change in this field!

[Bradfo69]

My own unit of currency. How exciting!
.
"For sale: 3 watt RGB - 3.125 Brad Units or best offer."

[Draco]

when i was a teen i tried getting video from a HeNe i had at the time and accidentally crossed the camera with the laser, if i even find the video tape from that i will convert it and load it on you tube, the screen went totally red and over a few seconds it shrunk down to a little white dot, the trail from the beam did fade with time but at the moment it was a direct hit left permanent damage, and that was only 4mw.
I have never come across a DLP projector damaged by a laser though, I never knew that would happen and would have loved to tear the light engine down to investigate. An LCD projector is a different animal and some times are even damaged by the projectors own light source, Sony was famous for that one

[DanBarlow]

DLP also get damaged by their own light source if there is insufficient cooling. The micromirrors can stick to the parking surface, the flex points can melt, and possibly the underlying memory cell. I'm amazed that the C* projectors handled 24W of blue, but that was homogenized not focused.
If you were using a tube camera, those are even more sensitive than the human eye to optical damage.