Alcon Inc.
MEASUREMENT OF PULSED LASER OUTPUT USING OPTICAL DETECTION OF DUTY CYCLE

Abstract:

Systems and methods are disclosed for measuring pulsed laser output. An example system comprises a laser configured to emit output in pulses; at least one sensor positioned to sense laser output and configured to convert that output into electrical signals; an edge detector configured to detect at least leading edges of a plurality of laser pulses; an analog to digital converter configured to convert electrical signals from a sensor into digital signals indicative of laser power output; and a controller; wherein, based on the detection of at least the leading edges of the laser pulses, the controller is configured to obtain samples of laser power output during the laser pulses. The system may refrain from sampling laser power output between laser pulses or may sample laser power output between laser pulses at a reduced sample rate. The system may use the samples of laser power output in a feedback loop to automatically adjust laser power.