Why do I need Scanguard? - Doesn't my Scan Fail Detector protect against excessive exposure?
Relying solely on a regular Scan-fail Detection System doesn't provide enough protection to guarantee that exposure levels will not be exceeded. We have found that many laser projectors used at installations either don't have any such devices fitted, and the ones that do, are not set up correctly for the given separation distance and power of laser. But even in the rare situation where a laser projector has a fast scan-fail system both fitted and set up correctly, what does it actually protect against? Current scan-fail detectors should be able protect against beam not moving fast enough or becoming stationary because it is told to by the control signal. Furthermore the detector should be able to detect and blank the output in the case of the scanning system developing a technical fault.
Consider the situation of a scanning system projecting a nice fast scanning tunnel effect. The scanners are moving fast enough for the detection not to trigger, and the system is functioning correctly. So as far as the scan-fail detection system is concerned there are no problems apparent. But what is to say that people are not being over exposed to laser energy even with a correctly working system? This where the need for laser energy assessment is important, and with the help of the Scanguard Laser Effect Analyser software, the process of checking for excessive laser exposure can be made a whole lot easier.
Does Scanguard make my shows safe for audience scanning?
Scanguard can help considerably when trying to determine if a laser effect or sequence of effects are safe to project into an audience. You still need to take precautions when scanning audiences, but in using Scanguard you will be able to quickly determine how much laser energy is present and how it is dispersed throughout the display. It will help to tell you what energy levels and readings you should be checking for when using other measurement instruments. The results of these processes can be documented and you'll be able to present the results to the regulatory authorities as part of your hazard assessment.
Why doesn't someone just sell some “safe” effects that I can use for scanning?
The type of effects that are safe for one laser system and venue may be totally unsuitable for a different projector or venue. Two major factors affect what makes a laser effect safe; the laser beam properties such as power and divergence, and the distance from the projector to the audience. It's simply just not possible to design good laser effects that are universally safe on all laser systems and environments. Such an effect might be too strong in one instance, but on another projector and venue, it may be too weak. Scanguard can be used to help design maximum impact laser effects tailored to your specific projectors and venue applications.
Does using Scanguard mean I don't have to take any measurements?
Taking a random sample of actual measurements as is reasonably practicable to do, should still form part of a thorough hazard assessment, in order to verify that your laser system is performing as expected, and that the measured results are consistent with the analysis. A key element to the Scanguard analysis is that it helps to take the guesswork out of selecting the critical parts of the show to check, and provides you with guidance as to what levels you should be looking for.
Will using Scanguard make my laser shows less attractive if I have to keep below the MPE?
At levels around and even below the MPE, laser effects are normally uncomfortable and irritating for the audience to view when the effects start to sweep across peoples faces. Using Scanguard it is possible to see how to design laser effects that are fast moving and dynamic so that the laser energy is dispersed in such a way, as that it can become more comfortable for the audience to view. Ultimately, designing a dramatic looking but audience friendly laser show is going to take more effort than simply aiming laser effects at an audience and hoping for the best. The end result can be shows that cause less irritating flash blindness and the peace of mind that shows are not degrading the eyesight of those watching.
Is Scanguard compatible with my laser system?
All editions of Scanguard are entirely software based and will operate on most PCs running Microsoft Windows Vista and XP. The Professional Edition of Scanguard uses advanced digital signal processing algorithms to simulate the movement of galvanometers when analysing ILDA files. This feature helps to increase the accuracy of the assessment of ILDA laser effect files.
How does Scanguard know what is safe?
Scanguard uses information based on scientific data adopted and accepted internationally in Laser Safety Standards throughout the world to perform a series of complex calculations and analysis on the laser effects.
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