LIGHT APPLICATION APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIGHT TO AN OBJECT

摘要

The invention relates to a light application apparatus (1) for applying light to an object (3). A light source (4) generates processing light (2) and sensing light (5), which are coupled into the object (3). A light detector (8) detects the sensing light (5) after having left the object (3), and a control unit (9) controls the light source (4) such that processing light (2) in a processing time interval and sensing light (5) in a sensing time interval are alternately generated. Since processing light and sensing light are generated alternately, the generation of the processing light and of the sensing light is decoupled, i.e. the processing light can be optimized for processing purposes and the sensing light can be optimized for sensing purposes. This allows improving the quality of sensing the object and, thus, the quality of controlling the application of light depending on properties of the object.

主权项

1. A light application apparatus for applying light to an object, the light application apparatus comprising:
a light source for generating processing light for processing the object and sensing light for sensing the object, the light source being adapted to couple the processing light and the sensing light into the object; a light detector for detecting the sensing light after having left the object; and a control unit for controlling the light source such that the light source alternately generates processing light in a processing time interval and sensing light in a sensing time interval, wherein the light source comprises an array of light emitting elements separated into sub-groups, wherein the control unit is arranged to control the light source such that at the sensing time interval first sensing light is emitted from a first sub-group and the second sensing light is emitted from a second sub-group, wherein the first sensing light and the second sensing light are detected by the light detector, wherein the control unit is arranged to control the light source depending on the detected first sensing light and the detected second sensing light; wherein the object is the skin of a human being or of an animal, wherein the control unit is further adapted to determine an absorption of the first and second sensing light in the epidermis of the skin, wherein the control unit is further adapted to determine an absorption of the first and second sensing light in the dermis of the skin, wherein the processing light is generated depending on at least one of the determined absorption in the epidermis and the determined absorption in the dermis.