Addressable illuminator with eye-safety circuitry

An optical illuminator, comprising:

• a plurality of optical sources configured to be independently energized;
• a combined current source configured to deliver a total current to the plurality of optical sources, the total current being approximately constant regardless of any changes to the combined current source;
• and
• an electronic circuit including one or more switches configured to simultaneously distribute the total current to the plurality of optical sources based on at least one set of control inputs to the electronic circuit.

A method of operating an optical illuminator including an array of optical sources for illuminating an object, comprising:

• (a) switching on at least one optical source of the array at a time without switching on any other optical source of the array not included in the at least one optical source;
• (b) controlling a total current provided to the at least one optical source when turned on such that the total current supplied to the at least one optical source multiple by an electrical-to-optical conversion efficiency yields an optical power of the optical illuminator that is eye-safe;
• (c) turning off the at least one optical source before turning on a next at least one optical source of the array in accordance with steps (a) and (b);
• and
• (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) to maintain illuminator of the object.