Method for using a single optical emitter/receiver pair for creating a light curtain using LCD+MEMS technology for beam deflection

A method of generating multiple light beams for monitoring a space with a single emitter-receiver pair, comprising:

• emitting light from a light source on a first side of a monitored area;
• employing a first transmissive LCD array and selectively forming transmissive apertures, comprising a darkening component to darken the LCD array except at points corresponding to the transmissive apertures, thereon to generate the plurality of light beams;
• transmitting the plurality of light beams to respective mirrors on an opposite side of the monitored area;
• reflecting the plurality of light beams back to corresponding mirrors on the first side of the monitored area;
• and
• reflecting the plurality of light beams to a receiver on the opposite side of the monitored area.

A system that facilitates increasing coverage of a single emitter-receiver pair in a light curtain, comprising:

• means for emitting light;
• means for darkening of a transmissive LCD array except at points corresponding to the transmissive apertures, wherein the transmissive LCD array divides the emitted light into a plurality of light beams that are transmitted across a monitored area;
• means for reflecting the plurality of light beams back across the monitored area in a parallel orientation;
• means for reflecting the parallel light beams across the monitored area at least a second time;
• means for reflecting light beams at a means for receiving;
• and means for detecting light beams at the means for receiving.