APPARATUS FOR MONITORING MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF AN EYE-SAFETY COMPONENT OF AN ILLUMINATOR

An apparatus for monitoring mechanical integrity of an eye-safety component of an illuminator is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a sensor, operable to sense a photoacoustic effect in the eye-safety component during operation of the illuminator and to output a signal representative of the sensed photoacoustic effect, and a processor. The processor is operable to: monitor the signal from the sensor; determine if the signal comprises at least one parameter that falls outside of a pre-determined acceptable range, the pre-determined acceptable range being indicative of mechanical integrity of the eye-safety component; and initiate a safety action in response to a determination that the at least one parameter falls outside of the pre-determined acceptable range thereby indicating a loss of mechanical integrity.