A ribbon-of-light projection system projects a substantially uniform
ribbon of laser light (or other electromagnetic radiation) using a
fiber-optic bundle, plano-mirrors, and a plano-cylindrical lens.
Incidence optics directs a laser beam to be incident to the fiber-optic
bundle at a predetermined angle of incidence, resulting in the projection
of a sheet of light. The sheet of light is then projected towards the
cylindrical lens where it is collimated into a ribbon. For the exemplary
embodiment, the angle of incidence is orthogonal to the fiber-optic
bundle. Thus, the laser projection system converts a beam of laser light
(or other electromagnetic radiation such as UV, visible, IR or microwave
radiation) into a collimated ribbon of light that in the exemplary
embodiment is substantially uniform. In one application, the laser
projection technique can be used in industrial applications to monitor
the flow of fluids.