An optical amplifying apparatus and a method to control the same are disclosed. Finally, utilization of a base or service provider located mater computer and software programs to provide all the primary computing processes needed to support a limited field located data entry and retrieval device that could further use the input data to establish a master computer file for a customer, equipment, performance and invoicing database. In order to overcome this problem the surface of the object is sub-divided into smaller areas, and from each area slope values are obtained at optimum apparatus parameters. The control module is configured to detect any signal generated by an infrared radiation receiver, and actuate the alarm module to generate an alarm signal when at least one infrared radiation receiver has ceased to receive infrared rays.