Laser Power Detection via Gaussian Profile Reconstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser detectors struggle to accurately determine the power of a laser beam when it is not directly incident on the detector, posing a risk of temporary or permanent blindness to pilots and requiring rapid identification of harmful laser sources.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that measures the angle of incidence and positional offset of a laser beam using photodiodes and diffraction gratings to construct a Gaussian profile, allowing for the calculation of total laser power and identifying harmful beams by measuring irradiance and applying convolution kernels to determine the central peak.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laser detectors are used to detect laser beams, then the existence of laser sources can be identified, but the power of the laser beam cannot be accurately determined when the beam is not directly incident on the detector
Solution Approach 1:
The detector array is divided into multiple independently addressable photodetector elements that can individually measure irradiance at different spatial locations. This segmentation allows the system to capture the spatial distribution of the laser beam and reconstruct the Gaussian profile even when the beam is not directly incident on the detector, thereby enabling accurate power determination and reducing the risk of missed detections that could lead to pilot blindness.
2Measurement precision
If multiple spatial samples are taken to construct Gaussian profile, then laser power determination accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the detection system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical scanning systems with a stationary photodetector array that simultaneously captures multiple spatial samples. This substitution eliminates the need for moving parts and complex mechanical positioning mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to construct accurate Gaussian profiles through parallel measurement of irradiance at multiple locations.
3Measurement precision
If angle of incidence and positional offset are measured to account for oblique beam strikes, then laser power determination accuracy is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detector array itself serves multiple functions: it measures both the irradiance distribution and the angle of incidence simultaneously. By analyzing the spatial pattern of signals across the array elements, the system self-determines the beam's angular and positional characteristics without requiring separate measurement devices, thereby improving power determination accuracy while reducing the overall difficulty of detection and measurement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise determination of laser power and rapid identification of harmful laser sources, providing pilots with timely warnings and authorities with location information to mitigate potential threats.
Implementation Method 1
measuring an irradiation profile from a beam strike of the laser by taking multiple spatial samples
Implementation Method 2
obtaining an array of diffraction spectral peaks from photodiodes exposed to the laser beam strike
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for determining total laser power with photodiode sensors used to measure irradiance from the beam strike of the laser to identify linear offset Gaussian slices. The Gaussian for the slices is then solved to obtain a Gaussian profile, wherein solving to obtain the Gaussian profile includes: measuring an angle of incidence of a central axis of the laser beam relative to a normal axis of a plane containing the photodiode sensors; measuring a positional offset of the plane of the photodiode sensors relative to a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the laser beam; creating a projection of the plane of the photodiode sensors onto the plane perpendicular to a propagation of the beam to provide centered linear slices; and constructing the Gaussian profile from the centered linear slices. The total laser power is then determined from the Gaussian profile.