A system for detecting a direction of a source of a laser beam includes a pixelated sensor that is sensitive to the laser beam. A mask is disposed between the source of a laser beam and the pixelated sensor. The mask includes an opaque portion that is opaque to the laser beam and a window portion that is at least translucent to the laser beam. When the laser impinges upon the mask an image of the window portion is projected onto the pixelated sensor. A processor determines an angle of incidence of the laser beam with respect to the mask by determining a number of pixels that the image of the window is offset from where the image of the window would be if the laser beam had been normal to the mask.

A system for detecting a direction of a source of a laser beam includes a pixelated sensor that is sensitive to the laser beam. A mask is disposed between the source of a laser beam and the pixelated sensor. The mask includes an opaque portion that is opaque to the laser beam and a window portion that is at least translucent to the laser beam. When the laser impinges upon the mask an image of the window portion is projected onto the pixelated sensor. A processor determines an angle of incidence of the laser beam with respect to the mask by determining a number of pixels that the image of the window is offset from where the image of the window would be if the laser beam had been normal to the mask.

A directionality control system includes: a camera; a microphone provided as a separate body from the camera; a display that displays video data captured by the camera; and a processor that computes a sound collection direction, which is directed from the microphone toward a sound position corresponding to a designated position in the video data. The processor computes the sound collection direction by using parameters including: a first height of the camera from a reference surface, a second height of the microphone from the reference surface, a third height of a computation reference point from the reference surface, the computation reference point being positioned in the sound collection direction at a position different from the sound position, a direction which is directed from the camera toward the sound position, and a fourth height of the sound position from the reference surface.

A directionality control system includes: a camera; a microphone provided as a separate body from the camera; a display that displays video data captured by the camera; and a processor that computes a sound collection direction, which is directed from the microphone toward a sound position corresponding to a designated position in the video data. The processor computes the sound collection direction by using parameters including: a first height of the camera from a reference surface, a second height of the microphone from the reference surface, a third height of a computation reference point from the reference surface, the computation reference point being positioned in the sound collection direction at a position different from the sound position, a direction which is directed from the camera toward the sound position, and a fourth height of the sound position from the reference surface.

A navigation system determines a position by referring to artificial or natural satellites or other space objects during daylight or when the objects are in a planet's shadow. A telescope and image sensor observe and image shadows of the objects as the objects transit the sun or a sunlit surface of a planet or moon, thereby solving problems related to the two key times during which traditional SkyMark navigation is difficult or impossible.

A navigation system determines a position by referring to artificial or natural satellites or other space objects during daylight or when the objects are in a planet's shadow. A telescope and image sensor observe and image shadows of the objects as the objects transit the sun or a sunlit surface of a planet or moon, thereby solving problems related to the two key times during which traditional SkyMark navigation is difficult or impossible.

An optical detector system provides positioning data to facilitate tracking in optical communications. The system provides first and second path lengths to direct light onto an array of photodetectors. Incoming first light with a first polarization is reflected by a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) to the array, resulting in a first path length and a relatively wide field of view (FOV). Incoming second light with a second polarization passes through the PBS, interacts with a first quarter wave retarder (QWR) and a convex mirror, is reflected by the PBS, passes through a second QWR and is reflected by a flat mirror to pass through the PBS again and onto the array. The second light experiences a second path length greater than the first path length, exhibiting a relatively narrow FOV. The resulting spots of light on the array provide information about a position of the incoming beam.

An optical detector system provides positioning data to facilitate tracking in optical communications. The system provides first and second path lengths to direct light onto an array of photodetectors. Incoming first light with a first polarization is reflected by a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) to the array, resulting in a first path length and a relatively wide field of view (FOV). Incoming second light with a second polarization passes through the PBS, interacts with a first quarter wave retarder (QWR) and a convex mirror, is reflected by the PBS, passes through a second QWR and is reflected by a flat mirror to pass through the PBS again and onto the array. The second light experiences a second path length greater than the first path length, exhibiting a relatively narrow FOV. The resulting spots of light on the array provide information about a position of the incoming beam.

An optical system and method comprising refracting light with a pair of Risley prisms and employing a line-of-sight control unit to adjust the pair.

A directionality control system includes: a camera; a microphone provided as a separate body from the camera; a display that displays video data captured by the camera; and a processor that computes a sound collection direction, which is directed from the microphone toward a sound position corresponding to a designated position in the video data. The processor computes the sound collection direction by using parameters including: a first height of the camera from a reference surface, a second height of the microphone from the reference surface, a third height of a computation reference point from the reference surface, the computation reference point being positioned in the sound collection direction at a position different from the sound position, a direction which is directed from the camera toward the sound position, and a fourth height of the sound position from the reference surface.