An optical sensor includes a substrate having a plurality of first light receiving elements in a surface, and a light blocking film having a plurality of first openings. The first light receiving elements are provided such that a direction of travel of incident light defined by each of the first openings is different from a thickness direction of the substrate and form at least one light receiving element set in which an angle of incidence defined between the direction of travel of the incident light and the thickness direction is the same with respect to the light receiving elements. In a view projected in the thickness direction, a positional relationship between the first light receiving elements included in a light receiving element set and the corresponding first openings has rotational symmetry of order 3 or more about an axis along the thickness direction.

A vehicle window with an anisotropic light sensor, has a first glass layer and a second glass layer, wherein an arrangement of light-sensitive elements is arranged, substantially parallel to the first glass layer, between the first glass layer and the second glass layer, wherein the pane furthermore has an aperture such that light can shine through the second glass layer and the aperture onto at least one of the light-sensitive elements, wherein, depending on the direction of incident light, the sensor provides a signal that is indicative of the direction, wherein the arrangement of light-sensitive elements has a camera chip and wherein the arrangement of light-sensitive elements is arranged on a flexible film.

A laser-strike detection system includes an imaging sensor mounted on a platform, and a computing device. The imaging sensor outputs image frames that are each representative of a portion of the platform at a different time, during which a laser may be striking the platform. The computing device receives the image frames, and computes a delay map that indicates time-of-arrival delays of the laser beam at points on the portion of the platform. The computing device converts the delay map to a path-length variation map by multiplying the delay map by the propagation speed of light. The computing device fits a plane to the path-length variation map constrained by a topological model of the platform. The computing device computes angular deflections in x- and y-directions based upon the fit, which angular deflections define a direction from the platform to an emitter of the laser beam.

Intensity of a light from a light array comprising a plurality of light sources configured to illuminate in sequence may be detected at two optically isolated points of a motion tracker device. The optically isolated points may be disposed at a distance from one another such that a variation in intensity of light due to shadowing effects from the plurality of light sources is different at the optically isolated points. The optically isolated points may be separated by a T-shaped wall. The motion tracker device may generate a current signal representing a photodiode differential between the two optically isolated points and proportional to the intensity of the light. The current signal may be used for sensor fusion with an inertial measurement unit.

Optical ground terminals (OGT) allowing high optical rate communications for line of sight and non-line of sight operating conditions are disclosed. The described devices include a multifaceted structure where optical telescopes, phase array antennas, and arrays of optical detectors are disposed. Methods to calculate angle-of-arrival based the contributions from optical detectors are also disclosed.

Seeker optics and a related method comprising: an objective for collecting and transmitting light from a target; at least one scattering surface; and a photo detector; wherein: the light transmitted from the objective at small off-boresight target angles propagates to and impinges upon the photo detector without impinging upon the scattering surface; the light transmitted from the objective at large off-boresight target angles propagates to, impinges upon and scatters upon the scattering surface; and the light scattered by the scattering surface propagates to and impinges upon the photo detector; whereby: the target may be detected and tracked at both small and large off-boresight angles, in a wide field of regard.

A slope detection device includes a structure provided with a spherical surface, multiple optical sensors provided on a spherical surface of the structure in a manner that face different directions, the optical sensors measuring a quantity of sunlight, an optical sensor receiving unit receiving output information of each of the optical sensors, a time providing unit providing calendar information on a date and a time when the output information is received, and an operation unit configured to analysis an incidence angle of the sunlight from the collected pieces of the output information, calculate a horizontal coordinate system from the analyzed incidence angle of the sunlight, the calendar information, and a sun path equation, and calculate a three-dimensional slope information for a current location in comparison with the horizontal coordinate system.

A slope detection device includes a structure provided with a spherical surface, multiple optical sensors provided on a spherical surface of the structure in a manner that face different directions, the optical sensors measuring a quantity of sunlight, an optical sensor receiving unit receiving output information of each of the optical sensors, a time providing unit providing calendar information on a date and a time when the output information is received, and an operation unit configured to analysis an incidence angle of the sunlight from the collected pieces of the output information, calculate a horizontal coordinate system from the analyzed incidence angle of the sunlight, the calendar information, and a sun path equation, and calculate a three-dimensional slope information for a current location in comparison with the horizontal coordinate system.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a seeker for a Semi-Active Laser (SAL) guided missile. The seeker has a Short-Wave InfraRed (SWIR) camera and a Pulse Timing Logic (PTL) detector. The PTL detector has a SWIR photo detector axially aligned with a lens stack of the SWIR camera. The SWIR photo detector is configured to detect a sequence of SWIR pulses generated by a SAL target designator and reflected by a designated target. The PTL detector has a pulse timer configured to identify a sequence pattern of the detected sequence of SWIR pulses, and to predict a timing of a next SWIR pulse in the identified sequence pattern so as to synchronize exposure of the SWIR camera to capture a next image of the designated target at the predicted timing of the next SWIR pulse. Such exposure timing can advantageously improve the signal to noise ratio of the next image.

An optical receiver (100) for detection of light from one or more sources (108) comprises an opaque layer (102) disposed on a first surface. An aperture (104) is formed in the opaque layer. An optical detector (106) has a detection region disposed on a second surface. The first and second surfaces are spaced apart from one another such that light passing through the aperture (104) illuminates a corresponding illumination region (110) on the second surface, and is detected by the optical detector (106) In the event that the detection region overlaps the illumination region. Multiple apertures may be formed in the opaque layer, and/or multiple optical detectors may be disposed on the second surface. The optical receiver may thereby enable optical signals originating at different locations to be detected, and distinguished, over a wide field of view.