Electromagnetic wave detection

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed toward systems and methods for detecting a laser beam incident at a sensor. Embodiments of the invention may also determine the incident angle, the wavelength of the light, the power, and/or the pulse rate of the incident laser beam. This information can be used to conduct real time countermeasures and/or may be communicated to a control station. Some embodiments may also include a device that includes a photo detector and a m mask ask. The mask may include a plurality of line and/or circular apertures. Some of the apertures may be located on the mask to activate pixels in the top and/or bottom of the photo detector when illuminated from a zero angle (zenith). Embodiments of the invention also include methods that perform a number of related functions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laser beam detector comprising:
 a sensor comprising a plurality of pixels;   a mask comprising a plurality of apertures that when laser light is incident on the mask a plurality of pixels are activated on the sensor, wherein the mask is disposed relative to the sensor with a gap between portions of the mask and the sensor; and   a control communicatively coupled with the sensor and configured to determine the incident angle of light incident on the sensor through apertures in the mask.   
     
     
         2 . The laser beam detector according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in a rectangular array having a first row and a last row, and wherein the controller scans the first and last row of the sensor for activated pixels. 
     
     
         3 . The laser beam detector according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of apertures are coupled together. 
     
     
         4 . The laser beam detector according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of apertures comprise a “K” shape. 
     
     
         5 . The laser beam detector according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the apertures comprise circular apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The laser beam detector according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two apertures are line apertures and disposed on the mask such that when the mask and sensor are illuminated by a laser beam from the zenith pixels along the first row and the last row of the sensor are activated.