Automatic laser glare suppression in electro-optical sensors.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Safety Technology

Background:

• Advancements in laser technology yield compact, powerful sources across visible and near-infrared spectra.
• Continuous wave lasers present significant risks to human vision and electro-optical sensors due to widespread availability.
• Conventional protective filters are insufficient for the diverse wavelengths emitted by modern lasers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel protection concept for electro-optical sensors against dazzling laser radiation.
• To address the limitations of existing safety measures in handling a wide range of laser wavelengths.
• To develop a system for automatic attenuation of hazardous laser light.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a digital micromirror device (DMD) as a core component.
• Utilization of wavelength multiplexing techniques for spectral control.
• Development of a selective spectral filtering system for specific regions of interest.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of a protection concept capable of suppressing dazzling in the visible spectrum.
• Selective spectral filtering in defined regions of interest within a scene.
• The system enables automatic attenuation of intense laser radiation.

Conclusions:

• The proposed concept effectively protects electro-optical sensors from dazzling laser threats.
• The combination of DMD and wavelength multiplexing offers a versatile solution for laser safety.
• This approach provides a pathway towards adaptive and automatic laser hazard mitigation.