Full spectrum optical safeguard
View Patent ↗An optical safeguard device with two linear variable Fabry-Perot filters aligned relative to a light source with at least one of the filters having a nonlinear dielectric constant material such that, when a light source produces a sufficiently high intensity light, the light alters the characteristics of the nonlinear dielectric constant material to reduce the intensity of light impacting a connected optical sensor. The device can be incorporated into an imaging system on a moving platform, such as an aircraft or satellite.
1. An optical safeguard device, comprising:
a first linear variable Fabry-Perot filter aligned approximately parallel to a second linear variable Fabry-Perot filter, at least one of said filters comprising a nonlinear dielectric constant material said nonlinear dielectric constant material being thicker at one end of the material than the other end; and
an optical sensor aligned to directly receive light transmitted through said second filter, thereby providing optical limiting of said transmitted light.
2. The optical safeguard device of claim 1 wherein said first fitter comprises a nonlinear dielectric constant material and said second filter comprises a linear dielectric constant material.
3. The optical safeguard device of claim 1 wherein said first filter comprises a linear dielectric constant material and said second filter comprises a nonlinear dielectric constant material.
4. The optical safeguard device of claim 1 wherein said optical sensor is a charge-coupled device.
5. The optical safeguard device of claim 1 further comprising a light source aligned to transmit light through said first linear variable Fabry-Perot filter.
6. The optical safeguard device of claim 5 wherein said light is produced from a monochromatic light source capable of a light intensity sufficient to alter the nonlinear dielectric constant material.
7. The optical safeguard device of claim 5 wherein said light is produced from a white light source capable of a light intensity sufficient to alter the nonlinear dielectric constant material.
8. The optical safeguard device of claim 1 incorporated into an imaging system on a moving platform.
9. An optical safeguard device, comprising:
a tight source capable of producing a high-intensity white light;
a first linear variable Fabry-Perot filter aligned approximately orthogonal to said white light, said first linear variable Fabry-Perot filter comprising a nonlinear dielectric constant material said nonlinear dielectric constant material being thicker at one end of the material than the other end;
a second linear variable Fabry-Perot filter aligned approximately parallel to said first linear variable Fabry-Perot filter; and
an optical sensor aligned to directly receive light transmitted from said second linear variable Fabry-Perot filter, thereby providing optical limiting of said transmitted light.
10. The optical safeguard device of claim 9 wherein said optical sensor is a charge coupled device.