Systems and methods for optical sensor protection

An optical sensor protection system, comprising:

• a sensor for receiving an incoming optical signal;
• a passive sensing and modulation component forming an integrated sensing and modulation (ISM) component configured to sense when a first characteristic is associated with the incoming optical signal is present that adversely affects operation of the sensor, and redirects at least a portion of the incoming optical signal thereof away from the sensor to thus reduce an intensity of the incoming optical signal reaching the sensor, the sensor being located on an image plane downstream of the ISM component, relative to a path of travel of the incoming optical signal;
• and
• an active sensing and modulation subsystem forming a decoupled spatial modulator (DSM) subsystem located upstream of the ISM component relative to the path of travel of the incoming optical signal and upstream of the sensor, and further being located on a conjugate image plane of the sensor;
• the DSM subsystem including:
• a trigger imager sensing component having a plurality of pixels for receiving the redirected portion of the incoming optical signal and sensing which ones of said pixels correspond to the redirected portion of the incoming optical signal;
• an arrayed image switch (AIS) having a plurality of independently controllable elements for modulating portions of the incoming optical signal, and where the pixels of the trigger imager are mapped to ones of the elements;
• and
• a first feedback loop connecting an output of the trigger imager to an input of the AIS to enable the trigger imager to inform the AIS which one or more of the independently controllable elements needs to be activated to respond to the redirected portion of the incoming optical signal.

A method of monitoring an incoming optical signal being imaged by a sensor, the method comprising:

• using a passive sensing and modulation component to sense when a first characteristic associated with the incoming optical signal is present that adversely affects operation of the sensor;
• when the first characteristic associated with the incoming optical signal is present, using the passive sensing and modulation component to redirect at least a portion of the incoming optical signal thereof away from the sensor to thus reduce an intensity of the incoming optical signal reaching the sensor, the sensor being located on an image plane downstream of the passive modulation and sensing component, relative to a path of travel of the incoming optical signal;
• and
• using an active sensing and modulation subsystem, located upstream of the passive sensing and modulation component relative to a direction of travel of the incoming optical signal, and on a conjugate image plane of the sensor, to receive and use the redirected portion of the incoming optical signal as a first feedback signal to help modify the incoming optical signal as needed to reduce a risk of damage to the passive sensing and modulation component as a result of a presence of the first characteristic.