Apparatus and method for a light direction sensor
AssigneeUSA as represented by the Admin. of the National Aeronautics and Space Admi.
InventorDouglas B. Leviton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a light direction sensor for determining the direction of a light source. The system includes an image sensor; a spacer attached to the image sensor, and a pattern mask attached to said spacer. The pattern mask has a slit pattern that as light passes through the slit pattern it casts a diffraction pattern onto the image sensor. The method operates by receiving a beam of light onto a patterned mask, wherein the patterned mask as a plurality of a slit segments. Then, diffusing the beam of light onto an image sensor and determining the direction of the light source.
Claims15
A light direction sensor, comprising:
- a image sensor;
- a spacer attached to said image sensor;
- and
- a pattern mask having a plurality of slits, and is attached to said spacer, wherein said pattern mask has a slit pattern that as light passes through the slit pattern the light casts a diffraction pattern onto the image sensor.
A method for determining the direction of a light source, comprising:
- receiving a beam of light onto a patterned mask, wherein said patterned mask as a plurality of a slit segments;
- diffusing the beam of light onto a image sensor;
- and
- determining the direction of the light source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.