System and method for detecting a bright spot
OwnerVincent NOGUIER, Martin SCHWEITZER-CHAPUTinventors
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Abstract
A method is provided for detecting a light spot (T) formed by a laser pulse delivered by a laser source (10) on a target surface (S), the target surface being situated in an environment delivering a substantially static luminous flux. The method includes at least one sensor (30) with pixels operating in photovoltaic mode observing the surface, and synchronizing the end of the exposure, to within a delay, with the laser pulse, leading to a response of the sensor which is substantially linear to the pulse and logarithmic with regard to the substantially static luminous flux.
Claims19
A method for detecting a light spot formed by a laser pulse delivered by a laser source on a target surface, the target surface being situated in an environment delivering a substantially static luminous flux, this method comprising:
- at least one sensor with pixels operating in photovoltaic mode observing the surface, and
- either synchronizing the end of the exposure, to within a delay, with the laser pulse, the exposure time in the absence of a laser pulse being higher than or equal to 1 ms,
- or acquiring images at a high frequency,
- wherein the synchronization or high-frequency readout leading to a response of the sensor which is substantially linear to the pulse and logarithmic with regard to the substantially static luminous flux, said frequency being chosen to obtain said response.
A system for detecting a light spot formed by a laser pulse from a laser source in a scene delivering a substantially static luminous flux, comprising
- at least one sensor with pixels operating in photovoltaic mode, and
- a circuit for synchronizing the end of the exposure of the sensor, to within a delay, with the laser pulse,
- wherein the exposure duration being greater than or equal to 1 ms, or a pixel readout circuit at a high acquisition frequency, the synchronization circuit or the acquisition frequency leading to a response of the sensor which is substantially linear to the pulse and logarithmic with regard to the static flux from the scene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.