Laser countermeasure system and method

A method for providing counter-measures against a laser attack on a sensor system having an optical path between an entrance and an output comprising the steps of:

• detecting incident radiation including coherent radiation in said optical path and automatically interposing a means for preventing or attenuating the further passage of said coherent radiation to said output;
• identifying the spectral components of said coherent radiation by receiving a portion of said incident radiation, dispersing said coherent radiation into one or more components, and detecting said components of said coherent radiation;
• in response to the detection of components of coherent radiation in said identifying step, automatically selecting a filter band or frequency to eliminate or substantially attenuate the coherent radiation and automatically interposing into the path a filter having such filter band or frequency;
• and
• after said interposing step, restoring the optical path to permit passage of radiation from said entrance to said output.

A system to provide counter-measures against laser attack against a sensor system having an optical path between an entrance and an output comprising:

• a trigger device located along said optical path, said trigger device being responsive to coherent radiation to block or substantially attenuate the passage of such coherent radiation beyond said trigger device to said output;
• a threat analyzer coupled to receive incident radiation including means for identifying the spectral components thereof;
• an automatic adjustment system responsively coupled to said threat analyzer;
• a controllable filter device interposed in said optical path between said entrance and said trigger device, said controllable filter device being responsively coupled to said adjustment system.

An automatic system for providing countermeasures against laser attack of a sensor system which includes an entrance and an output having an optical path therebetween, the system comprising:

• a trigger device along said optical path, said trigger device including means for automatically blocking the passage of coherent radiation therethrough;
• a threat analyzer including a means for dispersing radiation into spectral components and a means for detecting said spectral components;
• a controllable filter device interposed in said optical path between said entrance and said trigger device;
• an adjustment system responsively coupled to said threat analyzer and controllingly coupled to said filter device, whereby when coherent radiation passes through said entrance, said trigger is activated to prevent the passage of coherent radiation to the output, the radiation is analyzed, and an appropriate filter is interposed along said optical path so that said optical path can be restored to operation free of danger from said coherent radiation.