Development of a sensor hardened against laser damage independent of wavelength by off-focus imaging

The use of lasers on the battlefield is on the rise due to the recent development of ready-to-use laser dazzlers and laser directed energy weapons. Optical camera systems are particularly vulnerable to damage from laser radiation as the incident light is typically focused onto the sensor. Although there are several methods to protect against specific wavelengths, only a few can provide protection across a broad range of wavelengths. This work describes a technique in which the sensor is positioned behind the focal plane, allowing the use of an optical limiting filter on the freed focal plane. The incident radiation is masked by a coded aperture, and the blurred image is reconstructed using computational imaging. Tests show a significant improvement in resistance to laser damage, as well as satisfactory image reconstruction.