OPTICAL POWER LIMITING AND SWITCHING COMBINED DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR PROTECTING IMAGING AND NON-IMAGING SENSORS

摘要

An optical power limiting and switching device comprises at least one plate made of transparent dielectric material, and a thin limiting solid mixture coated on one side of the plate. Upon being exposed to an optical power beam having a power level exceeding a predetermined limit power, the layer of solid mixture limits the power transmission by scattering out part of the impinging energy. When the power increases to the damage threshold, the solid mixture forms a plasma or catastrophic breakdown, damaging the solid mixture material and thereby rendering the portion of the plate surface under the impinging beam opaque to light.