Patent attributes
A sensor for determining a component of a location of a radiation source within a three dimensional volume includes a mask having a series of openings that has a predetermined mathematical relationship among the openings within the series of openings and defines a mask reference line; a detector surface spaced from the mask where radiation passing through the mask creates a mask image on the detector surface having a series of peaks and an image reference line within the mask image that can be located and where at least 50% of the mask image is projected onto the detection surface; and a calculating unit to determine a location of the image reference line within the mask image and the component of the location of the radiation source from the calculated location of the image reference line within the mask image. A method and system for using this sensor are also disclosed.