US Patent 7095026 Methods and apparatuses for selectively limiting undesired radiation

An apparatus for selectively limiting undesired radiation from a scene which, in one embodiment, includes an optic that is operative to attenuate radiation by selectively losing transparency in response to radiation within a first wavelength band from a source. The loss of transparency affects the passage through the optic of radiation within a second wavelength band from that source. The optic can be positioned between a sensor and the scene such that the sensor is configured to receive radiation from the scene through the optic. In one embodiment, an optical limiter includes a plurality of such optics, wherein the optical limiter is configured to facilitate transmission of light corresponding to a scene, and wherein each optic is configured to receive a respective portion of the light corresponding to a respective portion of the scene. A light detector assembly and a method of limiting light energy are also included.