For laser warning without large detector size, few solutions can match the EXACTD-332 sensor from Excelitas Technologies Corp. Housed in a TO-8 package, the laser warning detector provides angle-of-arrival (AoA) resolution of ±6 deg. (in azimuth or elevation) across a spectral sensitivity range of 500 to 1650 nm. The small package contains multiple photodiodes and a precision optical system along with several reference channels that support a wide dynamic range. “We are excited to add the EXACTD-332 to our leading series of EXACTD laser warning detectors, as it delivers a unique solution that integrates all the optical sensing for laser warning with angular resolution in a TO-8 package,” said Eric Desfonds, Senior Product Line Manager at Excelitas Technologies Corp.
The EXACTD-332 (see the figure) is well suited for a variety of laser threat-detection applications, including for target designation, laser range finding, and semi-active laser (SAL) guidance systems. It features five-element Si and InGaAs detector arrays with a 3-b digital Gray code mask that converts incident laser beam AoA information to a 3-b digital pattern. Denis Boireau, Director of Business Development at Excelitas commented, “The EXACTD-332 becomes the core of high-precision circuitry enabling troops more time to deploy counter-measures, perform evasive maneuvers, or aim precisely to fight back.” Manufactured in a fully robotic assembly process, the laser-warning detector provides a ±45 deg. field of view (FOV) for both azimuth and elevation angles. It is ideal for land-based laser-warning systems as well as the most compact systems deployed in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).