Patent ID: 11892347
Assignee: RAM PHOTONICS INDUSTRIAL, LLC
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 10:
11. A laser beam detector comprising:
a controller comprising a processor and a memory;
a thermoelectric cooler comprising a hot side and a cold side, the thermoelectric cooler being operable to receive a series of electrical signals from the controller;
a heat spreader comprising a cooling surface and in thermal communication with the thermoelectric cooler; and
a temperature-sensitive structure in thermal communication with the heat spreader and configured to receive a laser beam, the temperature-sensitive structure comprising a plurality of thermochromic liquid crystal films, wherein each of the plurality of thermochromic liquid crystal films is characterized by a corresponding operating temperature band, and wherein:
a region of local heating is produced on the temperature-sensitive structure in response to receiving the laser beam; and
the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to:
generate the series of electrical signals;
cause the thermoelectric cooler to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side; and
maintain temperatures of the region within the corresponding operating temperature band of at least one of the plurality of thermochromic liquid crystal films.