Self-Powered High Energy Laser Detectors Via Thermoelectric Generators

The prompt and accurate detection of laser strikes is increasingly important to the survivability of military assets in modern warfare as offensive and defensive laser weapon systems have become more widely implemented. Current laser detection systems on military assets can compromise an asset's low observability features. This paper presents an addressed detection system based on an array of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) that can be integrated into the skin of an asset. An irradiated TEG harvests the incident energy of a high energy laser (HEL) strike to power a sensor node that transmits an address, via a wireless medium, to a reader in order to indicate which TEG within the array is being irradiated. The wireless sensor node consists of an ultralow voltage step-up converter and microcontroller and a low power RF link.