Embodiments of a device and a technique are disclosed for locating the
angular position of a radiating point source with respect to a detector
comprising a point source of radiation, a variable transmissivity mask
with pseudo-random variations, a multi-element detector and computing
means for interpreting the detected image. The mask pattern, when
illuminated by a point source of radiation, casts an image on the
detector array. Computing means determine the pattern shift to allow
determination of point source angular location in two dimensions. The
mask transmissivity pattern and corresponding image vary in two
dimensions, in such a manner as to yield two correlation peaks that
indicate the incident angle in two dimensions. The differential shift and
common mode shift in correlation peaks indicate the respective angles of
incidence, allowing determination of the angular position of the light
source.