Enhanced LWIR NUC using an uncooled microbolometer camera

Joe LaVeigne; Greg Franks; Kevin Sparkman; Marcus Prewarski; Brian Nehring

doi:10.1117/12.901620

13 May 2011 Enhanced LWIR NUC using an uncooled microbolometer camera

Joe LaVeigne, Greg Franks, Kevin Sparkman, Marcus Prewarski, Brian Nehring

Proceedings Volume 8015, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop XVI; 801508 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.901620
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Performing a good non-uniformity correction is a key part of achieving optimal performance from an infrared scene projector, and the best NUC is performed in the band of interest for the sensor being tested. While cooled, large format MWIR cameras are readily available and have been successfully used to perform NUC, similar cooled, large format LWIR cameras are not as common and are prohibitively expensive. Large format uncooled cameras are far more available and affordable, but present a range of challenges in practical use for performing NUC on an IRSP. Some of these challenges were discussed in a previous paper. In this discussion, we report results from a continuing development program to use a microbolometer camera to perform LWIR NUC on an IRSP. Camera instability and temporal response and thermal resolution were the main problems, and have been solved by the implementation of several compensation strategies as well as hardware used to stabilize the camera. In addition, other processes have been developed to allow iterative improvement as well as supporting changes of the post-NUC lookup table without requiring re-collection of the pre-NUC data with the new LUT in use.

Citation Download Citation

Joe LaVeigne, Greg Franks, Kevin Sparkman, Marcus Prewarski, and Brian Nehring "Enhanced LWIR NUC using an uncooled microbolometer camera", Proc. SPIE 8015, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop XVI, 801508 (13 May 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.901620

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available