SBIR Phase I: Non-Disruptive Radiometric Calibration of Array Sensors

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目提出了将一种新的辐射精确非均匀性校正（NUC）算法与无线红外传感器技术相结合的可行性。由于非晶硅非冷却技术的低成本伴随着确定的固定模式噪声（FPN），因此所提出的NUC能力是一种使能技术，旨在将可负担得起的非冷却传感器的性能提升到与昂贵的冷却传感器竞争的水平。除了其令人印象深刻的计算效率，提出的NUC算法具有独特的特点，它保持辐射精度，而不影响传感器的连续操作能力。在本项目中，将启动一项全面的研究，以优化上述微测热计传感器的非传感器和近传感器操作模式所提出的NUC算法。将开发数字和硬件原型来实现该算法。由于能够消除校准死区和FPN，系统的可靠性将大大提高。由于探测器中的FPN，目前探测器市场的多样化受到限制。如果通过某种方式可以消除FPN，那么非冷却的具有成本效益的微辐射热计探测器可以应用于冷却高性能探测器占主导地位的市场，例如预测性和预防性维护和监控应用。此外，存在一种具有成本效益的非冷却探测器，可以集成到手电筒等较小的包装中，并可以提供给流动安全部队，政府特工和执法官员。

This Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to establish the feasibility of merging a novel radiometrically-accurate nonuniformity correction (NUC) algorithm with the wireless infrared-sensor technology. As the low cost of uncooled amorphous-Si technology is accompanied with substantiated fixed-pattern noise (FPN), the proposed NUC capability is an enabling technology sought to elevate the performance of the affordable uncooled sensors to a level competitive with that of the costly cooled sensors. In addition to its impressive computational efficiency, the proposed NUC algorithm has the unique feature that it maintains radiometric accuracy without compromising the continuous operation capability of the sensor. In this project, a comprehensive study will be launched to optimize the proposed NUC algorithm for both on-sensor and near-sensor modes of operation in microbolometer sensors described above. Prototype digital and hardware will be developed to implement the algorithm. With the ability to remove the calibration dead time and the FPN, the system reliability will be increased dramatically. The diversification of the market for the detectors is currently limited because of the FPN in the detector. If, by some means, the FPN can be eliminated, the uncooled cost-effective microbolometer detector can be applied to markets where cooled high performance detectors dominate, such as predictive and preventative maintenance and surveillance applications. In addition, the existence of a cost-effective uncooled detector can be integrated into smaller packages such as flashlights and can be provided to mobile security forces, government special agents and law enforcement officials.