Uniformity compensation for high-quantum-efficiency focal plane arrays

摘要

NSWCDD has developed a new nonuniformity correction (NUC) technique that promises to significantly reduce both fixed pattern and temporal noise in sensors using high quantum efficiency (QE) infrared (IR) staring focal plane arrays (FPA). Sensors using this technique will also have good response in every pixel. There will be no dead or anomalously noisy pixels anywhere in the field of view (FOV). This technique will also enable development of sensors with very small apertures as well as those which can dynamically trade off sensitivity, resolution and frame rate. In addition, effective yield of detector production will be enhanced, since these benefits can be obtained using arrays that would be rejected for most applications, were conventional NUC used. This technique has been demonstrated to work as claimed through non-real time post-processing of field data. A high performance, concept demonstration sensor, is being developed, with delivery planned for August 1996.