Performance Model of Thermal Imaging System (TISs) which Includes the HumanObserver's Response to 'State of the Art' Displays

摘要

This paper presents a model for predicting the performance of thermal imagingsystems (TISs). This model combines conventional modeling relationships and recently reported characteristics of display monitors to determine the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) out of the TIS. Also included are the results of psychophysical experiments which evaluated the capability of a human observer to detect the presence of an object displayed on the same monitor. The model is then used to determine the noise equivalent temperature difference (NEdeltaT) based on background photon noise limited (BLIP) operating conditions of the TIS. Finally, the minimum detectable temperature difference (MDT) in the scene is determined from the maximum signal-to-noise ratio of the monitor.