Sprite thermal imaging system with electronic zoom

摘要

A signal processing in the element (SPRITE) thermal imaging system (20) is provided which has an electronic zoom. The system has an optics and scanning assembly (24) that scans energy from a scene (26) onto an array of SPRITE detectors (28) which generate a plurality of analog signals (30) that are proportional to the flux of infrared light received by each of the SPRITE detectors (28). The optics and scanning assembly (24) scans at a rate which is based on an optics and scanning assembly timing scheme and a digital scan converter (32) processes the analog signals (30) and generates a resultant digital output (34) for image production of the scene. The digital scan converter (32) processes the analog signals based upon a digital scan converter timing scheme. A timing and control unit (40) is used for controlling synchronization and alters the timing schemes to increase resolution and sensitivity.