Systems, methods and computer program products for generating depth images based on short-wave infrared detection information

A system for generating a depth image of a scene based on detections of a short-wave infrared (SWIR) electrooptical imaging system (SEI system), the system comprising at least one processor configured to:

• obtain a plurality of detection signals of the SEI system, wherein each of the detection signals is indicative of amount of light captured by at least one focal plane array (FPA) of the SEI system from a specific direction within a field of view (FOV) of the SEI system over a respective detection time frame, the at least one FPA comprising a plurality of individual PSs, each PS comprising a germanium (Ge) element in which impinging photons are converted to detected electric charge, wherein for each direction of a plurality of directions within the FOV of the SEI system, different detection signals are indicative of reflected SWIR illumination levels from different distances ranges along the direction;
• and
• processing the plurality of detection signals to determine a three-dimensional (3D) detection map comprising a plurality of 3D locations in the FOV of the SEI system in which objects are detected,
• wherein the processing comprises compensating for dark current (DC) levels accumulated during the collection of the plurality of detection signals resulting from the Ge elements, and wherein the compensating comprises applying different degrees of DC compensation for detection signals detected by different PSs of the at least one FPA.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for generating a depth image of a scene based on detections of a short wave infrared (SWIR) electrooptical imaging system (SEI system), comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed on a processor, perform the steps of:

• obtaining a plurality of detection signals of the SEI system each detection signal indicative of amount of light captured by at least one FPA of the SEI system from a specific direction within a FOV of the SEI system over a respective detection time frame, the at least one FPA comprising a plurality of individual PSs, each PS comprising a germanium (Ge) element in which impinging photons are converted to detected electric charge, wherein for each direction of a plurality of directions within the FOV of the SEI system, different detection signals are indicative of reflected SWIR illumination levels from different distances ranges along the direction, and
• processing the plurality of detection signals to determine a three-dimensional (3D) detection map comprising a plurality of 3D locations in the FOV of the SEI system in which objects are detected,
• wherein the processing comprises compensating for dark current (DC) levels accumulated during the collection of the plurality of detection signals resulting from the Ge elements, and wherein the compensating comprises applying different degrees of DC compensation for detection signals detected by different PSs of the at least one FPA.