Matrix imaging method and system using a matrix detector with a plurality of sequentially illuminated detector elements for measuring radiation of separate portions of a scene being viewed
AssigneeState of Israel-Ministry of Defense Armament Development Authority-Rafael
InventorsDoron Even-Sturlesi, Micha Oron
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Abstract
During a portion of each frame, the detector elements of a matrix detector are illuminated at the average intensity of the scene. For each detector element, the ratio of the actual average intensity of the scene to the detector element's measured value of the average intensity is used to calibrate the detector element's measured values during the rest of the frame. In a further embodiment, more accurate calibration of the detector element's measured values is provided by additionally using the slope of the detector element's calibration curve in the calibration.
Claims48
A method of viewing a scene with a detector comprising a matrix of detector elements, comprising the step of:
- sequentially illuminating the matrix of elements for first and second time periods wherein each element views a separate portion of the scene during the first time period and each element is illuminated during the second time period by a light intensity level substantially equal to the average intensity of the scene.
A detector for viewing a scene comprising:
- a matrix of detector elements;
- and
- means for sequentially illuminating the matrix of elements for first and second time periods wherein each element views a separate portion of the scene during the first time period and each element is illuminated during the second time period by a light intensity level substantially equal to the average intensity of the scene.
A detector for detecting illumination emitted by a scene, comprising:
- a. a planar matrix of detector elements, each of the detector elements providing an output value representative of the amount of light received thereby during a period of time;
- b. optics for focusing the illumination emitted by the scene onto the detector plane;
- c. a rotatable wheel located in the path of the illumination, comprising:
- a first section having optical lenses which spread the illumination emitted by the scene such that each of the detector elements is illuminated by a light intensity level substantially equal to the average intensity of the scene, and
- a second section having optics which allow the illumination emitted by the scene to pass to the detector plane without modification;
- and
- d. means for rotating the rotatable wheel.
A detector for detecting illumination emitted by a scene, comprising:
- a. a planar matrix of detector elements;
- b. optics for focusing the illumination emitted by the scene onto the detector plane;
- c. a plurality of optical sections, arranged so that the light emitted by the scene passes through only one section at a time, the sections comprising:
- a first section having optical lenses which transmit the illumination emitted by the scene such that each of the detector elements is illuminated by a light intensity level substantially equal to the average intensity of the scene, and
- a second section having optics which allow the illumination emitted by the scene to pass to the detector plane without modification;
- and
- d. means for sequentially supplying the light from the scene to the planar matrix via each of the plurality of optical sections.
A detector for detecting illumination emitted by a scene, comprising:
- a planar matrix of detector elements wherein the distance between the centers of two adjacent detector elements in the matrix is d;
- optics for focusing the illumination on the detector plane;
- means for shifting the illumination received from the scene a distance 1/2 d in a first direction;
- means for shifting the illumination received from the scene a distance 1/2 d in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
- and
- means for shifting the illumination received from the scene a distance 1/2 d in the first direction and 1/2 d in the second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.