Non-uniformity correction method and apparatus for imaging systems

An imaging system comprising:

• a detector array having a plurality (N) of detectors, arranged in rows and columns, each detector generating a non-corrected data value (Yj);
• and
• a non-uniformity correction module, coupled to the detector array, for receiving the non-corrected data values for each detector and for correcting errors in the non-corrected data values, said non-uniformity correction module having a first input for receiving the non-corrected data values, a second input for receiving one or more fitting coefficients (aij), and a third input for receiving a correction order (n), and based thereupon, generating a plurality of corrected data values (Yjc) corresponding to the received non-corrected data values;
• wherein the corrected values are related to the non-corrected data values, the fitting coefficients, and the correction order by the following relationship:
• Y j c = Y j - ∑ i = 0 n ⁢ a ij ⁢ Y j i ,
• where (i=0, 1, . . . , n) and (j=1, 2, . . . , N);
• wherein for a correction order of n, there are n+1 fitting coefficients for each detector where n is greater than or equal to zero;
• and
• wherein the fitting coefficients are derived from pre-selected points on a temperature versus electrical signal curve.

An imaging system comprising:

• a) a detector array having a plurality (N) of detectors, arranged in rows and columns, each detector generating a non-corrected data value (Yj);
• b) a non-uniformity correction module having a first input for receiving the non-corrected data values, a second input for receiving one or more correction parameters, and based thereupon, generating a plurality of corrected data values (Yjc) corresponding to the received non-corrected data values, said non-uniformity correction module including:
• a first multiplier having a first input for receiving a first correction parameter and a second input for receiving the non-corrected data value, and based thereon, generating a first product of the first correction parameter and the non-corrected data value;
• a second multiplier having a first input for receiving the non-corrected data value and a second input for receiving the non-corrected data value, and based thereon, generating a second product of the non-corrected data value and the non-corrected data value;
• a third multiplier having a first input for receiving a second correction parameter and a second input coupled to the second multiplier for receiving the second product, and based thereon, generating a third product of the second correction parameter and the second product;
• a first adder having a first input for receiving a third correction paramenter, a second input coupled to the first multiplier for receiving the first product, and based thereon for generating a first sum;
• and
• a second adder having a first input coupled to the first adder for receiving the first sum, a second input coupled to the third multiplier for receiving the third product, and based thereon for generating a second sum which is the corrected data value.