Nonuniformity correction algorithm with efficient pixel offset estimation for infrared focal plane arrays.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Infrared Technology
• Image Processing

Background:

• Infrared focal plane arrays (IRFPAs) suffer from response nonuniformity.
• Nonuniformity correction (NUC) is crucial for accurate thermal imaging.
• Existing NUC methods can be complex for hardware implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, hardware-implementable NUC algorithm for IRFPAs.
• To address pixel offset temporal drift and optics shading effects.
• To enhance the performance of microbolometer IRFPAs.

Main Methods:

• A linear correction scheme with efficient pixel offset coefficient updates.
• Utilizing pixel response changes under actual operating conditions.
• Employing a shutter mechanism for temporal drift compensation.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated effective compensation for pixel offset temporal drift.
• Successfully removed optics shading effects from output images.
• Presented test results validating the algorithm's efficiency on microbolometer IRFPAs.

Conclusions:

• The proposed NUC algorithm is suitable for hardware implementation.
• It offers a robust solution for IRFPA nonuniformity correction.
• The method improves the quality and accuracy of thermal images.