Currently, no infrared scene projector technology has the ability to completely simulate the real-world, high dynamic range temperatures encountered by modern infrared imagers. This paper presents the merging of two infrared scene technologies in an effort to develop the first truly high dynamic range infrared scene projector. The observed dynamic range capability simulates 250 Kelvin apparent background temperature to 1273 Kelvin maximum apparent temperature. The research combines the technologies of an emissive resistor array device and an optically scanned quantum well diode laser array projector. The high apparent temperature simulations are the direct result of luminescent infrared radiation emitted by the diode lasers. The simulation of low background apparent temperatures was obtained by enclosing the entire projector system in an environmental chamber operating at -40 °Celsius. The apparent temperature of the hybrid infrared scene projector was analytically calculated and compared to the measured results. Sample imagery from the high dynamic range infrared scene projector is furnished in the conclusion along with the final applicability of the hybrid approach.

Date Published: 30 April 2007
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 6544, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing XII, 654409 (30 April 2007); doi: 10.1117/12.725632

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6544:
Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing XII
Robert Lee Murrer Jr., Editor(s)