INFRARED SPATIAL MODULATOR FOR SCENE-BASED NON-UNIFORMITY IMAGE CORRECTION AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS RELATED THERETO
First Claim
1. A system for navigating an object having a flight path comprising:
- an infrared sensor having an optical path;
an infrared modulator in the optical path of the infrared sensor, wherein the infrared modulator is configured to allow the infrared sensor to perform in situ, scene-based non-uniformity correction; and
a guidance system within the object, wherein the guidance system can adjust the flight path of the object based on the non-uniformity correction.
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Abstract
Embodiments of an infrared spectral modulator for scene-based non-uniformity image correction are generally disclosed herein. The spectral modulator may be suitable for use in a system for navigating an object having a flight path comprising an infrared sensor having an optical path; an infrared modulator in the optical path of the infrared sensor, wherein the infrared modulator is configured to allow the infrared sensor to perform in situ, real-time, scene-based non-uniformity correction; and a guidance system within the object, wherein the guidance system can adjust the flight path of the object based on the non-uniformity correction.
42 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for navigating an object having a flight path comprising:
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an infrared sensor having an optical path; an infrared modulator in the optical path of the infrared sensor, wherein the infrared modulator is configured to allow the infrared sensor to perform in situ, scene-based non-uniformity correction; and a guidance system within the object, wherein the guidance system can adjust the flight path of the object based on the non-uniformity correction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for navigating an object comprising:
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providing an infrared sensor having an optical path; with an infrared modulator in the optical path of the infrared sensor, allowing the infrared sensor to perform, in situ, scene-based non-uniformity correction of a scene; and adjusting a flight path of the object based on the non-uniformity correction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of navigating an object comprising:
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with an onboard spatial infrared modulator, applying a non-uniform correction to an infrared sensor, the non-uniform correction comprising; with a video device, obtaining a first video image of a first translucent scattered image of a scene having a target equivalent temperature, the scene containing a target blackbody object, a first equivalent blackbody object, and a second equivalent blackbody object, wherein the first equivalent blackbody object has a first intensity associated with a first equivalent temperature; processing the first video image in the infrared sensor, wherein the infrared sensor provides a first intensity signal to a calculating device; obtaining a second video image of a second translucent scattered image of the scene, wherein the second equivalent blackbody object has a second intensity associated with a second equivalent temperature; processing the second video image in the infrared sensor, wherein the infrared sensor provides a second intensity signal to the calculating device; calculating non-uniform correction terms from information in the first and second intensity signals; with the infrared modulator operating in a transparent state, obtaining a third video image of the target blackbody object, the target blackbody object having a target blackbody intensity associated with the target equivalent temperature; processing the third video image in the infrared sensor, wherein the infrared sensor provides a scene intensity signal to the calculating device; and performing signal processing using the scene intensity signal and the non-uniform correction terms to produce a spatially corrected uniform image. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A guided projectile comprising:
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a housing; an infrared modulator within the housing, wherein the infrared modulator is located between an infrared sensor and an infrared optical element, wherein the infrared modulator is configured to allow the infrared sensor to perform in situ scene-based non-uniformity correction; and a guidance system within the casing, wherein the guidance system navigates the guided projectile based on the non-uniformity correction. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. An infrared modulator comprising:
a non-uniform correction infrared (IR) spatial modulator located in an optical path of an IR sensor, wherein the IR spatial modulator is capable of transmitting and scattering variable intensities of IR radiation from a target imaged to the focal plane array (FPA) of a thermal IR sensor. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
Specification