Method and apparatus for calibrating an imaging sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging sensor for scanning a thermal image comprising:
- a first set of elemental detectors operable to receive a portion of said thermal image during a first portion of a calibration cycle;
a second set of elemental detectors operable to receive said portion of said thermal image during a second portion of said calibration cycle; and
means for calibrating said first and second sets of elemental detectors by directly comparing the outputs of said first set of elemental detectors during said first portion of said calibration cycle with the outputs of said second set of elemental detectors during said second portion of said calibration cycle so that the relative responses between said first and second plurality of elemental detectors may be determined.
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Abstract
An imaging sensor for scanning a thermal image is disclosed. The imaging sensor comprises a first set of elemental detectors operable to receive a thermal image during a first portion of the calibration cycle. A second set of elemental detector is provided which are operable to receive the image during a second portion of the calibration cycle. Means are provided for calibrating the first and second sets of elemental detectors by comparing the output of the first set of elemental detectors during the first portion of the calibration cycle with the outputs of the second set of elemental detectors during the second portion of the calibration cycle.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An imaging sensor for scanning a thermal image comprising:
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a first set of elemental detectors operable to receive a portion of said thermal image during a first portion of a calibration cycle; a second set of elemental detectors operable to receive said portion of said thermal image during a second portion of said calibration cycle; and means for calibrating said first and second sets of elemental detectors by directly comparing the outputs of said first set of elemental detectors during said first portion of said calibration cycle with the outputs of said second set of elemental detectors during said second portion of said calibration cycle so that the relative responses between said first and second plurality of elemental detectors may be determined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for calibrating a device for detecting a thermal image, said device comprising first and second sets of elemental detectors, said method comprising the steps of:
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focusing a predetermined portion of said thermal image on a first elemental detector in said first set of elemental detectors, the thermal radiation distribution of said predetermined portion of said thermal image being nonuniform; measuring the outputs of said first set of elemental detectors; focusing said predetermined portion of said thermal image on a second elemental detector in said second set of elemental detectors; measuring the outputs of said second set of elemental detectors; and compensating for variations in the electrical characteristics between said first and second sets of elemental detectors by comparing the outputs of said first and second sets of elemental detectors. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of calibrating a staring detector array during a calibration cycle without using a thermal reference source, said staring detector array having first and second sets of elemental detectors, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a thermal image during said calibration cycle, said thermal image having a substantially constant distribution of infrared radiation during said calibration cycle; sequentially displacing said thermal image on said staring detector array according to a predetermined pattern during said calibration cycle; and calibrating said elemental detectors by comparing the outputs of a first set of elemental detectors during a first portion of said calibration cycle with the outputs of a second set of elemental detectors during a second portion of said calibration cycle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification