Advancing the performance of extended area blackbody sources in order to stay ahead of the IR camera improvements

Stephen Scopatz; Catherine Barrat

doi:10.1117/12.2519146

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20 June 2019 Advancing the performance of extended area blackbody sources in order to stay ahead of the IR camera improvements

Stephen Scopatz, Catherine Barrat

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Proceedings Volume 11001, Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XXX; 110010V (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2519146
Event: SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing, 2019, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

This paper discusses the improved capabilities developed for and results from a new generation of infrared blackbody sources. Over time infrared sensors have evolved from detectors to imagers and recently IR imagers have branched into low cost uncooled sensors and high resolution, high performing arrays. As the IR cameras get better, the performance of the test equipment needs to improve to maintain a 10:1 (goal), 4:1 (minimum) performance advantage. Two tests that rely on the stability of the extended area blackbody source are Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference (NETD) and Minimum Resolvable Temperature Difference (MRTD). The current state of the art for NETD for a cooled camera is <18 mK and commercially available BB’s are stable to 2 mK; less than the desired 10:1 ratio. This paper presents a three-pronged approach to improving the performance of the blackbody resulting in a greater than 4 x improvement in the blackbody’s stability. Data will be presented over typical testing temperature range of 5°C to 150°C. Additional improved performance parameters will be discussed including faster temperature transition.

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Stephen Scopatz and Catherine Barrat "Advancing the performance of extended area blackbody sources in order to stay ahead of the IR camera improvements", Proc. SPIE 11001, Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XXX, 110010V (20 June 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2519146

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