Visibility model for minimum resolvable temperature difference prediction

Ronald J. Pieper; Alfred W. Cooper

doi:10.1117/12.180077

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8 July 1994 Visibility model for minimum resolvable temperature difference prediction

Ronald J. Pieper, Alfred W. Cooper

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Proceedings Volume 2224, Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing V; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.180077
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1994, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

We present a new model for predicting the minimum resolvable temperature difference (MRTD) curve of thermal imaging systems. The analysis for the new model concentrates on contrast reduction due to spatial frequency limiting factors of subsystem components. Curves have been generated for this model for a system with typical component values. These results are compared with curves generated from the NVL's static performance model. The proposed visibility model leads to a relatively simpler development for a MRTD predictor which can readily account for artifacts due to a nonzero system phase transfer function. In addition the visibility model makes no assumptions regarding the recognition process and therefore is adaptable to the goal of modeling an objective MRTD measurement. The visibility model agrees with the static performance model except at very low and very high spatial frequencies where the proposed model appears to be in better agreement with observed trends in measured MRTDs.

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Ronald J. Pieper and Alfred W. Cooper "Visibility model for minimum resolvable temperature difference prediction", Proc. SPIE 2224, Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing V, (8 July 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.180077

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