Simulation and comparison of infrared sensors for automotive applications

Thomas J. Meitzler; Eui Jung Sohn; Robert E. Karlsen; Grant R. Gerhart; Sridhar Lakshmanan

doi:10.1117/12.210065

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22 May 1995 Simulation and comparison of infrared sensors for automotive applications

Thomas J. Meitzler, Eui Jung Sohn, Robert E. Karlsen, Grant R. Gerhart, Sridhar Lakshmanan

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Proceedings Volume 2470, Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing VI; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.210065
Event: SPIE's 1995 Symposium on OE/Aerospace Sensing and Dual Use Photonics, 1995, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

This paper presents a simulation and comparison of two different infrared (IR) imaging systems in terms of their use in automotive collision avoidance and vision enhancement applications. The first half of this study concerns the simulations of a `cooled' shortwave focal plane array infrared imaging system, and an `uncooled' focal plane array infrared imaging system. This is done using the United States Army's Tank-Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center's (TARDEC) thermal image model -- (TTIM). Visual images of automobiles as seen through a forward looking infrared sensor are generated, by using TTIM, under a variety of viewing range and rain conditions. The second half of the study focuses on a comparison between the two simulated sensors. This comparison is undertaken from the standpoint of the ability of a human observer to detect potential (collision) targets, when looking through the two different sensors. A measure of the target's detectability is derived for each sensor by using the TARDEC's visual model (TVM). The authors found the uncooled pyroelectric FPA to give excellent imagery and, combined with the advantages of the 7.5 - 13.5 band in the atmosphere and the higher blackbody exitance in the 7.5 - 13.5 band, the 7.5 - 13.5 uncooled sensor is therefore the better choice for imaging through numerous atmospheric conditions compared to the 3.4 - 5.5 cooled sensor.

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Thomas J. Meitzler, Eui Jung Sohn, Robert E. Karlsen, Grant R. Gerhart, and Sridhar Lakshmanan "Simulation and comparison of infrared sensors for automotive applications", Proc. SPIE 2470, Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing VI, (22 May 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.210065

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