Novel real-time nonuniformity correction solution for infrared focal plane arrays based on S-curve model

Abstract

Detectors of infrared focal plane arrays are, in the nature of their photoresponse, nonuniform. Response curves are nonlinear. In view of this, a novel nonuniformity correction algorithm based on the S-curve nonlinear response model and its simplified correction algorithm is proposed. The algorithm is an essential calibration and interpolation correction based on an analytical formula. It requires calibrating in advance, but possesses higher correction precision and wider applicative response range, which is particularly applicable to uncooled infrared focal plane arrays. Borrowing ideas from look-up tables, a real-time hardware correction system, which provides an experimental platform for contrasting different algorithms, is expounded. Experimental results validate that the proposed S-curve model-based algorithm does much better than the two-point correction algorithm and the simplified S-curve model-based correction algorithm.