Abstract
When detecting a target over the diurnal cycle, a conventional infrared thermal sensor might lose the target due to the thermal crossover, which could happen at any time throughout the day when the infrared image contrast between target and background in a scene is indistinguishable due to the temperature variation. In this paper, the benefits of using a multispectral-based infrared sensor over the diurnal cycle have been shown. Firstly, a brief theoretical analysis on how the thermal crossover influences a conventional thermal sensor, within the conditions where the thermal crossover would happen and why the mid-infrared (3~5 μm) multispectral technology is effective, is presented. Furthermore, the effectiveness of this technology is also described and we describe how the prototype design and multispectral technology is employed to help solve the thermal crossover detection problem. Thirdly, several targets are set up outside and imaged in the field experiment over a 24-h period. The experimental results show that the multispectral infrared imaging system can enhance the contrast of the detected images and effectively solve the failure of the conventional infrared sensor during the diurnal cycle, which is of great significance for infrared surveillance applications.
Highlights
(3~5 μm) sensor, the results are generally affected by thermal crossover, where the infrared image contrast from the target and the background is difficult to discriminate from each other as the target would have integrated with the background and the radiation difference between the target and background was too low to be sensed by the infrared thermal sensor
As their work mainly focused on polarimetric detection experiments, what the pictures are when the target integrated with the background during the diurnal cycle and the theoretical analysis on how the thermal crossover influences the conventional thermal sensor and why the polarimetric technology could be used to solve the thermal crossover detection problem was not mentioned
Our goal is to discuss how the multispectral technology could be employed to solve the problem of thermal crossover, design a fast, compact and light infrared multispectral prototype with the known characteristic wavelengths according to the prior knowledge and conclude that multispectral technology is capable of enhancing conventional thermal imaging
Summary
Infrared imaging detection systems are becoming more prevalent in numerous fields, including remote sensing [1], medical monitoring [2], military surveillance [3], and scientific research [4,5].These systems offer major advantages over visual detection systems, such as their continuous day and night imaging capabilities, especially for target detection and acquisition [6].When targets are aimed to be detected over the diurnal cycle using a conventional mid-infrared (3~5 μm) sensor, the results are generally affected by thermal crossover, where the infrared image contrast from the target and the background is difficult to discriminate from each other as the target would have integrated with the background and the radiation difference between the target and background was too low to be sensed by the infrared thermal sensor. Infrared imaging detection systems are becoming more prevalent in numerous fields, including remote sensing [1], medical monitoring [2], military surveillance [3], and scientific research [4,5]. These systems offer major advantages over visual detection systems, such as their continuous day and night imaging capabilities, especially for target detection and acquisition [6]. It is critical to solve this problem for the conventional mid-infrared thermal sensor, especially for the infrared surveillance system
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
