Ultimate sensitivity of thermal imagers and informativeness of electronic-vision systems

Igor I. Taubkin; Mikhail A. Trishenkov

doi:10.1117/12.496302

10 October 2001 Ultimate sensitivity of thermal imagers and informativeness of electronic-vision systems

Igor I. Taubkin, Mikhail A. Trishenkov

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4369, Infrared Technology and Applications XXVII; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.496302
Event: Aerospace/Defense Sensing, Simulation, and Controls, 2001, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Main results of theoretical studies of maximum (limited by background fluctuations) temperature sensitivity of thermal imagers and information capacity of electronic-vision systems are given. Spectral dependencies of noise equivalent temperature difference for thermal imagers with quantum and thermal detectors are calculated. It is shown that by this parameter thermal imagers using the best array photodetective assemblies approach the theoretical limit. It is found that by the information (dynamic) potential and the maximum infomration capacity thermal imaging in conditions of the Earth heat balance does not yield to the day-time human vision. Maximum values of a specific information capacity of electronic-vision systems at high levels of radiation are limited by diffraction (rule "word per channel"). At low levels of radiation maximum information capacity is achieved when a number of quantums necessary for transformation of one information bit (rule of "binary channels") fall on a spatial resolution element during the frame time. Maximum information capacity of coloured electronic vision systems is proportional to the number of independent spectral channels.

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Igor I. Taubkin and Mikhail A. Trishenkov "Ultimate sensitivity of thermal imagers and informativeness of electronic-vision systems", Proc. SPIE 4369, Infrared Technology and Applications XXVII, (10 October 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.496302

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