This paper presents the image quality issues encountered at system level when working with infrared imagers. This work highlights some characteristics that are usually not specified for off-theshelf components. The first part of this work discusses the need for short-term and long-term stability. We present a comparative study of two sensors in the MW band based on the residual fixed pattern noise and defective pixels. In the second part we present the issues of patterns defects. We conduct an experimental study on twelve persons to estimate the perception threshold of such defects within an infrared sequence.
Since 2005, the THALES Group has successfully manufactured TV/4 format QWIP sensitive arrays in high rate
production at the THALES Research and Technology Laboratory. The full-TV array manufacturing started in 2007.
Uniformity and stability were the key parameters which led to the selection of this technology for thermal cameras.
Another widely claimed advantage for QWIPs was the versatility of the band-gap engineering and of the III-V
processing allowing the custom design of quantum structures to fulfill the requirements of specific applications such as:
very long wavelength (VLWIR); multi-spectral detection; and polarimetric detection.
Serial production of CATHERINE-XP and CATHERINE-MP has now started for the various programs for which both
cameras have been selected. A review of the QWIP Production status, CATHERINE achievements and current programs
are presented. THALES has based its current strategy on very compact TI in order to address the largest range of
platforms and applications, and is working in cooperation with Sofradir and TRT / III-Vlab on the evolution of the
product to take advantage of the new capabilities offered by QWIP technology. In addition, future products based on
dual band, multi-band and polarimetric imagery are under development. An overview of these developments is presented.
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