Patent ID: 6324308
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An imaging system, comprising:a detector array having a plurality (N) of infrared detectors, arranged in rows and columns, each detector generating a non-corrected data value (Y.sub.j), with each detector receiving an infrared signal and responsive thereto generates an electrical signal representative of the infrared signal;a non-uniformity correction module, coupled to the detector array, for receiving the non-corrected data values for each detector and for correcting errors in the non-corrected data values, said non-uniformity correction module having a first input for receiving the non-corrected data values, a second input for receiving one or more fitting coefficients (a.sub.ij), and a third input for receiving a correction order (n), and based thereupon, generating a plurality of corrected data values (Y.sub.j.sup.c) corresponding to the received non-corrected data values; wherein the corrected values are related to the non-corrected data values, the fitting coefficients, and the correction order by the following relationship: ##EQU7##where (i=0, 1, . . . , n) and (j=1, 2, . . . , N); anda signal processing module interposed between the detector array and the non-uniformity correction module, said signal processing module including:a pre-amplifier coupled to the detector array for receiving non-corrected data values and for performing pre-amplification on the received non-corrected data values and generating pre-amplified values;a level shifter coupled to the pre-amplifier for performing level shifting on the pre-amplified values and generating level-shifted values; andan analog to digital converter coupled to the level shifter for converting the level-shifted values into a corresponding digital signal that is provided to the non-uniformity correction module as the non-corrected data values.