Patent ID: 8569684

Claim:
An infrared imaging system comprising: a focal plane array with a plurality of pixels; a processor operable at least in part to calculate a bucket fill level for the focal plane array; memory including a set of non-uniform correction tables, each table with: correction factor values including a gain and an offset; and index values unique to the table including a temperature, an integration time and a bucket fill level; means for determining the ambient temperature of a scene; and a calibration paddle; where: a non-uniform correction table is selected from memory and the correction factor values applied to the plurality of pixels minimizes temporal and fixed noise levels; and correction factor values are determined at least in part by: selecting three parameters of an index including at least two parameters selected from the parameter group of integration time, bucket fill level, and paddle temperature; selecting a first set of values for parameters of the index; configuring the infrared imaging system with the first set of parameter values; projecting a first calibration paddle image on the focal plane array and acquiring one or more images as a first set of images; selecting a second set of values for parameters of the index; configuring the infrared imaging system with the second set of parameter values; projecting a second calibration paddle image on the focal plane array and acquiring one or more images as a second set of images; and calculating gain and offset values for a pixel from a first linear equation derived from the first set of images and a second linear equation derived from the second set of images.