Sampling criteria for sensor simulation

Electro-optic sensor simulation and sensor design require a common understanding of spatial sampling. As part of the development of a high fidelity sensor simulation, the U.S. Army Night Vision Electronic Sensors Directorate has developed a methodology that enables the simulation designer to minimize the spatial sampling rate of the input image based on the sensor parameters. Gabor information theory is used to define the limit imposed on the ability to simultaneously repre- sent a spatial function and its Fourier transform. This is then coupled with the necessary consequences of sampling the image to develop limits that ensure minimal error. Resolution requirements for synthetic presen- sor imagery can be developed using this formalism. These requirements are not based on the instantaneous field of view (IFOV) or on the detec- tor width alone but are based on the full sensor point spread function. © 1999 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(99)00805-3) Subject terms: sampling; simulation; uncertainty principle; information theory.