Low-power Compensation Technique For Fixed Pattern Noise In Infrared Staring Arrays

Nonscanned staring thermal imagers for portable applications have many advantages if the fixed-pattern noise caused by elemental non-uniformities can be compensated in a low-power configuration operating in real time. A novel approach to this problem has been developed using a multiple-loop fold-back technique. This technique corrects for both gain and level non-uniformities in real time and allows for either updating the stored correction data or for a permanent compensation approach. The total power consumption for this technique is less than 50 microwatts in a volume of less than 0.001 cubic inches per picture element. The modular approach makes this compensation technique applicable to arrays of all sizes in any application of staring infrared imagers.