Microdisplay contributions to system level performance

Today's modeling software for infrared and fused systems ignores display performance characteristics and their impact on overall system performance. Although the implications of sensor performance and image processing with respect to system performance are well understood, the impacts of display image quality and their effects on man portable system performance are neglected in system level analysis software such as NVTherm. In addition, production test methodologies for fielded thermal systems often utilize a composite video output signal to characterize thermal camera performance but fail to characterize the impacts of display performance at room temperature and over the complete operating temperature range. This paper characterizes several key display parameters of active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCD) and organic light emitting diode (OLED) microdisplays that are in volume production for night vision application, and examine their effects on the performance of infrared and fused imaging systems. We present test data of contrast, gray scale rendition and fixed-pattern noise of these displays over ranges of luminance and temperature, evaluating the impacts on system level Minimum Resolvable Temperature (MRT). We conclude that the performance of thermal and fused systems can be significantly degraded based upon the display technology implemented and the system impacts of display performance can no longer be ignored by the community at large. The data indicates that modeling software such as NVTherm should be upgraded to include display performance parameters and their impacts on overall system level performance.