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Evaluation of Thermal Imaging Systems

Thermal imaging sensors have undergone revolutionary advancement due to improvements in infrared detector technologies, signal processing techniques, and optical designs. This has enabled the development of high-performance, compact thermal cameras for surveillance, target acquisition, tracking, and guidance. The Instruments Research and Development Establishment in Dehradun, India has designed and developed various thermal imaging sights for military programs. The paper provides an overview of thermal imaging systems and their classifications. It also presents the features and specifications of thermal imaging systems developed by IRDE, along with images recorded during field trials.

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Manjeet Singh
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100 views1 page

Evaluation of Thermal Imaging Systems

Thermal imaging sensors have undergone revolutionary advancement due to improvements in infrared detector technologies, signal processing techniques, and optical designs. This has enabled the development of high-performance, compact thermal cameras for surveillance, target acquisition, tracking, and guidance. The Instruments Research and Development Establishment in Dehradun, India has designed and developed various thermal imaging sights for military programs. The paper provides an overview of thermal imaging systems and their classifications. It also presents the features and specifications of thermal imaging systems developed by IRDE, along with images recorded during field trials.

Uploaded by

Manjeet Singh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Defence Science Journal, Vol. 57, No. 3, May 2007, pp.

173-183
 2007, DESIDOC

REVIEW PAPER

Thermal (Infrared) Imaging Sensors

Sudhir Khare and S.S. Negi


Instruments Research & Development Establishment, Dehradun-248 008

ABSTRACT

Recent developments in improved type of infrared detector technologies focal plane arrays,
signal processing techniques, and innovative optical designs have enabled thermal imaging
technology to undergo revolutionary advancement, leading to realisation of high performance
and compact thermal cameras for surveillance, target acquisition, tracking, and guidance.
Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE), Dehradun, has designed and
developed a variety of thermal imaging sights for different ongoing programmes/projects. In the
present paper, an overview of thermal imaging systems, different generations and classification
of thermal imaging systems is described. The paper also presents salient features/specifications
of thermal imaging systems developed by IRDE together with the images recorded in actual field
trials.

Keywords: Thermal imaging, focal plane arrays, IR sensors, long-wave infrared, medium-
wave infrared

1 . INTRODUCTION night vision devices already offer capabilities far


exceeding the unassisted human eye.
Present day scenario of low-intensity conflict,
internal security, counter insurgency, and counter Thermal IR imaging sensor1 works in a completely
terrorism has resulted in rapid technological passive manner by utilising the thermal contrast of
advancements in the development of electro-optical targets against its background and is independent
(EO) sensors for both visible and infrared (IR) of prevailing light conditions. It generates extensive
spectrum which has been a major thrust of military ranges for detection and recognition of targets in
systems for the last three decades. day and night conditions.
All conditions vision is rapidly emerging as an In addition, long-wave IR (LWIR) (8-12 µ m/
increasingly important operational requirement of 3-5 µ m) can penetrate mist and fog considerably
all the three Services. To fulfill their tasks, these better than visible/near-IR light. Artificial smoke
must be able to exploit a large field of view (FOV) screening of targets is relatively ineffective during
for enhanced mobility, high sensitivity for efficient observation through thermal imagers. But thermal
observation, and a good resolution to identify their imaging technology is much more complex compared
targets before firing. The technologies in the night to image intensifiers in terms of IR detector and
vision field have progressed to the point that while cryogenics, opto-mechanics, and advanced signal
true all conditions vision has not yet been achieved, processing requirements. Figure 1 shows the regions
Revised 5 February 2007
173

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