We describe the use of Vantablack® in commercial infrared imaging systems, including in thermal infrared cameras and test equipment. Vantablack® is an ultra-black coating developed by Surrey NanoSystems Ltd. in the United Kingdom and supported in the USA by Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. Vantablack® was originally developed for satellite-borne blackbody calibration systems and is now available in two versions, either directly applied to surfaces using vacuum-deposition technology (Vantablack®), or by spraying and then post-processing (Vantablack®-S). In this paper, we present the results of Vantablack®-S coated cold shields and blackbody calibration sources; and compare performance to other industry standard black coatings. Also included are results of environmental testing on coated surfaces demonstrating that, while they are not meant to be touched, they withstand extremes of heat, vacuum and thermal cycling as well or better than other black coatings.
The rapid development of very-large format infrared detector arrays has challenged the IR scene projector community
to also develop larger-format infrared emitter arrays to support the testing of systems incorporating these detectors.
In addition to larger formats, many scene projector users require much higher simulated temperatures than can be
generated with current technology in order to fully evaluate the performance of their systems and associated processing
algorithms.
Under the Ultra High Temperature (UHT) development program, Santa Barbara Infrared Inc. (SBIR) is developing a
new infrared scene projector architecture capable of producing both very large format (>1024 x 1024) resistive emitter
arrays and improved emitter pixel technology capable of simulating very high apparent temperatures. During earlier
phases of the program, SBIR demonstrated materials with MWIR apparent temperatures in excess of 1400 K. New
emitter materials have subsequently been selected to produce pixels that achieve even higher apparent temperatures.
Test results from pixels fabricated using the new material set will be presented and discussed. A 'scalable' Read In
Integrated Circuit (RIIC) is also being developed under the same UHT program to drive the high temperature pixels.
This RIIC will utilize through-silicon via (TSV) and Quilt Packaging (QP) technologies to allow seamless tiling of
multiple chips to fabricate very large arrays, and thus overcome the yield limitations inherent in large-scale integrated
circuits. Results of design verification testing of the completed RIIC will be presented and discussed.
The Future E-O (FEO) program was established to develop a flexible, modular, automated test capability as part of the Next Generation Automatic Test System (NGATS) program to support the test and diagnostic needs of currently fielded U.S. Army electro-optical (E-O) devices, as well as being expandable to address the requirements of future Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force E-O systems. Santa Barbara infrared (SBIR) has designed, fabricated, and delivered three (3) prototype FEO for engineering and logistics evaluation prior to anticipated full-scale production beginning in 2016. In addition to presenting a detailed overview of the FEO system hardware design, features and testing capabilities, the integration of SBIR’s EO-IR sensor and laser test software package, IRWindows 4™, into FEO to automate the test execution, data collection and analysis, archiving and reporting of results is also described.
Electro Optical technology continues to advance, incorporating developments in infrared and laser technology into
smaller, more tightly-integrated systems that can see and discriminate military targets at ever-increasing distances. New
systems incorporate laser illumination and ranging with gated sensors that allow unparalleled vision at a distance. These
new capabilities augment existing all-weather performance in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared
(LWIR), as well as low light level visible and near infrared (VNIR), giving the user multiple means of looking at targets
of interest. There is a need in the test industry to generate imagery in the relevant spectral bands, and to provide
temporal stimulus for testing range-gated systems. Santa Barbara Infrared (SBIR) has developed a new means of
combining a uniform infrared source with uniform laser and visible sources for electro-optics (EO) testing. The source
has been designed to allow laboratory testing of surveillance systems incorporating an infrared imager and a range-gated
camera; and for field testing of emerging multi-spectral/fused sensor systems. A description of the source will be
presented along with performance data relating to EO testing, including output in pertinent spectral bands, stability and
resolution.
SBIR has passed the midpoint of delivering ten 1024x1024 IR Scene Projector Systems (IRSPs) to the Government. Six systems have been installed at Redstone Technical Test Center (RTTC), Patuxent River, and Edwards Air Force Base. Four more systems are in production and will be shipped by the end of this year. The commercial name of the LFRA IRSP is Mirage XL. This ground breaking projector technology is being leveraged on the Wide Format Resistive Array (WFRA) program and on the Mirage II product. The WFRA IRSP, also known as Mirage HD, features an even larger 1536x768 emitter array and will be in system integration by the end of the year. Mirage II, which also leverages LFRA, is being readied as the next generation 512x512 projector system.
Additional signal processing capabilities have been installed in the LFRA systems. Each system now has full Translation/Rotation Processing (TRP) capability. Systems also have image convolution and 400Hz 1024x512 windowing capabilities.
KEYWORDS: Cryogenics, Analog electronics, Electronics, Prototyping, Packaging, Interfaces, Mid-IR, Digital electronics, Microelectromechanical systems, Temperature metrology
SBIR has completed the development of the first lot of OASIS emitter arrays and custom packaging for cryogenic IR scene projection applications. OASIS performance requirements include a maximum MWIR apparent temperature of greater than 600 K, with 10-90% radiance rise time of less than 6.5 ms. Four (4) arrays have been packaged, integrated, tested and delivered.
This paper will report on the first measurements taken of the OASIS resistive emitter arrays at both ambient and cryogenic temperatures. This paper will also provide a discussion of the OASIS cryogenic projector/electronics module (Cryo-PEM) design. We will also describe the novel thermal design employed within the array package and Cryo-PEM assemblies, which allows OASIS to produce radiometrically accurate imagery with reduced thermal lag/gradient artifacts compared to legacy Honeywell cryogenic IRSP assemblies. As OASIS supports both analog and digital input, we will discuss the differences between the two modes in terms of system integration, support electronics and overall array performance.
SBIR has completed development of the Large Format Resistive Array (LFRA) Infrared Scene Projector (IRSP) and shipped the first production system. Nine more systems are in production and will be shipped to several US Government customers on approximately six week centers. The commercial name of the LFRA IRSP is Mirage XL. System performance meets a broad range of program requirements and SBIR has been extremely successful in producing this ground breaking projector. Tests performed on System #1 reveal broad compliance to the specification and, in particular, outstanding emitter array performance. Key emitter requirements that have been met or exceeded include Operability, Maximum Apparent Temperature, and Array Uniformity. Key System specifications are:
Large-format emitter array (1024x1024);
High maximum apparent temperature (>700K);
200 Hz full-frame operation;
400 Hz static window mode (1024x512);
Non Uniformity (uncorrected) <10%.
SBIR has completed design and development of prototype emitter arrays and is completing custom cryogenic vacuum device packaging and support electronics for the Optimized Arrays for Space-background Infrared Simulation (OASIS) program. The OASIS array is a 512 x 512 device featuring high output dynamic range, a selectable analog/digital scene data interface, and the capability to operate from cryogenic to ambient substrate temperatures - thereby providing an enabling technology for projection of simulated radiance of space-background scenes. Prototype emitter production has been completed at RTI International in support of initial deliveries. The OASIS array package incorporates novel electrical bussing schemes optimized for the OASIS RIIC and a modular architecture to allow user re-configuration of both window and emitter shield. The OASIS package leverages LFRA operation features, and supports both ambient and cryogenic chamber-based operation with a minimum of mechanical and electrical re-configuration. The OASIS close support electronics (CSE) supports both analog and digital input data modes, while providing easy electronic connection between arrays installed in the cryogenic chamber and the external control and scene-generation systems. We present a technical overview of the OASIS array/package and CSE designs, and will report on measured radiometric performance from prototype OASIS arrays.
This paper provides a procedure for radiometric calibration of infrared target projectors using the RAD-9000 MWIR/LWIR spectral radiometer - a high-performance instrument supporting extremely accurate absolute and relative radiometric calibration of EO test systems. We describe the rationale for radiometric calibration, an analysis of error sources typically encountered by investigators during calibration of infrared imaging cameras when using target
projectors, and a strategy for performing an absolute system end-to-end radiometric calibration with emphasis on high accuracy and ease of use.
This paper provides an update on the RAD9000 MWIR/LWIR spectral radiometer: a high-performance instrument supporting extremely accurate absolute and relative radiometric calibration of EO test systems. The system features an all-reflective optical system, internal and external thermal reference sources, a visible camera-based sighting/alignment capability, modular MWIR and LWIR detector/filter subassemblies, flexible control/display software, and a sophisticated graphical user interface (GUI). We present prototype performance data describing the instrument's thermal sensitivity, radiometric accuracy, spectral resolution, calibration, and other key parameters.
KEYWORDS: Sensors, Calibration, Optical filters, Control systems, Temperature metrology, Radiometry, Infrared radiation, Radio optics, Mid-IR, Long wavelength infrared
Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc (SBIR) has developed a dual-band infrared spectroradiometer for highly accurate radiometric calibration of electro-optical (EO) test stations, light sources, and optical surfaces. The "RAD-9000" design covers the 3-5 mm and 8-12 mm spectral bands, provides thermal sensitivity of better than 40 mK, supports object temperatures from 278-373 K, and delivers better than 2% spectral resolution (Dl/l). The RAD-9000 features computer-controlled operation, an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI), motorized focus adjustment, VIS-CCD sighting/alignment capability, less than 2 mrad detector IFOV, and an internal ambient reference for background subtraction and enhanced stability.
In addition to high-performance relative radiometry, the RAD-9000 offers a high degree of absolute radiometric accuracy by utilizing a dedicated radiometric reference module. The reference module incorporates two 8-inch, variable temperature, high-emissivity extended sources to provide a stable, accurate absolute radiometric reference external to the main optics.
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