Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

Lucas Lawrence-Hurt

Michael N Mercier

Joseph M Schlupf

Kevin C Cole

A method and apparatus for calculating and accounting for non-uniformity of pixels within an infrared (IR) focal plane sensor utilizing an infrared light emitting diode (IR LED) to wash out environmental infrared light is provided. The IR LED may back propagate through an optical path of an IR sensor to illuminate pixels on a focal plane array, thereby providing data by which the non-uniformity offsets may be calculated and removed for normal operation of the IR sensor.

Method and apparatus for nonuniformity correction of IR focal planes

Techniques for tracking a straight line object by creating a detection envelope between two detections selected from temporally-discontinuous frames are discussed. The detections within the detection envelope can then be analyzed in order to determine whether they are associated with a straight line track between the outer detections of the envelope. Techniques for identifying a launch-flash are also discussed. Potential launch flashes are checked for energy duration, intensity and spectral ratio. Techniques for detecting a hostile fire based on a single-frame detection are additionally detected. Based on a frame length of the detection, it can be determined whether the detection correlates to a hostile fire.

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Newmarket, NH, United States of America

Lucas Lawrence-Hurt