Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Michael Lee Pappas

Harold J Orlando

Marco A Lopez

Modulation Transfer Function of an electro-optical sensor is measured by focusing a square or rectangular target image onto the sensor and deriving the Modulation Transfer Function in two directions simultaneously from an output of the sensor. The target image is tilted with respect to the sensor's focal plane array such that the target image's edges cross different detector elements at different phases. The target image can be rotated over finely spaced intervals. Modulation Transfer Function can be derived using a least squares method or using a one-dimensional Fourier Transform in both horizontal and vertical directions.

Two-dimensional modulation transfer function measurement technique

A system for automatically performing the Minimum Resolvable Contrast (MRC) test on an image sensor, such as a TV camera, using a digital signal processor for controlling the testing, wherein an edge response from a square aperture target edge is used to generate a Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) which, in combination with signal and noise data obtained using the square aperture target, provides an input to automated MRC (AMRC) processing equations, from which a value can be calculated for an AMRC output. Alternatively, a slit target may be substituted for the square target aperture when measuring camera MTF.

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Anaheim, CA, United States of America

Michael Lee Pappas