Radiometrically accurate scene-based nonuniformity correction for array sensors

Abstract

A novel radiometrically accurate scene-based nonuniformity correction (NUC) algorithm is described. The technique combines absolute calibration with a recently reported algebraic scene-based NUC algorithm. The technique is based on the following principle: First, detectors that are along the perimeter of the focal-plane array are absolutely calibrated; then the calibration is transported to the remaining uncalibrated interior detectors through the application of the algebraic scene-based algorithm, which utilizes pairs of image frames exhibiting arbitrary global motion. The key advantage of this technique is that it can obtain radiometric accuracy during NUC without disrupting camera operation. Accurate estimates of the bias nonuniformity can be achieved with relatively few frames, which can be fewer than ten frame pairs. Advantages of this technique are discussed, and a thorough performance analysis is presented with use of simulated and real infrared imagery.

Radiometric framework for image mosaicking

“…An analogous behavior occurs in thermal infrared cameras, in which each pixel may have its own radiometric response, parameterized by gain and bias. [33][34][35][36] We expect that generalizing the method to such cameras will be more challenging. Finally, a similar analysis of color pictures is a natural extension.…”

“…Nonuniformity correction (NUC) algorithms have been devised to handle fixed pattern noise caused by pixel-dependent sensitivities to thermal radiation. Analogous to our method, recent nonuniformity correction algorithms have been scene based and exploited image motion [33][34][35][36] ; however, these studies are different from ours. Existing NUC algorithms for thermal sensors assume a linear radiometric response with spatially varying bias.…”

Characterization of uncertainties when measuring metal cutting temperatures using infrared radiation thermography

“…The process of correcting for these effects is called a NonUniformity Correction, or NUC. There are many schemes for performing a NUC [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] . Some are quite complex, and it is not always obvious how they effect camera calibration.…”

Scene based non-uniformity correction in thermal images using Kalman filter

“…For example, in [22] a scene-based algorithm is developed to compensate for bias non-uniformity in focal-plane arrays that is based on use of estimates of interframe subpixel shifts in an image sequence, in conjunction with a linear interpolation model for the motion, to extract information on the bias non-uniformity algebraically. In [23] a novel radiometrically accurate scene-based non-uniformity correction algorithm was described. The technique combines absolute calibration with the algorithm in [22].…”