Calibration Method for MMW Imaging Using Inexpensive Miniature Neon Indicator Lamp Detectors

Author

Levanon, Assaf ; Kopeika, Natan S. ; Yitzhaky, Yitzhak ; Rozban, Daniel ; Abramovich, Amir

Author_Institution

Electr. & Comput. Eng. Dept., Ben-Gurion Univ. of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

Volume

14

Issue

5

fYear

2014

fDate

41760

Firstpage

1677

Lastpage

1681

Abstract

We have developed focal plan array (FPA) imagers based on very inexpensive miniature neon indicator lamp detectors called glow discharged detectors (GDDs). The novelty of this paper is a technique of calibration, which permits reliable imaging with such an inexpensive FPA. GDDs are commercial lamps, which lack uniformity as detectors. The technique developed in this paper cancels out differences in response between the FPA lamps caused by both nonuniformity of the MMW collimated beam, and nonuniformity of the GDDs and other components in the electronic circuit. Utilizing this method in the new imaging system unifies detector response. Results, shown with two types of sensor configurations (8 × 8 and 18 × 2 scanner array), indeed show better performances and improvement in visibility of details.

Keywords

calibration; discharge lamps; focal planes; millimetre wave detectors; millimetre wave imaging; optical collimators; optical sensors; sensor arrays; FPA imager; GDD; MMW collimated beam; MMW imaging; calibration method; electronic circuit; focal plane array imager; glow discharged detector; image scanner; image sensor; inexpensive miniature neon indicator lamp detector; Arrays; Calibration; Detectors; Image resolution; Optical imaging; Millimeter waves; calibration technique; focal plane array; imaging; systems embedded;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Sensors Journal, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1530-437X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSEN.2014.2301933

Filename

6733273