Abstract

Imaging system capability in the infrared has been advanced significantly over the past 5 years due to innovations in detector, readout circuit, electronics, optics, and image processing technology. This paper presents a snapshot of progress in each of these areas through a discussion of a number of systems that are being developed for a wide range of sea, land, and air based Navy applications. These will include wide area coverage sensors for surveillance, situational awareness, and warning applications, and high resolution narrow field of view sensors for long range identification and intent determination. Sensors with spectral bands from the shortwave through the mid-wave are discussed. Broad band, narrow band, and dual color cameras will be described. Passive, active, and dual mode systems will be represented in this survey as well.

© 2010 Optical Society of America