FR2643768A1 - CIRCUIT FOR INFRARED VIDEO SENSORS - Google Patents

Abstract

Circuit for infrared video sensors, characterized in that the electronic circuit 2 consists of modular and programmable stages for specific image processing functions and for setting signal parameters specific to the use and / or to the application. The invention relates to image processing.

Description

"Circuit for Infrared Video Sensors" The invention relates to a circuit

  for infrared video sensors comprising a mosaic detector and a downstream electronic circuit for signal processing. Modern video sensors use mosaic detectors as image sensors which, unlike conventional devices, have relatively few individual components such as a detector with a Dewar tube, optics, chillers and electronics. The determining parameter for the power aptitude of such an apparatus is the realization of the detector, namely as to the material used, as well as the bandwidth of the signals produced. This means that there is or need to develop, depending on the requirements, a plurality of different mosaic detectors and that is why it is possible that each of these types

  of detectors has different interfaces vis-à-

  screw of the part of the appliance connected downstream. This results for each type of detector special specifications, that is to say, specific to the camera, this, because of the number of image elements to explore, the detector material, as well as the construction and the reading structure of the detector. This diversity of requirements results in the existence of the electronic driver and reader circuits which are typical to the detector, which must be correspondingly designed to fulfill these requirements. The present invention aims to create an electronic circuit for infrared video sensors with mosaic detectors, usable by all

any types of detectors.

  This problem is solved, according to the invention, by the fact that the electronic circuit consists of modular and programmable stages for specific image processing functions / in order to adjust signal parameters specific to

  use and / or application.

  Due to the modular structure, the means according to the invention offers the advantage of being adapted or assigned to tasks specific to the application, by

  exchange, addition or deletion of floors.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the electronic circuit is adapted to the bandwidth at the signal level of the sensor signal, by a corresponding programming of the stages. According to another characteristic of the invention, the electronic circuit is usable

  for different sensor heads.

  Other goals, benefits and features

  will appear when reading the description of a mode

  embodiment of the invention, made in a nonlimiting manner and with reference to the appended drawing, in which: FIG. 1 represents a block diagram of an infrared video camera provided with an electronic circuit, and FIG. an overview of the combinations of the different modules of the electronic circuit. According to FIG. 1, an infrared video camera consists of a plurality of alternatively selectable sensor heads la, lb, ... ln, each of whose central elements is provided with a mosaic converter. The sensor heads 1 that can be selected according to application-specific points of view may, for a definition of 512 × = 512 points, consist of an indium-silicon material and have a hybrid structure or an intermediate exploration of lines. In addition, in the case of a hybrid structure and a definition of 512 x 512 points, it is also possible to use platinum-silicon as material for the mosaic converter. The image points may also include 512 x 128 or 256 x 256 elements or any other desired combination. This is why it results in a great

  diversity in the selectable sensor heads.

  The downstream electronic circuit 2 incorporates image processing functions, which is

  important for a large number of applications. The.

  The structure of this electronic circuit is modular, allowing wide use of infrared video sensors for different areas. In addition, the electronic circuit can process not only the signals of the current mosaic detectors but also those corresponding to a definition of 512 x 512 points and more, that is to say the future detectors. In a schematic manner, the electronic circuit may consist of an interface stage 4, which converts the signals of the sensor 1, for a downstream processing and operating stage. This processing and operating stage 5 controls, either directly an image representation apparatus 3, or injects the data on an interface 6 in order to

to attack a multi-sensor bus.

  Depending on the usage requirements, the following groups can for example be distinguished for infrared video sensors: Application Function Observation - Preliminary processing - Automatic optimization of image quality - Standard converter

(CCIR, NTSC)

  - Option: automatic aiming and tracking Measuring instruments of pre-treatment loss - Manually controlled optical fiber coupling - Optimization of image quality - Standardized converter - Interfacing Measuring instruments - Stand-alone pre-treatment treatment - Automatic lens acquisition - Position determination, tracking - Interfacing Time resolution - Real preliminary processing - Optimization of image quality - Automatic lens acquisition, position determination, tracking Standard converter - Reduction of image data (for transmission transmission sections) disturbance-free data) The interface function designates an intelligent, application-oriented component, which on the one hand accepts a BUS interface for counter-reactive mounting of an image observer on the sensor, or transmits results. from the electronic circuit of the sensor, such as for example lens coordinates, to the global system guidance calculator. On the other hand it is possible to combine other-sensors, for example acoustic, with the infrared video sensor on a high level of abstraction and thus create a basis for a

multisensor system.

  In the case of a control of the functions belonging to the applications, one can set a high degree of coincidence. This fact is exploited within the infrared video sensor to build modular floors assigned to the functions, so that by adding, removing or exchange stages can be composed video sensors specific to each application. This means that one device can be used for different tasks. That is why the invention makes it possible to perform the following functions in the electronic circuit internal to the sensor: - Attack of the detector - Preliminary treatment - Automatic target aiming, position determination, tracking - Graphic - Automatic image enhancement Converter Standardized - Data Reduction - Interface (Multi-sensor MIL-BVS) Figure 2 shows an infrared video sensor and several selectable floor variants to build the circuit

2 of Figure 1.

Claims (1)

1) Circuit for infrared video sensors comprising a mosaic detector and a downstream electronic circuit for the signal processing, characterized in that the electronic circuit (2) consists of modular and programmable stages for specific functions of image processing and to adjust signal parameters, specific to the use and / or application. 2a) Circuit- according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic circuit (2) is adaptable by exchange, addition or removal of stages for application-specific tasks. 3) Circuit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electronic circuit (2) is adapted to the bandwidth at the signal level of the sensor signal, by a corresponding programming stages.   4) Circuit according to any one of   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the circuit   (2) is usable for heads of different sensors (1).