Abstract: Light weight lens barrel systems and methods are provided. In one example, an imaging device includes a lens barrel including a body and a plurality of focusing fins extending from the body. The imaging device further includes a lens system disposed within the lens barrel and configured to receive electromagnetic radiation and direct the electromagnetic radiation. The imaging device further includes a detector array including a plurality of detectors. Each of the plurality of detectors is configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the lens system and generate an image based on the electromagnetic radiation. Related methods and systems are also provided.

Abstract: Cryocooler health monitoring systems and methods are provided. In one example, a method includes determining, for each setpoint temperature of a plurality of setpoint temperatures, a respective power applied to a cryocooler to set a cold tip of the cryocooler to the setpoint temperature. The method further includes determining a first load line associated with the cold tip based on the plurality of setpoint temperatures and the respective powers applied to the cryocooler. The method further includes determining a health metric associated with the cold tip based on the first load line and a reference load line associated with the cryocooler. Related devices and systems are also provided.

Abstract: Microbolometer systems and methods are provided herein. For example, an infrared imaging device includes a substrate having contacts and a surface. The surface defines a plane. The infrared imaging device further includes a microbolometer array coupled to the substrate. Each microbolometer of the microbolometer array includes a cross-section having a first section, a second section substantially parallel to the first section, and a third section joining the first section and the second section.

Abstract: An image classification system comprises a neural network trained on a synthetic infrared training dataset, including synthetic infrared images of objects rendered from a virtually represented infrared sensor in a virtual three-dimensional scene, the synthetic infrared images being generated using infrared radiation signatures of virtual objects in the virtual three-dimensional scene and an infrared response model of the virtually represented infrared sensor. A system for generating synthetic infrared training data comprises a three-dimensional scene modeling system operable to generate three-dimensional scenes comprising a plurality of objects, each object having an infrared radiation model, and an infrared sensor modeling system operable to model an imaging response for an infrared sensor virtually represented in the three-dimensional scene.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to reduce mechanical vibrations within a cryocooler/refrigeration system configured to provide cryogenic and/or general cooling of a device or sensor system. A cryocooler includes a motor driver controller configured to receive operational parameters and generate motor driver control signals and/or balancer system control signals based, at least in part, on the received operational parameters, and a motor driver configured to receive the control signals and generate drive signals to drive a motor and/or a balancer system of the cryocooler. The cryocooler includes a motorized and/or actively balanced expander configured to drive and/or balance motion of a displacer of the expander. The expander includes a magnet ring fixed to the displacer and a motor coil disposed within a cylinder head of the motorized and/or actively balanced expander.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating image color correction are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving an image. The method further includes determining, based at least on the image, a first scaling value and a second scaling value. The method further includes applying the first scaling value to the image to obtain a scaled image. The method further includes applying a color correction matrix (CCM) to the scaled image to obtain a CCM image. The method further includes applying the second scaling value to the CCM image to obtain a color corrected image. Related devices and systems are also provided.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to identify, correct, and/or replace anomalous pixels. In one example, a method includes receiving an image frame comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. The pixels comprise image data associated with a scene and fixed pattern noise introduced by an imaging device. The method also includes performing a first process on a first set of the pixels to determine associated correction terms configured to reduce the fixed pattern noise, and applying the correction terms to the first set of the pixels in response to the first process. The method also includes performing a second process on a second set of the pixels to determine whether to replace the second set of the pixels to reduce the fixed pattern noise, and replacing at least a subset of the second set of the pixels in response to the second process. Additional methods and systems are also provided.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for facilitating interconnecting semiconductor devices. In one example, a method of interconnecting a first substrate to a second substrate is provided. The method includes forming a first plurality of contacts on the first substrate. The method further includes forming an insulative layer on the first substrate. The method further includes forming a second plurality of contacts on the second substrate. The method further includes joining the first plurality of contacts to the second plurality of contacts to form interconnects between the first substrate and the second substrate. When the first and second substrates are joined, at least a portion of each of the interconnects is surrounded by the insulative layer. Related systems and devices are also provided.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating analog-to-digital converter calibrations are provided. In one example, a method includes, for each of a plurality of time instances, generating a first ramp signal started at the time instance relative to a respective start of a first counter signal and generating a respective comparator output signal based on the first ramp signal and a first threshold signal. The method further includes capturing a respective first value of the first ramp signal in response to a transition of the respective comparator output signal. The method further includes determining a respective second counter value of a second counter signal based on the respective first value. The method further includes determining a scaling factor based on the second counter values and the time instances. Each of the first values is associated with the same counter value of the first counter signal. Related devices and systems are also provided.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating palette and infrared image generation systems and methods are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving user input indicative of a plurality of threshold temperatures to divide a temperature range into a plurality of temperature regions and a respective visual representation mode for each of the plurality of temperature regions. Each of the plurality of temperature regions is bound by at least one of the plurality of threshold temperatures. The respective visual representation mode for each of the plurality of temperature regions is a color mode or a grayscale mode. The method further includes generating a palette based on the user input. Related devices and systems are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods include an infrared camera configured to capture an infrared image of a scene, a visible light camera configured to capture a visible light image of the scene, and a logic device configured to simultaneously capture a pair of images of the scene comprising the infrared image of the scene and the visible image of the scene, align the pair of images so that a pixel location in one of the pair of images has a corresponding pixel location in the other image, classify the visible image, annotate the infrared image based, at least in part, on the classification of the visible image, and add the annotated infrared image to a neural network training dataset for use in training a neural network for infrared image classification.

Abstract: Image pair co-registration systems and methods include receiving a pair of multi-modal images, defining a parametric deformation model, defining a loss function that is minimized when the pair of images are aligned, and performing a multi-scale search to determine deformation parameters that minimize the loss function. The optimized deformation parameters define an alignment of the pair of images. The pair of images may include visible spectrum image and an infrared image. The method further includes resizing the visible spectrum image to match the infrared image, applying at least one lens distortion correction model, and normalizing a dynamic range of each of the pair of images. The multi-scale search may further include resizing the pair of images to a current processing scale, applying adaptive histogram equalization to the pair of images to generate equalized images, applying Gaussian Blur to the equalized images, and optimizing the deformation parameters.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure may include an imaging system that includes a base module, a camera module, an interface plate, and a locking ring. The base module may be mounted on the interface plate via one or more quick release fasteners. The camera module may then be coupled to the base module and one or more blind mate connectors may allow for the camera of the camera module to quickly connector with the base module and communicate data and/or power. A locking ring may then be coupled (e.g., threaded) onto the base module over the camera module to secure the camera module to the base module.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to control operation of a cryocooler/refrigeration system to provide cryogenic and/or general cooling of a device or sensor system. A cryocooler controller includes a motor driver controller configured to generate motor driver control signals based on operational parameters corresponding to operation of a cryocooler controlled by the controller, and a motor driver configured to generate corresponding drive signals to drive a motor of the cryocooler. The motor driver includes a first stage with a first pair of switches coupled serially between an input of the motor driver and a ground of the motor driver, a second pair of switches coupled serially between an output of the first stage and the ground of the motor driver, and an inductor coupled between the first and second pairs of switches, where operation of each switch is independently controlled by the motor driver control signals.

Abstract: Techniques to facilitate radar data processing are disclosed. In one example, a radar system includes a frame generation circuit and a frame processing circuit. The frame generation circuit is configured to receive radar signals. The frame generation circuit is further configured to convert the radar signals to at least one frame having a camera interface format. The frame processing circuit is configured to receive the at least one frame via a camera interface. The frame processing circuit is further configured to process the at least one frame. Related methods and devices are also provided.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for training a neural network to classify images. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is trained using training dataset comprising a plurality of synthetic images. The CNN training process tracks image-related metrics and other informative metrics as the training dataset is processed. The trained inference CNN may then be tested using a validation dataset of real images to generate performance results (e.g., whether a training image was properly or improperly labeled by the trained inference CNN). In one or more embodiments, a training dataset and analysis engine extracts and analyzes the informative metrics and performance results, generates parameters for a modified training dataset to improve CNN performance, and generates corresponding instructions to a synthetic image generator to generate a new training dataset. The process repeats in an iterative fashion to build a final training dataset for use in training an inference CNN.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting, processing, storing, or transmitting traffic data. A localized data collection module may retrieve, receive, or intercept traffic data through or from hardware installed in a traffic control cabinet adjacent an intersection or other roadway feature of interest. Data which may have previously been confined to a closed loop traffic control system may be remotely accessible for traffic operations control or monitoring via a network connected server and/or cloud architecture.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for panoramic image construction based on images captured by rotating imagers. In one example, a method includes receiving a first sequence of images associated with a scene and captured during continuous rotation of an image sensor. Each image of the first sequence has a portion that overlaps with another image of the first sequence. The method further includes generating a first panoramic image. The generating includes processing a second sequence of images based on a point-spread function to mitigate blur associated with the continuous rotation to obtain a deblurred sequence of images, and processing the deblurred sequence based on a noise power spectral density to obtain a denoised sequence of images. The point-spread function is associated with the image sensor's rotation speed. The second sequence is based on the first sequence. The first panoramic image is based on the denoised sequence.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for annealing a chalcogenide lens at an elevated temperature to accelerate release of internal stress within the chalcogenide lens caused during a molding process that formed the chalcogenide lens. In particular, the annealing process includes gradually heating the chalcogenide lens to a dwell temperature, maintaining the chalcogenide lens at the dwell temperature for a predetermined period of time, and gradually cooling the chalcogenide lens from the dwell temperature. The annealing process stabilizes the shape, the effective focal length, and/or the modulation transfer function of the chalcogenide lens. Associated optical assemblies and infrared imaging devices are also described.