Abstract: An apparatus for the wafer level packaging (WLP) of micro-bolometer vacuum package assemblies (VPAs), in one embodiment, includes a wafer alignment and bonding chamber, a bolometer wafer chuck and a lid wafer chuck disposed within the chamber in vertically facing opposition to each other, means for creating a first ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environment within the chamber, means for heating and cooling the bolometer wafer chuck and the lid wafer chuck independently of each other, means for moving the lid wafer chuck in the vertical direction and relative to the bolometer wafer chuck, means for moving the bolometer wafer chuck translationally in two orthogonal directions in a horizontal plane and rotationally about a vertical axis normal to the horizontal plane, and means for aligning a fiducial on a bolometer wafer held by the bolometer wafer chuck with a fiducial on a lid wafer held by the lid wafer chuck.

Abstract: An imager array may be provided as part of an imaging system. The imager array may include a plurality of sensor arrays (e.g., also referred to as lenslets or optical elements). Each sensor array may include a plurality of sensors (e.g., pixels) associated with a lens. The sensor arrays may be oriented, for example, substantially in a plane facing the same direction and configured to detect images from the same scene (e.g., target area). Such images may be processed in accordance with various techniques to provide images of electromagnetic radiation. The sensor arrays may include filters or lens coatings to selectively detect desired ranges of electromagnetic radiation. Such arrangements of sensor arrays in an imager array may be used to advantageous effect in a variety of different applications.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide for some embodiments infrared camera systems for maritime applications. For example in one embodiment, a watercraft includes a plurality of image capture components coupled to the watercraft to capture infrared images around at least a substantial portion of a perimeter of the watercraft; a memory component adapted to store the captured infrared images; a processing component adapted to process the captured infrared images according to a man overboard mode of operation to provide processed infrared images and determine if a person falls from the watercraft; and a display component adapted to display the processed infrared images.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for systems and methods to process images to reduce consumption of an available output dynamic range by the sky in images. For example, according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, a region or area in images that may correspond to the sky may be identified based on the location of the horizon in the images. A distribution of irradiance levels in the identified sky region may be analyzed to determine a dynamic range attributable to the sky region. A transfer function that compresses the dynamic range attributable to the sky region may be generated and applied so that the sky in the images may be suppressed, thereby advantageously preserving more dynamic range for terrestrial objects and other objects of interest in the images.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods using small form factor infrared imaging modules to monitor aspects of a power system. A system may include one or more infrared imaging modules, a processor, a memory, a display, a communication module, and modules to control components of a power system. Infrared imaging modules may be mounted on, installed in, or otherwise integrated with a power system having one or more power system components. The infrared imaging modules may be configured to capture thermal images of portions of the power system. Various thermal image analytics and profiling may be performed on the captured thermal images to determine the operating conditions and temperatures of portions of the power system. Monitoring information may be generated based on the determined conditions and temperatures and then presented to a user of the power system.

Abstract: An infrared camera system is provided to detect absorption of infrared radiation in a selected spectral bandwidth. In one example, an infrared camera system includes a lens adapted to receive infrared radiation from a survey scene comprising one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes a focal plane array comprising a plurality of quantum well infrared photo detectors (QWIPs). The QWIPs are tuned to detect a limited spectral bandwidth of the infrared radiation corresponding to at least a portion of an infrared absorption band of the one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes an optical band pass filter positioned substantially between the lens and the focal plane array. The optical band pass filter is adapted to filter the infrared radiation to a wavelength range substantially corresponding to the limited spectral bandwidth of the QWIPs before the infrared radiation is received by the focal plane array.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide for infrared camera systems and methods for dual sensor applications. For example, in one embodiment, an enhanced vision system comprises an image capture component having a visible light sensor to capture visible light images and an infrared sensor to capture infrared images. The system comprises a first control component adapted to provide a plurality of selectable processing modes to a user, receive a user input corresponding to a user selected processing mode, and generate a control signal indicative of the user selected processing mode, wherein the plurality of selectable processing modes includes a visible light only mode, infrared only mode, and a combined visible-infrared mode.

Abstract: An infrared camera architecture includes, for an embodiment, an infrared detector, a substrate, a plurality of electrical components coupled to the substrate, and a pedestal made of a thermally conductive material and having a leg coupled to the substrate. The infrared detector is supported by and thermally coupled to the pedestal, with the pedestal thermally isolating the infrared detector from the plurality of electrical components.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes: a sensor device adapted to selectively monitor a plurality of sensors, wherein the sensor device includes a wireless transceiver within the sensor device adapted to transmit measurement information from the selected sensor; and a receiver indicator device adapted to wirelessly receive the measurement information from the sensor device, and provide an indication based on the measurement information to a user operating the receiver indicator device.

Abstract: A technique of approximating exponential transformations such as gamma correction is disclosed that achieves high resolution without requiring relatively large RAMs for lookup tables or specialized DSP processors. The technique includes the acts of scaling the pixel values according to their values, wherein smaller pixel values are scaled with larger scale factors and larger pixel values are scaled with smaller scale factors; quantizing the scaled pixel values; looking up the quantized pixel values in a lookup table to provide lookup values; and scaling the lookup values responsive to their scale factors to provide the gamma-corrected pixel values.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe an illuminator having a light source to originate an illumination beam, wherein the light source further comprises a set of vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs), including a first VCSEL having a first laser emission wavelength, and a second VCSEL having a second laser emission wavelength different than the first laser emission wavelength. Thus, by varying laser emission wavelengths of VCSELs in a VCSEL array, embodiments of the invention produce low-contrast speckle, and do not limit the imaging capabilities of the host illumination system. In some embodiments of the invention, vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers (VECSELs) are utilized to produce the above described varying laser emission wavelengths.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for implementing an infrared imaging system. In one example, a system includes a focal plane array (FPA). The FPA includes an array of infrared sensors adapted to image a scene. The FPA also includes a bias circuit adapted to provide a bias voltage to the infrared sensors. The bias voltage is selected from a range of approximately 0.2 volts to approximately 0.7 volts. The FPA also includes a read out integrated circuit (ROIC) adapted to provide signals from the infrared sensors corresponding to captured image frames. Other implementations are also provided.

Abstract: An imager array may be provided as part of an imaging system. The imager array may include a plurality of infrared imaging modules. Each infrared imaging module may include a plurality of infrared sensors associated with an optical element. The infrared imaging modules may be oriented, for example, substantially in a plane facing the same direction and configured to detect images from the same scene. Such images may be processed in accordance with various techniques to provide images of infrared radiation. The infrared imaging modules may include filters or lens coatings to selectively detect desired ranges of infrared radiation. Such arrangements of infrared imaging modules in an imager array may be used to advantageous effect in a variety of different applications.

Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to contacts for an infrared detector. For example, an infrared imaging device includes a substrate having a first metal layer and an infrared detector array coupled to the substrate via a plurality of contacts. Each contact includes for an embodiment a second metal layer formed on the first metal layer; a third metal layer formed on the second metal layer, wherein the third metal layer at least partially fills an inner portion of the contact; and a first passivation layer formed on the third metal layer.

Abstract: A moisture meter with non-contact temperature measurement capability having a housing, a moisture-detecting device coupled to or contained at least partially in the housing, and having an output related to measured moisture parameters, a non-contact, optically-based temperature sensing device coupled to the housing, having an output related to sensed temperature, an output display contained in the housing, for displaying measurements to a user, and circuitry contained in the housing for processing both the moisture-detecting device output and the non-contact temperature sensing device output, and transmitting the processed outputs to the output display. The moisture-detecting device can be either one or both of a contact-type moisture-detecting device such as a pad on the rear side of the housing, and a pin-type moisture-detecting device in a hand-held probe, and electrically coupled to the circuitry in the housing through a cord.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an array of lenses, a plurality of sensor pixels for each lens, the sensor pixels being on an image plane of the imaging system, and a corresponding plurality of focal plane coding elements. A focal plane coding element for each sensor pixel has multiple sub-pixel resolution elements. The focal plane coding element being between the lens and each sensor pixel, wherein sub-pixel resolution elements over the plurality of focal plane coding elements represent a selected transform matrix having a non-zero determinant. The output of the plurality of sensor pixels being an image multiplied by this matrix.

Abstract: System, including method and apparatus, for imaging with a vehicle-mounted camera having an optical axis that is restricted from angular displacement, in response to vibration, by passive stabilization via a set of vibration isolators.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for systems and methods using thermal imaging to intelligently monitor thoroughfares. For example, an intelligent monitoring system may include an infrared imaging module, a processor, a communication module, a memory, and an adjustable component. The system may be mounted, installed, or otherwise disposed at various locations along thoroughfares, and capture thermal images of a scene that includes at least a portion of the thoroughfares. Various thermal image processing and analysis operations may be performed on the thermal images to generate comprehensive monitoring information including an indication of detected objects in the scene and at least one attribute associated with the objects. Various actions may be taken, such as generating various alarms and intelligently adjusting operation of various adjustable devices on thoroughfares, based on the monitoring information.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a signal in an optical system includes generating an optical signal along an optical axis for transmission through an optical element, positioning the optical element so that a surface discontinuity is positioned along the optical axis such that the optical signal defines a substantially radially symmetric intensity profile, and launching the optical signal into an input face of an optical fiber such that the intensity profile is substantially null proximate an optical axis associated with the optical fiber.

Abstract: A system can include a camera configured to mount to a firearm and a scope configured to mount to the firearm. A display can be configured to show an image from the camera. The scope can be configured to view the display. The image from the camera can be electronically movable relative to scope and camera to facilitate compensation for bullet drop and windage. Moving the image can allow use of higher scope magnification and/or electronic camera zoom.