Abstract: A semiconductor detector for tracking of point-like sources comprises a plurality of pixels. The pixels are arranged in a rectangular lattice. Each pixel has a surface with a photosensitive region for detecting light. The photosensitive region has a geometric layout adapted to reduce a signal variation if the point source moves from a first pixel to a second pixel, wherein the second pixel is located at an adjacent lattice position with respect to the first pixel.

Abstract: An apparatus to improve a situational awareness of a pilot or driver controlling a vehicle using a control appliance. The control appliance includes a display for depicting surroundings of the vehicle, and the vehicle includes a missile warner and a sensor for fine tracking (FTS) configured to provide high-resolution images for a tracking of an approaching missile detected by the missile warner. The apparatus also includes a control unit, configured to couple a directable line-of-sight of the FTS with the display, and to employ the high-resolution images of the FTS to improve the depiction of the surroundings of the vehicle on the display.

Abstract: A missile warner includes a sensor, a recording device, and an evaluation unit. The sensor is configured to detect a potential missile. The recording device is configured to continuously store detector data generated by the sensor, for a predefined amount of time. The evaluation unit is configured: to recognize within the detector data, a detection signal of the potential missile, and to compare the detection signal with a declaration threshold value, and to generate, after the detection signal has exceeded the declaration threshold value, a warning signal of the potential missile, and to perform, upon the presence of the warning signal, a verification of the potential missile based on a temporal backtracking of the corresponding detection signal, wherein the backtracking includes an analysis of the stored detector data.

Abstract: A missile warner includes a sensor, a recording device, and an evaluation unit. The sensor is configured to detect a potential missile. The recording device is configured to continuously store detector data generated by the sensor, for a predefined amount of time. The evaluation unit is configured: to recognize within the detector data, a detection signal of the potential missile, and to compare the detection signal with a declaration threshold value, and to generate, after the detection signal has exceeded the declaration threshold value, a warning signal of the potential missile, and to perform, upon the presence of the warning signal, a verification of the potential missile based on a temporal backtracking of the corresponding detection signal, wherein the backtracking includes an analysis of the stored detector data.

Abstract: An apparatus to improve a situational awareness of a pilot or driver controlling a vehicle using a control appliance. The control appliance includes a display for depicting surroundings of the vehicle, and the vehicle includes a missile warner and a sensor for fine tracking (FTS) configured to provide high-resolution images for a tracking of an approaching missile detected by the missile warner. The apparatus also includes a control unit, configured to couple a directable line-of-sight of the FTS with the display, and to employ the high-resolution images of the FTS to improve the depiction of the surroundings of the vehicle on the display.

Abstract: A missile detector includes a primary sensor for detecting a potential missile in a first spectral range, a secondary sensor for detecting the potential missile in a second spectral range, and an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit receives first detection signals from the primary sensor and compares them with a threshold value. When the threshold value has been exceeded, a warning signal of the potential missile is issued. Second detection signals from the secondary sensor are continuously received and stored for a predetermined period of time, in order to perform a verification of the potential missile based on a traceback when the warning signal is present. The traceback involves analysis of the stored sensor signals of the secondary sensor.

Abstract: A missile detector includes a primary sensor for detecting a potential missile in a first spectral range, a secondary sensor for detecting the potential missile in a second spectral range, and an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit receives first detection signals from the primary sensor and compares them with a threshold value. When the threshold value has been exceeded, a warning signal of the potential missile is issued. Second detection signals from the secondary sensor are continuously received and stored for a predetermined period of time, in order to perform a verification of the potential missile based on a traceback when the warning signal is present. The traceback involves analysis of the stored sensor signals of the secondary sensor.

Abstract: A method of enlarging an image field of a camera by combining partial images. This method includes continuously rotating at least two refractive prisms such that an optical axis of the at least two prisms scans in a cycloidal pattern. Furthermore the method includes capturing and combining a plurality of partial images. Finally, the cycloidal pattern is formed as an astroid pattern with a plurality of vertexes. The partial images are generated at the time of the reversal movement during the scanning in the astroid pattern, which limits unsharpness in the images kept to less than the size of a pixel.

Abstract: In a process for automatically determining the modulation transfer function (MTF) of a focal plane array (FPA) cameras, a test grid is used to generate a beat whose amplitude corresponds to that of the grid image to be measured, without the sampling MTF. (The image of the test grid has a spatial frequency in the detector plane that is detuned with respect to the Nyquist frequency of the detector array. The test grid covers a range of at least half a beat period, and then, regardless of the actual phase position, the modulation amplitude is determined therefrom. Comparative MTF measurements are thereby permitted without the influence of the sampling effect of an FPA, and particularly the MTF measurement in real time suitable for the application to moving images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of enlarging an image field of a camera by combining partial images. This method includes continuously rotating at least two refractive prisms such that an optical axis of the at least two prisms scans in a cycloidal pattern. Furthermore the method includes capturing a plurality of partial images. Finally, the cycloidal pattern is formed as an astroid pattern with a plurality of vertexes. The present invention further relates to an apparatus having a first refractive prism that is configured to rotate about an axis and a second refractive prism that is configured to rotate about the axis. The apparatus further includes a camera that captures a plurality of partial images. Finally, the first refractive prism and the second refractive prism form an optical axis that follows a cycloidal pattern. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: In a process for automatically determining the modulation transfer function (MTF) of a focal plane array (FPA) cameras, a test grid is used to generate a beat whose amplitude corresponds to that of the grid image to be measured, without the sampling MTF. (The image of the test grid has a spatial frequency in the detector plane that is detuned with respect to the Nyquist frequency of the detector array. The test grid covers a range of at least half a beat period, and then, regardless of the actual phase position, the modulation amplitude is determined therefrom. Comparative MTF measurements are thereby permitted without the influence of the sampling effect of an FPA, and particularly the MTF measurement in real time suitable for the application to moving images.