Characterizing IR FPA nonuniformity and IR camera spatial noise

In this paper we survey the methods used to characterize infrared focal plane array (IR FPA) nonuniformity and infrared camera spatial noise. Techniques are discussed which range from simple visual inspection of the video imagery to array characterization criteria which are computationally intensive. While the effect of spatially correlated noise patterns on sensor performance is impossible to quantify in a simple way, rather simple expressions can be used to obtain a representative assessment of sensor performance. We conclude that the temporal stability of the spatial noise pattern is most relevant to camera performance and that there is no simple parameter, such as D* , which can predict sensor performance when spatial noise is present in the imagery. We also conclude that spatial noise must be compensated an order of magnitude below temporal noise for artifact free imagery.