Digital Micromirror Device Based Infrared Scene Projection (IRSP)
Capability Description: Flexible and modular infrared scene projection achieving ultra-high apparent temperature, large format, and high frame rates.
Key Features
Specific features employed individulally or in concert:
- Flickerless scene projection via spatial grayscaling, enabling high frame rate, non-synchronous scene projection,
- Hybrid foveated scene projection employing a high resolution, steerable region of interest within a wide field of regard,
- Extremely high dynamic range and contrast via structured illumination,
- Ultra high apparent temperatures using broadband quantum cascade laser illumination,
- Dual spectral band MWIR projection by fusing the images projected by two spectrally filtered DMDs,
- Application of mosaicked DMDs achieving large formats using COTS DMDs,
- Use of microgratings to force a blazed diffraction condition when using sub-wavelength scale micromirrors enabling use of COTS, large format DMDs,
- In-house DMD window replacement method and facility enabling operation in the UV, MWIR and LWIR spectral ranges, and
- Deployment in rugged environmental chambers, enabling operation in cryogenic and high radiation environments.
Benefit to Warfighter
Infrared scene projectors are used to rapidly and repeatably test cameras used in warning sensors and countermeasures. PSI’s DMD-based infrared scene projectors offer flexible architecture that can be tailored to emerging threats and detection capabilities in ballistic and hypersonic engagement scenarios.
