A case of non validity of MRTD concept

Authors

  • Krzysztof Chrzanowski Military University of Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4302/photon.%20lett.%20pl.v4i4.355

Abstract

MRTD is considered as the most important parameter of thermal imagers. It is a function of a minimum temperature difference between the bars of the standard 4-bar target and the background required to resolve the thermal image of the bars by an observer versus spatial frequency of the target. Both theoretical models and experimental tests presented in available literature show MRTD as a monotonically increasing bijective mathematical function. This paper presents results of measurements of MRTD that contradict this common opinion. These results show that in rare cases MRTD can be a non-bijective function. Imagers having such MRTD function can fulfill formal requirements on MRTD but will perform poorly at real life conditions.

Full Text: PDF

References
  1. STANAG 4349, Measurement of minimum resolvable thermal difference (MRTD) of thermal cameras, 1995.
  2. ASTM standard E 1213-2002, Standard Test Method for Minimum Resolvable Temperature Difference for Thermal Imaging Systems
  3. G.C. Holst, Testing and evaluation of infrared imaging systems (JCD Publishing Company 2008).
  4. G.C. Holst, The Infrared & Electro-Optical Systems Handbook, Vol.3: Electro-Optical System Design, Analysis and Testing, Ch. 4, 206-207 (SPIE 1993).
  5. K. Chrzanowski, Testing Thermal Imagers - Practical Guide (Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland 2010).
  6. Night Vision Thermal Imaging Systems Performance Model, User?s Manual & Reference Guide, U.S Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, AMSEL-RD-NV-MS-SPMD, 2001.
  7. R.G. Driggers, A. Van Hodgkin, R.H. Vollmerhausen, P. O'Shea, "Minimum resolvable temperature difference measurements on undersampled imagers", Proc. SPIE 5076, 179 (2003). CrossRef
  8. MERX Website DirectLink
  9. Phare Program no PL0103.03.01 PL0108.19.01-L002, Purchase and installation of portable thermo-vision cameras, Phare Program No. PL0103.03.02 purchase of 5 surveillance units for helicopters, 2004.

Downloads

Additional Files

Published

2012-12-31

How to Cite

[1]
K. Chrzanowski, “A case of non validity of MRTD concept”, Photonics Lett. Pol., vol. 4, no. 4, pp. pp. 152–154, Dec. 2012.

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 4 (2012)

Section

Articles

License

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).