Estimation of IR sensors information losses caused by distortion.

The distortion of scene image by the pair «infrared lens/thermo-electronic converter» is investigated. Under the assumption that on the cold scene point heat source is placed randomly in such a way, that probabilities of its appearance at any direction are independent and unformed, the expression for information capacity is obtained. It is shown, that distortion decreases amount of information, when scene signal is transformed into its thermal image. Information losses are linked with changing of cells inverse projection on the observed scene space. Formulae for area of inverse cell projections and for information losses calculation in the IR system with pincushion and barrel type distortions are obtained. The structure of the testing system has been developed, the main element of which are eight IR LEDs, placed along the edges of the scene. The uncomplicated engineering method of IR sensor quality evaluation is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]