Ultra-low-power scene projector for targets against space backgrounds

Honeywell Inc. and Mission Research Corporation (MRC) are jointly developing micro resistive heater array displays for projecting dynamic background scenes and targets in the short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) to long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) wavebands. There are two joint government contracts supporting this work: the Nuclear Optical Dynamic Display (NODDS) program under DNA contract DNA001-92-C-0041, which is developing a 512 X 512 array of 50- by 50-micrometers display pixels, and the Cryovacuum Resistor Infrared Scene Projector (CRISP) program for the USAF Wright Laboratory at Eglin AFB, which is developing a 512 X 512 array of 87.5- by 87.5-micrometers pixels. The requirements on the two programs are somewhat different due to their different missions. While the NODDS program is developing an array that can be used to create dynamic nuclear clutter scenes, the CRISP arrays are being designed for simulating multiple independently moving targets; and while the frame rate on the NODDS arrays requires an array capable of 1-kHz frame rates, the CRISP arrays will be operated at 30 Hz.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.