A low-light camera SNR D* metric

Bradley L. Preece

doi:10.1117/12.3014116

7 June 2024 A low-light camera SNR D* metric

Bradley L. Preece

Proceedings Volume 13045, Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XXXV; 130450G (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3014116
Event: SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing, 2024, National Harbor, Maryland, United States

Abstract

A Jones Detectivity, denoted D*, metric is commonly used to compare thermal camera focal plane arrays. D* projects the thermal noise back into time (1 second) and area (1cm^2), thereby normalizing its bandwidth. This makes it easier to compare the sensitivity for different thermal detectors. Here we extend the basic idea of this bandwidth normalization to low light cameras, by using a signal to noise ratio (SNR), denoted 𝑆N𝑅_𝐷∗ . One 𝑆N𝑅_𝐷∗ goal is to compare the performance of the low light sensor in the darkest of conditions, and therefore a dark version is defined using the absolute noise floor of the camera. The signal and noise are normalized by projecting it back to the scene (through the optics) to an angular space. It is argued that projecting the SNR back to the scene makes it capable of comparing complete low light camera systems, including the lens. We also explore the SNR defined and specified by image intensifier tubes, and show why it is not a good prediction for the performance of low light cameras.

Conference Presentation

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

Bradley L. Preece "A low-light camera SNR D* metric", Proc. SPIE 13045, Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XXXV, 130450G (7 June 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3014116

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