Alternative linear microgrid polarimeters: design, analysis, and demosaicing considerations.

Linear division of focal plane (DoFP), or integrated microgrid polarimeters, provide a measurement strategy for obtaining time-synchronized polarized intensity measurements across a scene. This is accomplished by masking pixels in the focal plane array sensor with a repeating pattern of different linear polarizers. The convention in industry has been to use a repeating 2×2 pattern of four linear polarizers with chosen polarizer orientation angles of {0,45,90,135}.

Conditional generative adversarial network demosaicing strategy for division of focal plane polarimeters.

Division of focal plane (DoFP), or integrated microgrid polarimeters, typically consist of a 2 × 2 mosaic of linear polarization filters overlaid upon a focal plane array sensor and obtain temporally synchronized polarized intensity measurements across a scene, similar in concept to a Bayer color filter array camera. However, the resulting estimated polarimetric images suffer a loss in resolution and can be plagued by aliasing due to the spatially-modulated microgrid measurement strategy. Demosaicing strategies have been proposed that attempt to minimize these effects, but result in some level of residual artifacts.

Adapting the HSV polarization-color mapping for regions with low irradiance and high polarization.

Many mappings from polarization into color have been developed so that polarization information can be displayed. One of the most common of these maps the angle of linear polarization into color hue and degree of linear polarization into color saturation, while preserving the irradiance information from the polarization data. While this strategy enjoys wide popularity, there is a large class of polarization images for which it is not ideal.

Super-resolution for imagery from integrated microgrid polarimeters.

Imagery from microgrid polarimeters is obtained by using a mosaic of pixel-wise micropolarizers on a focal plane array (FPA). Each distinct polarization image is obtained by subsampling the full FPA image. Thus, the effective pixel pitch for each polarization channel is increased and the sampling frequency is decreased.

Total elimination of sampling errors in polarization imagery obtained with integrated microgrid polarimeters.

Microgrid polarimeters operate by integrating a focal plane array with an array of micropolarizers. The Stokes parameters are estimated by comparing polarization measurements from pixels in a neighborhood around the point of interest. The main drawback is that the measurements used to estimate the Stokes vector are made at different locations, leading to a false polarization signature owing to instantaneous field-of-view (IFOV) errors.

Interpolation strategies for reducing IFOV artifacts in microgrid polarimeter imagery.

Microgrid polarimeters are composed of an array of micro-polarizing elements overlaid upon an FPA sensor. In the past decade systems have been designed and built in all regions of the optical spectrum. These systems have rugged, compact designs and the ability to obtain a complete set of polarimetric measurements during a single image capture.

The effects of thermal equilibrium and contrast in LWIR polarimetric images.

Long-wave infrared (LWIR) polarimetric signatures provide the potential for day-night detection and identification of objects in remotely sensed imagery. The source of optical energy in the LWIR is usually due to thermal emission from the object in question, which makes the signature dependent primarily on the target and not on the external environment. In this paper we explore the impact of thermal equilibrium and the temperature of (unseen) background objects on LWIR polarimetric signatures.

Dead pixel replacement in LWIR microgrid polarimeters.

LWIR imaging arrays are often affected by nonresponsive pixels, or "dead pixels." These dead pixels can severely degrade the quality of imagery and often have to be replaced before subsequent image processing and display of the imagery data. For LWIR arrays that are integrated with arrays of micropolarizers, the problem of dead pixels is amplified.

Generalized algebraic scene-based nonuniformity correction algorithm.

A generalization of a recently developed algebraic scene-based nonuniformity correction algorithm for focal plane array (FPA) sensors is presented. The new technique uses pairs of image frames exhibiting arbitrary one- or two-dimensional translational motion to compute compensator quantities that are then used to remove nonuniformity in the bias of the FPA response. Unlike its predecessor, the generalization does not require the use of either a blackbody calibration target or a shutter.

Radiometrically accurate scene-based nonuniformity correction for array sensors.

A novel radiometrically accurate scene-based nonuniformity correction (NUC) algorithm is described. The technique combines absolute calibration with a recently reported algebraic scene-based NUC algorithm. The technique is based on the following principle: First, detectors that are along the perimeter of the focal-plane array are absolutely calibrated; then the calibration is transported to the remaining uncalibrated interior detectors through the application of the algebraic scene-based algorithm, which utilizes pairs of image frames exhibiting arbitrary global motion.

An algebraic algorithm for nonuniformity correction in focal-plane arrays.

A scene-based algorithm is developed to compensate for bias nonuniformity in focal-plane arrays. Nonuniformity can be extremely problematic, especially for mid- to far-infrared imaging systems. The technique is based on use of estimates of interframe subpixel shifts in an image sequence, in conjunction with a linear-interpolation model for the motion, to extract information on the bias nonuniformity algebraically.