IR Detector Digital Coordinate Generator Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IR detector systems for hostile target detection require significant processing resources, leading to slow operation and high latency due to reliance on numerical signal processing methods.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a digital coordinate generator on a focal plane array (FPA) detector within the IR detector system to generate physical X-Y coordinate data directly, reducing the need for subsequent numerical processing and enabling concurrent availability of target coordinate data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If numerical signal processing methods are used to locate and generate target coordinate data, then measurement precision is improved, but processing time increases and system speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing coordinate transformation data in lookup tables within the FPA detector. When a target is detected, the system directly retrieves pre-computed coordinate data from these tables rather than performing real-time numerical processing, thus achieving both high precision and fast response
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/computational signal processing system with an optical/electronic coordinate generation system integrated directly on the FPA detector. This substitution eliminates the need for separate numerical processing steps while maintaining measurement precision through hardware-based coordinate calculation
2Measurement precision
If numerical signal processing methods are used to generate target coordinate data, then measurement precision is improved, but processing resources are significantly consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coordinate generation function with the FPA detector by integrating lookup tables and coordinate calculation logic directly into the detector hardware. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate high-power processing units, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining precision through hardware-accelerated coordinate generation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses lookup tables that store pre-computed coordinate transformation data, effectively copying previously calculated values into hardware structures for rapid retrieval. This approach avoids repeating complex numerical calculations while preserving measurement precision
3Measurement precision
If numerical processing techniques in software are used to generate coordinate data, then measurement precision is improved, but latency is significantly introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs coordinate transformation calculations in advance and stores the results in lookup tables within the FPA detector. During actual target detection, the system simply retrieves pre-computed coordinates from these tables, eliminating real-time processing delays while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces software-based numerical processing with hardware-based coordinate generation integrated on the FPA detector. This substitution reduces detection latency by performing coordinate calculations in parallel with signal detection rather than as a sequential post-processing step
Data Source
AI summary
An Infra Red detector system and method is disclosed that implements a digital coordinate generator onto a 2D focal plane array infrared detector. The method used in this form of the invention by the IR detector system, generates X-Y coordinate data for pixels containing detected target data. Advantageously, it reduces subsequent signal post processing required to generate the same data using numerical processing techniques in software and the latency that this introduces.