Dynamic infrared scene simulation using grayscale modulation of digital micro-mirror device

Abstract

Dynamic infrared scene simulation is for discovering and solving the problems encountered in designing, developing and manufacturing infrared imaging guidance weapons. The infrared scene simulation is explored by using the digital grayscale modulation method. The infrared image modulation model of a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) is established and then the infrared scene simulator prototype which is based on DMD grayscale modulation is developed. To evaluate its main parameters such as resolution, contrast, minimum temperature difference, gray scale, various DMD subsystems such as signal decoding, image normalization, synchronization drive, pulse width modulation (PWM) and DMD chips are designed. The infrared scene simulator is tested on a certain infrared missile seeker. The test results show preliminarily that the infrared scene simulator has high gray scale, small geometrical distortion and highly resolvable imaging resolution and contrast and yields high-fidelity images, thus being able to meet the requirements for the infrared scene simulation inside a laboratory.