Low-Light-Level 640x480-pixel CCD Camera for Night Vision Applications

Abstract

We report progress made over the past two years on a visible low-light-level 640 x 480- pixel CCD imager and the camera electronics developed for night vision applications. The CCD camera, operating at 30 frames per second, has demonstrated good performance to below starlight illuminance (<1 mLux) conditions. The high sensitivity of the CCD imager is the result of back-illumination and low-noise readout amplifiers. To improve the CCD bright-light-source performance, antiblooming drains have been integrated into the CCD architecture that inhibit pixel blooming for signal levels up to at least 105 times pixel full well. Sample CCD imagery under controlled and field illumination conditions, extending from full moon to overcast starlight, is shown.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA399431

Entities

People

  • A. M. Waxman
  • B. E. Burke
  • D. M. Craig
  • R. K. Reich
  • W. H. Mcgonagle

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Amplifiers
  • Blooming
  • Cameras
  • Detectors
  • Dynamic Range
  • Electronics
  • Energy Bands
  • Illumination
  • Light Sources
  • Low Light Levels
  • Low Noise
  • Night Vision
  • Noise
  • Photographs
  • Quantum Efficiency
  • Starlight

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Circadian Sleep-Wake Regulation and Chronobiology
  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics