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MIRAGE, Multi-spectral Infra-Red Animation Generation Equipment, built by Santa Barbara Infrared, is the state-of-the art in dynamic IR scene projection.

The advanced emitter array yields superior uniformity, stability, and dynamic performance, with minimum crosstalk and scene noise. Scene data input to the chip is purely digital, with on-chip 16-bit D/A converters yielding high thermal resolution and low susceptibility to noise.

MIRAGE is a complete IR scene projector system, rather than a set of components to be integrated by the end user. The Digital Emitter Engine is easy to incorporate onto a flight motion simulator (FMS) or optics table. In fact, SBIR's custom kinematic mount between the DEE and optics allows the DEE to be disconnected, moved from one test station to another, and reconnected in a matter of minutes, allowing the DEE to support multiple test configurations.

MIRAGE is the most complete, highest performance, easiest-to-use dynamic scene projector available to the IR test community.

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Complete Hardware Solution
MIRAGE is designed as a complete turnkey infrared scene projector. Signal processing electronics, power supplies, emitter array cooling, calibration (non-uniformity correction) hardware, and user interface software are all integrated with the MIRAGE emitter engine. This complete system accepts digital (Silicon Graphics DVP2/DDO2) or analog (RS170/NTSC/PAL) video input, and delivers a high-fidelity infrared scene to the user's optics. The difficulties and risk of system integration have been taken care of in SBIR's product-oriented approach to the MIRAGE design, so the end user can devote his time to testing his deliverable hardware, rather than trying to create and debug a scene projector from disparate, unmatched components.

Advanced Emitter Array
The fundamental component of the MIRAGE scene projector is its advanced micro-emitter array. This state-of-the-art integrated circuit is constructed of thermally isolated mechanical structures with deposited thin film resistive heaters, fabricated on an advanced sub-micron silicon read-in integrated circuit (RIIC). D/A converters, row and column addressing, and unit cell buffers are all integrated on-chip, with a pure digital data interface to the RIIC — no cumbersome external D/A chassis, no high-speed analog lines driving the emitter array. The pixel unit cell resistor drive circuit is designed to mitigate the effects of mixed-signal (digital and analog) ASIC noise, and to provide excellent emitter power supply noise rejection. This power supply rejection along with triple-level metal layers in the RIIC for uniform current distribution, minimizes the output noise and maximizes the dynamic range of the MIRAGE scene simulator. Proprietary unit cell design minimizes thermal and electrical crosstalk.

High Accuracy and Stability
The emitter array is fabricated using a proprietary hybrid approach that eliminates constraints normally encountered during the fabrication of emitters onto silicon substrates. This approach allows the use of wide variety of emitter materials and high processing temperatures not compatible with silicon substrates, yielding emitters with superior short-term and long-term thermal stability.

Highly Integrated Digital Emitter Engine
The Digital Emitter Engine (DEE) is a compact, lightweight, rugged enclosure for the emitter array and its support electronics. The DEE comprises a vacuum dewar for the emitter, a heatsink for emitter cooling, local regulation for power supplies, a fiber optic receiver for scene data, and a precision kinematic mount for the optical interface. Input to the DEE is DC power and refrigerated coolant (from the Thermal Support Subsystem), and scene digital data (via a fiber optic line from the Command and Control Electronics). The lightweight and small size of the DEE make it the most compact IR scene projector available for FMS mounting.

Snapshot Update
Other emitter array designs sequentially update the analog level in each unit cell; as soon as each pixel's signal level is presented to the RIIC, that level is immediately transferred to the emitter. This has the effect that during the time a new image is being read into the array, different emitters on the array will be changing intensity and settling to new levels at different times. At low frame rates, this significantly limits the amount of time that a settled, unchanging image can be presented to a sensor in the Unit Under Test (UUT). As the frame rate increases, the period when the entire image is stable can disappear completely, with the last rows of the "current" frame still settling as the upper rows are already changing to display the data from the next frame.

To eliminate this constraint on higher-speed operation, the RIIC for the MIRAGE emitter array implements a "snapshot" architecture. All pixels on the emitter array change and settle simultaneously, maximizing the time during which the displayed image is stable — even at the highest frame rate — and greatly simplifying the task of synchronizing the scene simulator to the UUT.

Automated Non-Uniformity Correction
Non-uniformity correction (NUC) is applied to each pixel in real time. An individual correction curve for each pixel, defined by up to 32 data points, resides in the C&CE. Data for determination of those points is collected in the Calibration Radiometry System (CRS), an optional accessory for the scene projector which automates the process of NUC data collection. The CRS compares emitter output on a pixel-by-pixel basis to the output of a pair of blackbodies, yielding a uniform and accurate radiant output over the full dynamic range of the emitter.

Built In Test (BIT)
An extensive BIT assures that the MIRAGE system is functioning properly during use. BIT is automatically invoked on power up, and a continuous background (transparent to the user) BIT is performed during operation. Two levels of error are reported: errors conditions that may damage the hardware will invoke an orderly hardware shutdown to protect the system; less serious errors are reported to the user, but continued operation of the system is permitted.

Graphical User Interface
A Windows NT graphical user interface provides a central control panel for system configuration and operation. The GUI automates the complex setup and sequencing of the instruments within the MIRAGE system as it moves from its initial power-on state through real-time operation. The straightforward interface greatly reduces the load on the operator, prevents any inadvertent damage to the hardware, and provides continuous system status and built-in-test reporting. For users who want to control the MIRAGE from their own facility control computer, the full GUI functionality is also provided in the form of C library routines (DLLs) to allow the user to write code to control the MIRAGE from his own application.

S P E C I F I C A T I O N S

For more information about MIRAGE, see Technical Information

O R D E R   I N F O R M A T I O N

MIRAGE is a standard product, but many installations will require some customizations or support options. For example, SBIR will design and fabricate custom components to meet your requirements (e.g., FMS/optics table mounting fixtures, custom collimators, other optical systems, etc.). SBIR will also provide a number of customer selected options (e.g., CRS, vacuum pump, optics table, etc.). Plus, the Scene Simulator Division of SBIR will provide a complete IR Scene Simulation System to meet your overall simulation/test requirements. Let us design an open or closed loop scene simulation system consisting of a real-time scene generator, real-time simulation computer, a 3-axis or 5-axis FMS system, and sensor interface to meet your unique sensor test application. Contact SBIR for expert applications assistance.