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The Micromirror Array Projector System (MAPS) is an advanced dynamic scene projector system developed by Optical Sciences Corporation (OSC) for Hardware-In-the-Loop (HWIL) simulation and sensor test applications. The MAPS is based upon the Texas Instruments Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) which has been modified to project high resolution, realistic imagery suitable for testing sensors and seekers operating in the UV, visible, NIR, and IR wavebands. Since the introduction of the first MAPS in 2001, OSC has continued to improve the technology and develop systems for new projection and Electro-Optical (E-O) test applications. This paper reviews the basic MAPS design and performance capabilities. We also present example projectors and E-O test sets designed and fabricated by OSC in the last 7 years. Finally, current research efforts and new applications of the MAPS technology are discussed.

The Micromirror Array Projector System (MAPS) is a state-of-the-art dynamic scene projector developed by Optical Sciences Corporation (OSC) for Hardware-In-the-Loop (HWIL) simulation and sensor test applications. Since the introduction of the first MAPS in 2001, OSC has continued to improve the technology and develop systems for new projection and test applications. The MAPS is based upon the Texas Instruments Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) which has been modified to project high resolution, realistic imagery suitable for testing sensors and seekers operating in the UV, visible, NIR, and IR wavebands. This paper reviews the basic design and describes recent developments and new applications of the MAPS technology. Recent developments for the MAPS include increasing the format of the micromirror array to 1280x1024, increasing the video frame rate to >230 Hz, development of a DMD active cooling system, and development of a high-temperature illumination blackbody.Keywords: Infrared, Scene Projection, Digital Micromirror Device, Simulation, FPA testing, Hardware-in-the-loop. INTRODUCTIONThe Micromirror Array Projector System (MAPS) is a state-of-the-art dynamic scene projector developed by Optical Sciences Corporation (OSC) for Hardware-In-the-Loop(HWIL) simulation and sensor test applications. Since the introduction of the first MAPS in 2001, OSC has continued to improve the technology and develop systems for new projection and test applications. The MAPS is based upon the Texas Instruments Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) which has been modified by OSC for sensor test applications. This projector technology is capable of producing very realistic dynamic scenes in the UV, visible, NIR, and IR wavebands. The projector technology offers several attractive features including high spatial resolution, high frame rates, no dead pixels, and excellent uniformity. OSC now offers a family of commercial projector products including projectors, test-sets, and projector engines. In addition, the projector may be customized in a variety of configurations which are tailored to specific applications. DMD BACKGROUNDThe DMD is a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) which has a 2-D array of individually controlled aluminum micro-mirrors. The DMD is the spatial light modulator in TI's Digital Light Processing (DLP) system. DLP engines are manufactured by TI and sold to OEMs for use in display products such as business projection systems, cinema, and High Definition Televisions (HDTVs). DMDs are currently commercially available in a variety of formats with resolutions up to 2048x1024. The latest generation of DMDs contains micromirrors on a 13.6 µm pitch which tilt ±12.5° mechanically. However, we are still utilizing DMDs which have micromirrors on a 17.0 µm pitch and tilt ±10.0° mechanically. Figure 1 shows a 1024x768 DMD package, and Figure 2 is an SEM image of the micromirrors with a grain of salt on the surface of the device.As depicted in Figure 3, each micromirror in the DMD can tilt in one of two directions (±20° or...

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A dynamic infrared (IR) scene projector which is based upon diode lasers is now operational at the US Army Missile Command's (MICOM) Research, Development, and Engineering Center (RDEC). The projector is referred to as the Laser Diode Array Projector (LDAP). It utilizes a 64-element linear array of Pb-salt diode lasers coupled with a high-speed optical scanning system, drive electronics and synchronization electronics to generate in-band IR scenes. The projector is interfaced to a real-time scene generation computer which is capable of 3-D scene generation. This paper describes the process for calibration of the projector and the correction of spatial non-uniformities which are inherent in the projector design. Each laser within the system must be calibrated so that its output power is linear with respect to input gray level. The calibration table for each laser is stored in the projector electronics memory and is applied in real-time. In addition, spatial variations in perceived pixel intensity must be corrected such that the output scene is uniform. Gain and offset correction factors for each pixel are used to correct the spatial non-uniformities. The gain and offset terms are applied to each pixel in real-time by the projector drive electronics. The projector's overall performance characteristics, including the non-uniformity correction (NUC) performance level achieved to-date, are presented in the paper. Issues associated with NUC limitations are also discussed. Sample images generated with the projector and captured by an InSb FPA sensor are included in the text.