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...

Optical Sciences Corporation has designed and implemented a 116 inch exit pupil relief optical system for dynamic infrared scene projection to flight table mounted seekers at the U.S. Army Missile Command (AMCOM) Research, Development, and Engineering Center (RDEC). The optical system collimates the output from a 512x512 element resistor array in the 3-5µm waveband. The large pupil stand-off is necessary to support projector operation in a millimeter wave (MMW) anechoic chamber. The facility is designed to stimulate a common aperture, dual-band seeker with millimeter wave and IR imagery via a dichroic beam combiner. The dichroic beam combiner is located in the anechoic chamber and reflects the IR scene while transmitting MMW signals. The optical system exhibits distortion of less than 0.5% over the full field of view and chromatic focal shift of less than 10% of the diffraction limited range. The performance of the system is limited by the diffraction limit. This document describes the simulation environment and arrangement, outlines the design procedure from predesign and achromatization to final tolerancing, and presents final test data and sample imagery.Keywords: Infrared, Scene Projection, Simulation, FPA Testing, Hardware-in-Loop, Optical Design, Collimator. OVERVIEW Dual-band Testing RequirementSome of the latest seeker designs utilize a common aperture millimeter wave (MMW) radar and imaging IR (IIR) sensor. The sensor is capable of detecting and homing on targets using both the MMW radar and the broadband IIR sensor simultaneously. The dual-band sensor provides the seeker with an all-weather, autonomous, hit-to-kill capability for many types of targets.The AMCOM Advanced Simulation Center (ASC), located within the RDEC, provides HWIL simulation support to tactical precision guided missile and submunition programs for the U.S. Army, DoD agencies, NATO members, and other U.S. allies.1 As such, the ASC requires the capability for stimulating common aperture dual-band sensors. Common aperture testing is made possible at AMCOM through the use of a dual-band combiner capable of transmitting MMW while at the same time reflecting broadband IR radiation. In the MMW environment, antennae located at the opposite end of the chamber are used as radiation sources while, for the IR, a Honeywell resistor array based IR scene projector generates dynamic scenes. The Honeywell resistor array currently being used is called the Bright Resistive Infrared Thermal Emitter I (BRITE I). BRITE DescriptionThe BRITE I is one of several dynamic IR scene projector technologies currently being applied at the AMCOM ASC. The BRITE is a two-dimensional array of resistive elements that emit selectively across the entire MWIR and LWIR spectrum. The individual elements are thin film silicon nitride membranes over CMOS drive electronics arranged in 512x512 format. The array has a pixel pitch of 50um and the emitters have a temporal response of approximately 5 milliseconds. The complete projector system also includes drive electronics...

No abstract

The U.S. Army's Research, Development, and Engineering Command's (RDECOM) Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) provides Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) test support to numerous tactical and theatre missile programs. Critical to the successful execution of these tests is the state-of-the-art technologies employed in the visible and infrared scene projector systems. This paper describes the results of characterization tests performed on new mid-wave infrared (MWIR) quantum well laser diodes recently provided to AMRDEC by the Naval Research Labs and Sarnoff Industries. These lasers provide a +10X improvement in MWIR output power over the previous technology of lead-salt laser diodes. Performance data on output power, linearity, and solid-angle coverage are presented. A discussion of the laser packages is also provided.