Figures of Merit for True - Color Image - Intensified Cameras

Figures of Merit (FOMs) are presented that quantify the relative range, color-based contrast, and color fidelity of color image intensified (night vision) systems. These FOMs allow for objective comparisons of differing color camera systems and are particularly useful for designing and optimizing True-Color Image-Intensified (TC-I2) cameras and associated color mixing and image processing algorithms. A system model in conjunction with the FOMs can be used to assess color and overall performance before actually investing in building hardware. For instance, the FOMs can be used to assess system performance when selecting components with spectral sensitivity such as color filters, the photocathode, or CCD/CMOS/EMCCD detectors. In addition to allowing for the comparison of different color images, the FOMs also allow for an objective performance comparison between color and monochrome I2 systems by accounting for both the reduced signal level and increased contrast that is associated with true-color imagery. The FOMs can be applied to spectral databases, simulated images, or images captured with different low light level cameras. For broad characterization of systems, techniques are demonstrated for application of the FOMs to simulations of a standardized color chart and a general spectral database. For more specific characterization, the FOMs can be applied to camera responses for specific target/background combinations.