Proceedings Article | 24 June 2016
Proc. SPIE. 9820, Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XXVII
KEYWORDS: Targeting Task Performance metric, Signal to noise ratio, Received signal strength, Targeting Task Performance metric, Wavelets, Target acquisition, Signal to noise ratio, Performance modeling, Eye, Image quality, Wavelet transforms, Imaging systems
Target acquisition performance depends strongly on the contrast of the target. The Targeting Task Performance (TTP)
metric, within the Night Vision Integrated Performance Model (NV-IPM), uses a combination of resolution, signal-to-noise
ratio (SNR), and contrast to predict and model system performance. While the dependence on resolution and SNR
are well defined and understood, defining a robust and versatile contrast metric for a wide variety of acquisition tasks is
more difficult. In this correspondence, a wavelet contrast metric (WCM) is developed under the assumption that the
human eye processes spatial differences in a manner similar to a wavelet transform. The amount of perceivable
information, or useful wavelet coefficients, is used to predict the total viewable contrast to the human eye. The WCM is
intended to better match the measured performance of the human vision system for high-contrast, low-contrast, and low-observable
targets. After further validation, the new contrast metric can be incorporated using a modified TTP metric
into the latest Army target acquisition software suite, the NV-IPM.
