PixonVision ASIC for Guided Munitions

Vision systems of guided munitions must contend with these critical issues:1. Distant targets, which give intrinsically low signals,2. Strong backgrounds (visible or infrared), which elevate sensor noise and reduce target contrast,3. Atmospheric turbulence and instrumental diffraction, which blur tracker images, further reducing signal-to-noise ratio and tracking fidelity,4. Rapidly moving targets, which require real-time scene evaluation, and5. Small munition platforms, which require a compact, power-efficient imaging system.The performance of current vision systems in guided munitions would benefit greatly if electronics could be developed to mitigate these problems. Pixon LLC and DigiVision have recently developed and demonstrated a general-purpose, real-time imageprocessor-implemented in field-programmable gate arrays-that offers a theoretically optimal solution to issues (1)-(4). This hardware provides a factor of 1.5 to 2 improvement in resolution, a factor of 3 to 4 reduction in noise, and optimally remaps thedynamic range of the image for the human eye or machine vision systems. The objective of this proposal is to augment this powerful processing hardware by adding a multi-frame averaging capability, and solving problem (5) by developing a design plan forPhase II implementation of the improved processor in an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The proposed technology development would provide significant increases in senstivity, image resolution, and tracking fidelity in guided-munitionsapplications. In particular, the small-footprint, low-power ASIC platform greatly expands the range of applications from national and theater missile defense to other defense applications such as night-vision equipment, targeting sights, and other compactreal-time displays. In the consumer and profession video arena, the device may find dual-use applications in security systems, home and professional camcorders, television monitors, and digital theater. Such commodity-oriented applications hold theprospect of significantly reducing per-unit costs, thereby conferring parallel advantages to a broad range of potential defense applications.The proposed technology development would provide significant increases in sensitivity, image resolution, andtracking fidelity in guided-munitions applications. In particular, the small-footprint, low-power ASIC platform greatly expands the range of applications from national and theater missile defense to other defense applications such as night-visionequipment, targeting sights, and other compact real-time displays. In the consumer and professional video arena, the device may find dual-use applications in security systems, home and professional camcorders, television monitors, and digital theater. Suchcommodity-oriented applications hold the prospect of significantly reducing per-unit costs, thereby conferring parallel advantages to a broad range of potential defense applications.