Design and realization of a high resolution (640 × 480) SWIR image acquisition system

A new image acquisition system module for extracting signals of high-resolution short wave infrared (SWIR) from a focal plane array (FPA) is presented in this study. The short wave infrared (SWIR—with wavelength about 900–1,700 nm) images have been proven its unique values in many applications such as military, semiconductor inspection and aviation security. The designs for the SWIR data acquisition system module consists of digitization and acquisition of FPA signals, design of synchronous dynamic random access memory controller and real-time image signal transformation and display. Three major steps involved towards a successful SWIR module—(1) Selection of hardware ICs according to specification for the FPA; (2) Design of a timing generator for the image acquisition system to control FPA and other ICs by Verilog HDL programming; (3) Integrate the individual modules on a PCB. The SWIR image output signals are successfully generated in the format of National Television System Committee (NSTC), which can be displayed on a common NTSC monitor, flat panel displays with an AV input terminal or a CRT display in a favorable speed of frame rate at 30 per second.