Santa Barbara Infrared manufactures a wide range of targets for visible, and infrared/FLIR electro-optical testing. These targets complement our complete line of Visible and IR test products. Our targets are designed to function with one of SBIR’s target wheels. Utilizing a variety of manufacturing techniques, including conventional machining, photochemical etching, electro-deposition, electrical discharge machining (EDM) and laser cutting. SBIR targets are manufactured to exacting mechanical tolerances. SBIR manufactures all of the targets specified by MIL-STD-1859 and the Tri-Service Guide for thermal imager testing. Note: standard feature tolerance is +/- 0.0005″ for target features larger than 0.0050″. For targets 0.0049″ or smaller the tolerance is +/- 10% of feature size down to .0030″. For features below 0.0030″, tolerance is +/-.0002″. For example, a pinhole target that is 0.0030″ diameter would have a standard tolerance of +/- 0.0003″. Tighter tolerances are available if required.

Santa Barbara Infrared manufactures a wide variety of standard and custom target wheels, to conveniently and accurately position multiple targets in front of a blackbody source. The SBIR 300 Series Target Wheels are specifically designed to be used with SBIR’s standard differential blackbody sources and integrating sphere light sources. These motorized target wheels are available in several standard models to accommodate different sizes and numbers of targets. SBIR’s target wheel/blackbody systems support manual or automated EO sensor tests such as MRT, MDT, MTF, and NEDT. The 300 Series Target Wheels integrate with SBIR’s Infinity Series Blackbodies and VSX Series Integrating Spheres to quickly and precisely position IR targets for accurate differential temperature or luminance generation. Wheel position is controlled from the front panel of the blackbody controller, or via its optional IEEE 488, RS-232 or ethernet interfaces. A turnkey IR target projector can also be created by adding one of SBIR’s STC Series Collimators and an Infinity Series Blackbody or Infinity VSX Series Integrating Sphere.

The RTB 3000 Detector Test Bench from Santa Barbara Infrared (SBIR) is a flexible integrated IR detector test station for evaluation of single element detectors, linear arrays, and focal plane arrays. The RTB 3000 provides the radiometric stimulus necessary to perform accurate IR detector testing in both laboratory and production environments. The SBIR system is designed to be integrated with most data acquisition systems to perform the automated tests and analysis required for complete detector characterization. Alternately, the RTB 3000 can interface with the user’s own detector support electronics to perform detector testing and analysis. The blackbody sources and optics of the RTB 3000 are designed to be quickly and accurately reconfigured for flood-mode, focused-mode and collimated-mode testing. Tests such as MTF, crosstalk, spot scan, and D* are easily performed with excellent accuracy and repeatability. The RTB 3000 allows rapid set up and simple documentation of the test configuration, yielding accurate, consistent test results. This integrated approach removes many of the errors associated with set up and alignment of multiple test configurations.

The Boresight Alignment Module (BAM) is used to co-align multiple imaging systems to each other and to laser transmitters. The BAM consists of a silicon or InGaAs camera rigidly held and combined optically with the target wheel. Through autocollimation, the line of sight of the collimator is transferred to the camera, creating a boresight reference. The laser camera captures laser energy from the UUT laser transmitter. The image of the laser spot is digitized with 12 bit accuracy, a centroiding function is performed by the IRWindows™5 software, and the measured off-set from boresight is reported. Boresighting is the primary test performed with this module, but the BAM is also capable of other beam-profile related tests, including divergence measurement

The Temporal Energy Module (TEM) from Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. is used to perform energy and pulse diagnostic tests on laser transmitters. It incorporates a fast detector and a pyroelectric energy detector, along with fixed and variable attenuators that support the characterization of most military laser systems available today. The TEM digitizes the fast detector signal at a rate of 4 Giga samples per second, resulting in clean and reproducible test results. The detectors in the TEM system operate between 900nm to 1700nm and it measures laser pulse energy, laser pulse width, laser period and pulse amplitude. The Temporal Energy Module accepts beams up to 5” in diameter and is fully integrated with SBIR’s IRWindows™5 automated test software, providing accurate and repeatable test results.

The Laser Ranging Test Module from Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. provides the capability to perform range accuracy and receiver sensitivity tests, among others, on laser rangefinders and laser receivers. It uses up to three different laser diodes (1064nm, 1540nm and 1570nm) and a fiber network to provide accurate and dynamic high precision pulsed laser output. At the core is a calibrated detector and electrically variable attenuators to accurately set pulse power, along with a sophisticated timing circuit that dynamically simulates ranges from 50 meters to 60,000 meters. The LRTM can be used in three different modes. In the first mode, the LRTM operates as a continuously pulsed laser source to test receivers. In this mode, the wavelength, pulse rate and pulse power can be set by the user. The LRTM can also be used as an electrically triggered pulsed laser source to test Laser Spot Trackers. In the electrically triggered mode the LRTM provides a laser pulse for every trigger pulse. The wavelength and pulse power are set by the user. The LRTM can also be optically triggered, returning single or double laser pulses to test laser range finder accuracy. The user sets wavelength, pulse power, range for first and if required second pulse. The second pulse power and range can be controlled to provide accurate ranging in an obstructed environment. The LRTM has a reference flat mirror that can be used to align the LRTM to a UUT through autocollimation. Infrared and Visible targets are provided to properly aim a UUT at the Laser Range Finder.

he Multi-Spectral Source (patent pending) is an integrating sphere based output source with integral extended area blackbody and pulsed laser sources (1.06nm, 1.57nm) that is used for simultaneous boresight and image resolution testing. The laser sources synchronize with adjustable delay for range-gated camera testing. The MSS system is designed to support testing of gated cameras that are integrated into a multisensor package. The MSS combines both an infrared and laser source, allowing the gated camera to be boresighted with an IR sensor. In addition, the MSS serves as a uniform backlight for a variety of resolution targets. Each system includes an MSS Source Sphere, System Controller, calibrated iProbe(s), interconnect cable and power cable. These systems are easily integrated with other SBIR products including target wheels, collimators, source select stages, range stages, boresight modules, visible illuminators, and laser test modules.

SBIR’s Pulsed Laser Diode Target Projector is designed to provide a uniform collimated pulsed laser output at 1064nm. It can be used for testing both laser receivers and detectors, and also alignment of quadrant detectors used in laser guided missiles. The system includes a Newtonian type collimator, laser source and controller, and fiber optic/pinhole target assembly. The system can be operated manually via the front panel of the controller or remotely via an ethernet interface to a PC.

Santa Barbara Infrared, Inc. offers an extensive family of test systems and components that test and characterize the performance of laser range finders, designators, illuminators and spot trackers. In this section, detailed information is provided for the following: • Laser Rangefinder Test Module (LRTM) to test ranging accuracy and receiver sensitivity. • Boresight Alignment Module (BAM) for aligning multiple infrared, laser and visible imaging systems to the same point in space. • Temporal Energy Module (TEM) provides a method of measuring laser pulse energy, pulse period and pulse width in a single instrument. • Pulsed Laser Diode (PLD) that provides a uniform collimated pulsed laser output at 1064 nm. • Multi-Spectral Source (MSS) which offers both an integrated differential blackbody source with dual pulsed laser sources.

IRWindows™5 from Santa Barbara Infrared is an advanced software tool that automates the setup, execution, data collection and results analysis for industry standard performance testing of infrared, visible and laser systems. IRWindows™5 is the most advanced commercially available IR/EO sensor test software package in the industry today. It operates under Windows™ OS and is delivered installed on a high-end PC computer platform with frame grabber(s) selected to support UUT video formats. It is also available as a software only package. IRWindows™5 combined with SBIR target projectors provides test engineers and technicians a turnkey, automated hardware/software solution for full-spectrum sensor testing. The most significant features that differentiate IRWindows™5 from previous versions are: • Overhauled intuitive GUI with all major functions just one click away • gRPC-based remote interface support for efficient embedding into applications like ATLAS, NI™TestStand and more. There are also several features that are significant evolutions to its existing functionality, including: • Enhanced SQLite database and test reporting software allowing analysts to connect a third party app directly to the database and mine large sets of data for trend analysis • Net-Centric Data Compatibility • Incorporation of several live analysis tools including ROI statistics from previously run test routines, continuous MTF and continuous boresight capabilities.