Geometric and radiometric calibration and test apparatus for electro-optical thermal-ir instruments and designed to simulate different angularly-extending thermal-ir sources with different geometries and with thermal-ir emissions containing different hot-cold transitions

A geometric and radiometric calibration and test apparatus for electro-optical thermal-IR (8-12 micron) instruments and designed to simulate angularly-extending thermal-IR sources with different geometries and with thermal-IR emissions containing hot-cold transitions. The apparatus comprises an IR collimator having an optical axis and a focal plane; a thermal-IR source movable relative to the collimator to be controllably arrangeable and displaceable in the focal plane of the collimator, and operable to radiate thermal-IR radiations towards the collimator; and a kit of masks interchangeably arrangeable in front of the thermal-IR source and having geometric and radiometric properties to cause the thermal-IR radiation reproduced on the electro-optical instrument to be calibrated or tested to contain different hot-cold transitions.