Method for Evaluation of the Shape and Dimensions of a Photosensitive Element of an IR FPA

Features of the measurement of the NEP of scanning IR FPAs for projecting of the image of a small object into the plane of the array of photosensitive elements are considered. It is shown that the existing method for the measurement of the NEP of IR FPAs yields an incorrect result when the shape and dimensions of the photosensitive element (PSE) are not taken into account. A new technique for evaluation of the shape and dimensions of the PSE based on the application of the Richardson–Lucy iterative deconvolution method is described. Results of application of the proposed technique on real photodetector modules (PMs) are presented. Significant differences in the sizes of PSEs of different PM subarrays are revealed. The use of the image of a horizontal slit to correct the nonuniformity of the voltage sensitivity is proposed.