Digital Filters For Infrared Target Acquisition Sensors

This paper describes an extension of the linear matched filter concept as it applies to the detection of resolved targets embedded in spatially correlated background clutter. The practical problems associated with the design of filters matched to sets of targets are discussed. The use of multiple or parallel filters for the detection of dissimilar targets or target ensembles is also described. Finally, the performance of ensemble matched filters and parallel filters is compared through the use of a twenty scene background data set.