Relationship analysis between transient thermal control mode and image quality for an aerial camera.
Thermal control and temperature uniformity are important factors for aerial cameras. This paper describes the problems with existing systems and introduces modifications. The modifications have improved the temperature uniformity from 12.8°C to 4.5°C, and they enable images to be obtained at atmospheric and low pressures (35.4 KPa). First, thermal optical analysis of the camera is performed by using the finite element analysis method. This modeled the effect of temperature level and temperature gradient on imaging. Based on the results of the analysis, the corresponding improvements to the thermal control measures are implemented to improve the temperature uniformity. The relationship between the temperature control mode and temperature uniformity is analyzed. The improved temperature field corresponding to the thermal optical analysis is studied. Taking into account that the convection will be affected by the low pressure, the paper analyzes the thermal control effect, and imaging results are obtained in low pressure. The experimental results corroborate the analyses.