Active night vision thermal control system using wavelength-temperature characteristic of light source

摘要

A thermal control system ( 11 ) for a light source ( 46 ) of a vision system ( 10 ) includes a heater ( 63 ) that is thermally coupled to the light source ( 46 ). A thermal sensor ( 60 ) is thermally coupled to the light source ( 46 ) and generates a temperature signal. A controller ( 50 ) is coupled to the heater ( 63 ) and to the thermal sensor ( 60 ). The controller ( 50 ) operates the heater ( 63 ) when the temperature signal is below a maximum temperature limit. The minimum temperature limit corresponds to the wavelength-temperature characteristic of the light source.