Dr. Martin Gerken Profile

Dr. Martin Gerken

Manager Technology at HENSOLDT Optronics GmbH

SPIE Involvement:

Conference Program Committee | Author

Proceedings Article | 10 June 2024 Presentation

A high-performance multispectral 3-sensor zoom camera with fully achromatized common entrance optics for submarine optronics masts

Christian Lehmann, Martin Gerken, Martin Huebner

Proceedings Volume PC13042, PC1304204 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3013631

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Cameras, Zoom lenses, Optoelectronics, CMOS sensors, Situational awareness sensors, Short wave infrared radiation, Ocean optics, Image processing, Pulsed laser operation

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Proceedings Article | 10 October 2023 Presentation

Multispectral imaging in defense applications

Martin Gerken

Proceedings Volume PC12687, PC1268706 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2682149

KEYWORDS: Image fusion, Defense and security, Multispectral imaging, Cameras, Thermography, Sensing systems, Thermal imaging cameras, Short wave infrared radiation, Sensor technology, Reconnaissance

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Proceedings Article | 30 September 2022 Presentation + Paper

Multispectral imaging in the SWIR: theory, practical approach, and expected performance

M. Gerken, H. Schlemmer

Proceedings Volume 12234, 122340D (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2639592

KEYWORDS: Short wave infrared radiation, Cameras, Optical filters, Visible radiation, Colorimetry, Multispectral imaging, Visualization, Vegetation, Reflectivity, RGB color model

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Proceedings Article | 27 May 2022 Paper

Contrast enhancement of SWIR images based on four filter discrimination and principle components analysis

Martin Gerken, Harry Schlemmer

Proceedings Volume 12107, 121071J (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2620649

KEYWORDS: Short wave infrared radiation, Cameras, Optical filters, Visualization, Sensors, Multispectral imaging, Colorimetry, RGB color model, Image filtering, Camouflage

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Proceedings Article | 7 May 2019 Presentation + Paper

Color discrimination of a short wave colorimeter

M. Gerken, H. Schlemmer, T. Becker

Proceedings Volume 11002, 1100210 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2519718

KEYWORDS: Short wave infrared radiation, Cameras, RGB color model, Camouflage, Optical filters, Visualization, Principal component analysis, Colorimetry, Image filtering, Vegetation

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Proceedings Article | 9 May 2018 Presentation + Paper

Colorimetry and multispectral imaging in the shortwave infrared

M. Gerken, H. Schlemmer, C. Siemens

Proceedings Volume 10624, 1062409 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2305298

KEYWORDS: Short wave infrared radiation, Optical filters, Reflectivity, Cameras, Colorimetry, Sensors, Image filtering, Visible radiation, Multispectral imaging, Shortwaves

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Proceedings Article | 3 May 2017 Presentation + Paper

Military reconnaissance platform for the spectral range from the visible to the MWIR

M. Gerken, J. Fritze, M. Münzberg, M. Weispfenning

Proceedings Volume 10177, 101770C (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2264440

KEYWORDS: Video, Interfaces, Sensors, Cameras, Mid-IR, Reconnaissance, Short wave infrared radiation, Laser range finders, Thermography, Visible radiation, Transmitters, Zoom lenses

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The reconnaissance capability of a military observation and targeting platform is mainly driven by the performance of the used sensors. In general, the MWIR thermal imager is the primary sensor and the use of a visible camera increases the identification capability of the platform during day for very long observation ranges. In addition to the imaging sensors a laser pointer, a laser rangefinder (LRF), and a combined laser rangefinder/ designator (LRF/D) completes the sensor suite. As LRF a single pulse eye safe rangefinder based on an OPO shifted Nd:YAG transmitter can be used. The alternative LRF/D uses an diode laser pumped dual wavelength OPO/Nd:YAG transmitter and can be operated either at 1570 nm or at 1064 nm with a pulse rate of maximum 25 pps [1].

A MWIR thermal imager [2] with a 1280x1024 MWIR detector and an optical zoom range between 1.2° and 20° horizontal fields of view provides a HD-SDI video stream in the 720p or 1080p standard. A camera build in software image stabilizer and a smart tone mapping algorithm improves the reconnaissance results for the observer.

A combined camera covers the visible, NIR and SWIR spectral range [3] using a common entrance optics. The resolution of the color camera Si-CMOS chip is 1920x1080 and of the InGaAs focal plane array it is 640x512 detector pixel. The combined VIS/NIR/SWIR camera provides improved ranging under hazy and misty atmospheric conditions and also improved detection of laser spots e.g. of the integrated laser designator with high sensitivity in the spectral range between 450 nm up to 1700 nm, most of the military lasers are operating in the NIR and SWIR spectral band [3]. The combination of the sensors in the platform improves significantly the operational use. The application of the described platform is not limited to military scout vehicles, the available sensors are also integrated in a targeting platform with similar performances but other environmental demands.

The possibilities, improvements in comparison of existing platforms and potential upgrades are discussed.

Proceedings Article | 3 May 2016 Paper

Unified characterization of imaging sensors from VIS through LWIR

M. Gerken, H. Schlemmer, M. Münzberg

Proceedings Volume 9820, 98200G (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2224182

KEYWORDS: Short wave infrared radiation, Sensors, Near infrared, Cameras, Minimum resolvable temperature difference, Long wavelength infrared, Atmospheric sensing, Optical sensors, Mid-IR, Ions

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Proceedings Article | 24 June 2014 Paper

Compact multispectral continuous zoom camera for color and SWIR vision with integrated laser range finder

M. Hübner, M. Gerken, Bertram Achtner, M. Kraus, M. Münzberg

Proceedings Volume 9070, 907027 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2050429

KEYWORDS: Short wave infrared radiation, Sensors, Laser range finders, Cameras, Zoom lenses, Modulation transfer functions, Receivers, Beam splitters, Staring arrays, Electronics

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Proceedings Article | 29 May 2014 Paper

Characterization of SWIR cameras by MRC measurements

M. Gerken, H. Schlemmer, Hubertus Haan, Christofer Siemens, M. Münzberg

Proceedings Volume 9071, 907110 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2052928

KEYWORDS: Short wave infrared radiation, Cameras, Sensors, Light sources, Imaging systems, Visible radiation, Visualization, Calibration, Lamps, Manufacturing

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Cameras for the SWIR wavelength range are becoming more and more important because of the better observation range for day-light operation under adverse weather conditions (haze, fog, rain). In order to choose the best suitable SWIR camera or to qualify a camera for a given application, characterization of the camera by means of the Minimum Resolvable Contrast MRC concept is favorable as the MRC comprises all relevant properties of the instrument. With the MRC known for a given camera device the achievable observation range can be calculated for every combination of target size, illumination level or weather conditions. MRC measurements in the SWIR wavelength band can be performed widely along the guidelines of the MRC measurements of a visual camera. Typically measurements are performed with a set of resolution targets (e.g. USAF 1951 target) manufactured with different contrast values from 50% down to less than 1%. For a given illumination level the achievable spatial resolution is then measured for each target. The resulting curve is showing the minimum contrast that is necessary to resolve the structure of a target as a function of spatial frequency. To perform MRC measurements for SWIR cameras at first the irradiation parameters have to be given in radiometric instead of photometric units which are limited in their use to the visible range. In order to do so, SWIR illumination levels for typical daylight and twilight conditions have to be defined. At second, a radiation source is necessary with appropriate emission in the SWIR range (e.g. incandescent lamp) and the irradiance has to be measured in W/m² instead of Lux = Lumen/m². At third, the contrast values of the targets have to be calibrated newly for the SWIR range because they typically differ from the values determined for the visual range. Measured MRC values of three cameras are compared to the specified performance data of the devices and the results of a multi-band in-house designed Vis-SWIR camera system are discussed.

Proceedings Article | 31 May 2012 Paper

Shortwave infrared camera with extended spectral sensitivity

Martin Gerken, Bertram Achtner, Michael Kraus, Tanja Neumann, Mario Münzberg

Proceedings Volume 8353, 835304 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.920994

KEYWORDS: Short wave infrared radiation, Cameras, Visible radiation, Modulation transfer functions, Zoom lenses, Imaging systems, Video, Infrared cameras, Diffraction, Infrared radiation

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Proceedings Article | 24 March 2008 Paper

Free-space, laser-based data transmission: satellite communication as a technology driver for the development of fast, reliable terrestrial data networks

Martin Gerken, Georg Luichtel

Proceedings Volume 6975, 697508 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.782603

KEYWORDS: Satellites, Laser communications, Data transmission, Satellite communications, Data communications, Atmospheric optics, Optoelectronics, Laser applications, Defense technologies, Reconnaissance

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Proceedings Article | 29 March 1996 Paper

FELIX: a volumetric 3D laser display

Detlef Bahr, Knut Langhans, Martin Gerken, Carsten Vogt, Daniel Bezecny, Dennis Homann

Proceedings Volume 2650, (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.237011

KEYWORDS: 3D displays, Visualization, 3D image processing, Eye, Laser based displays, Raster graphics, Mirrors, 3D volumetric displays, Glasses, Modulation

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Showing 5 of 13 publications

Conference Committee Involvement (2)

Infrared Sensors, Devices, and Applications XV

3 August 2025 | San Diego, California, United States

Infrared Sensors, Devices, and Applications XIV

20 August 2024 | San Diego, California, United States

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