System and method for converting an incoming image into electron

Details System and method for converting an incoming image into electron System and method for converting an incoming image into electron

1997-02-26

2000-01-04

Boudreau, Leo H.

Image analysis

Image transformation or preprocessing

Combining image portions

348332, 348246, 2502081, 359629, G06K 936

Patent

active

060118768

ABSTRACT:
A system (50) and method for converting an incoming image of a scene (12) into electronic form adapted for use with focal plane arrays of detectors (24, 28). The inventive system (50) includes a surface (30) having an electromagnetic energy transmissive region (34), a reflective region (32), and a transition region (36) that has varying reflectance. A first focal plane array (24) detects a first portion (18, 39, 43) of the incoming image (12) that is transmitted through the transmissive region and the transition region (36). A second focal plane array (28) detects a second portion of the incoming image (20, 41, 45) reflected by the reflective region (32) and the transition region (36). An image combining system (40) combines the first (43) and second portions (45) of the incoming image via an image combining algorithm and provides a combined image without a dead pixel region. In the illustrative embodiment, the incoming image (12) is focused onto the surface (30) via a first lens (22). The surface (30) is a glass surface having a coating with varying degrees of reflectance across the surface (30). In the transition region (36) the glass surface (30) changes from completely transmissive to completely reflective. The gradient of reflectance in the transition region (36) is pre-determined and varies in accordance with information in the image combining algorithm. In the specific embodiment, a second lens (26) focuses the first portion (43) of the incoming image (12) onto the first focal plane array (24). A third lens (26) focuses the second portion (45) of the incoming image (12) onto the second focal plane array. Electromagnetic energy detected by the first (24) and the second (28) focal plane arrays is converted into electronic signals that are fed to a computer (40) running software that includes the image combining algorithm. The image combining algorithm includes a correlation algorithm for maximizing image registration. The image combining system also includes a display monitor (46) for displaying a combined image.

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