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US 11,637,972 B2Granted
Fast framing moving target imaging system and method
AssigneeCyan Systems
InventorsJohn Caulfield, Jon Paul Curzan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method that can detect targets is described. The method includes setting an integration time for each of a plurality of readout circuits based on a speed of the target. The readout circuits are configured to read pixels in an image detector. The pixels have a pitch of less than ten micrometers. The integration time is not more than five hundred microseconds and corresponds to a subframe of a fast frame image. The method also includes performing integrations of each readout circuit based on the integration time. Thus, a plurality of subframes are provided. A number of the subframes are averaged to provide the fast frame image.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- setting an integration time for each readout circuit of a plurality of readout circuits based on a speed of a target desired to be capturable in a fast frame image, the plurality of readout circuits configured to read a plurality of pixels in an image detector, the plurality of pixels having a pitch of less than ten micrometers, the integration time being not more than five hundred microseconds, the integration time corresponding to a subframe of the fast frame image, the integration time being set based on the speed of the target and the pitch of the plurality of pixels;
- performing a plurality of integrations of each readout circuit based on the integration time to provide a plurality of subframes;
- and
- averaging a number of the plurality of subframes to provide the fast frame image.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- setting an integration time for each readout circuit of a plurality of readout circuits based on a speed of a target, the plurality of readout circuits configured to read a plurality of pixels in an image detector, the image detector being an infrared image detector, the plurality of pixels having a pitch of less than ten micrometers, the integration time being not more than five hundred microseconds, the integration time corresponding to a subframe of a fast frame image, wherein the setting the integration time further includes:
- setting the integration time equal to not more than five multiplied by a dwell time, the dwell time being the pitch of the plurality of pixels divided by the speed,
- performing a plurality of integrations of each readout circuit based on the integration time to provide a plurality of subframes;
- and
- averaging a number of the plurality of the subframes to provide the fast frame image.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- setting an integration time for each readout circuit of a plurality of readout circuits based on a speed of a target, the plurality of readout circuits configured to read a plurality of pixels in an image detector, the plurality of pixels having a pitch of less than ten micrometers, the integration time being not more than five hundred microseconds, the integration time corresponding to a subframe of a fast frame image, the integration time being set based on the speed of the target and the pitch of the plurality of pixels, the image detector being an infrared image detector, wherein the fast frame image includes a plurality of target-like features;
- performing a plurality of integrations of each readout circuit based on the integration time to provide a plurality of subframes;
- averaging a number of the plurality of the subframes to provide the fast frame image;
- filtering a plurality of image features to exclude a portion of the plurality of target-like features inconsistent with a plurality of target thresholds;
- preprocessing the plurality of target-like features to provide a plurality of continuous target-like features;
- statistically analyzing the plurality of continuous target-like features based on a geometry of each of the plurality of continuous target-like features;
- and
- removing a portion of the plurality of continuous target-like features based on at least one of size, shape and distance to provide a plurality of target candidates.
5 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a plurality of readout circuits having an integration time, the integration time being changeable and set based on a speed of a target desired to be capturable in a fast frame image, the plurality of readout circuits configured to read a plurality of pixels in an image detector, the plurality of pixels having a pitch of less than ten micrometers, the integration time being not more than five hundred microseconds, the integration time corresponding to a subframe of the fast frame image, the integration time being set based on the speed of the target and the pitch of the plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of readout circuits further comprising
- an integrator configured to perform a plurality of integrations based on the integration time to provide a plurality of subframes;
- and
- an averager coupled to the integrator and configured to average a number of the plurality of the subframes to provide the fast frame image, the target being resolvable in the fast frame image.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- a plurality of readout circuits having an integration time, the integration time being changeable and set based on a speed of a target, the plurality of readout circuits configured to read a plurality of pixels in an image detector, the plurality of pixels having a pitch of less than ten micrometers, the integration time being not more than five hundred microseconds, the integration time corresponding to a subframe of a fast frame image, each of the plurality of readout circuits further comprising
- an integrator configured to perform a plurality of integrations based on the integration time to provide a plurality of subframes;
- and
- an averager coupled to the integrator and configured to average a number of the plurality of the subframes to provide the fast frame image, the target being resolvable in the fast frame image;
- wherein the image detector is an infrared image detector and wherein the integration time is not more than five multiplied by a dwell time, the dwell time being not more than the pitch of the plurality of pixels divided by the speed.
2 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a processor configured to
- filter a plurality of image features in a fast frame image including a plurality of target-like features, the filter being configured to exclude a portion of the plurality of target-like features inconsistent with a plurality of target thresholds, the fast frame image being provided by a plurality of readout circuits having an integration time of not more than five hundred microseconds, the integration time being changeable and set based on a speed of a target, the plurality of readout circuits configured to read a plurality of pixels in an image detector, the plurality of pixels having a pitch of less than ten micrometers, the integration time corresponding to a subframe of the fast frame image, each of the plurality of readout circuits further includes an integrator and an averager, the integrator being configured to perform a plurality of integrations based on the integration time to provide a plurality of subframes, the averager being coupled to the integrator and configured to average a number of the plurality of the subframes to provide the fast frame image, the target being resolvable in the fast frame image;
- preprocess the plurality of target-like features to provide a plurality of continuous target-like features;
- statistically analyze the plurality of continuous target-like features based on a geometry of each of the plurality of continuous target-like features;
- and
- remove a portion of the plurality of continuous target-like features based on at least one of size, shape and distance to provide a plurality of target candidates;
- and
- a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.