Gapless detector mosaic imaging systems and methods
AssigneeBall Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
InventorJoshua Eskin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Imaging systems and methods that enable multiple detectors to be used to capture multiple component images that can be fused to create a composite image of a scene, without introducing gaps in that composite image in areas corresponding to the boundaries of the detectors, are provided. The system includes imaging optics, such as a telescope, that at least in part define an optical path extending between an exit pupil and a focal plane. Field segmentation optics are located within the optical path, to create multiple, partially overlapping component images. At least one detector is provided to produce an image signal representing each of the component images. A composite image is then formed by registering and fusing the component images.
Claims21
An imaging system, comprising:
- imaging optics;
- field segmentation optics, wherein the field segmentation optics are located in an optical path defined at least in part by the imaging optics, between an exit pupil of the imaging optics and a focal plane of the imaging optics, and wherein the field segmentation optics define a plurality of component images;
- and
- a plurality of detectors, wherein at least one detector in the plurality of detectors is provided for each of the component images, and wherein a first component image in the plurality of component images encompasses a first sub-area of an area of a scene that at least partially overlaps a second sub-area of the area of the scene encompassed by a second component image in the plurality of component images.
A method, comprising:
- collecting light from an image area;
- dividing the collected light into a plurality of component images, wherein each component image includes light collected from a different sub-area included in the image area, and wherein a first sub-area corresponding to a first one of the component images partially overlaps a second sub-area corresponding to a second one of the component images;
- focusing each component image in the plurality of component images on a corresponding one of a plurality of detectors, wherein at least one detector is provided for each component image in the plurality of component images;
- and
- fusing image information from a plurality of the component images to form a composite image, wherein fusing the component images includes registering the component images and adding pixel values from overlapping portions of the component images.
An imaging system, comprising:
- imaging optics;
- field segmentation optics, wherein the field segmentation optics are located in an optical path defined at least in part by the imaging optics, between an exit pupil of the imaging optics and a focal plane of the imaging optics, wherein the field segmentation optics define a plurality of partially overlapping component images, and wherein the field segmentation optics are located closer to the focal plane of the imaging optics than to the exit pupil of the imaging optics;
- a plurality of detector arrays, wherein at least one detector array in the plurality of detector arrays is positioned at a focal plane of each of the component images;
- and
- imaging electronics, wherein the imaging electronics are operable to fuse a plurality of partially overlapping component images to form a composite image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.