Electro-optical imaging array with motion compensation

Apparatus for processing pixel information representing an image of a scene comprising at least a first image portion and a second image portion, said apparatus compensating for image motion in a predetermined direction and comprising:

• an array of cells capable of storing said pixel information corresponding to said at least first image portion and second image portion of said scene, said array being arranged in rows and columns;
• and
• column transfer means for transferring pixel information corresponding to said first image portion at a first predetermined transfer rate and for transferring pixel information corresponding to said second image portion at a second predetermined transfer rate different from said first predetermined transfer rate, said column transfer means comprising;
• means for organizing said columns of said array into at least a first column group storing pixel information corresponding to said first image portion and a second column group storing pixel information corresponding to said second image portion;
• two or more transfer control circuits, each of said transfer control circuits transferring pixel information in one of said at least first and second column groups and comprising a master clock providing clock signals at a master clock frequency and a counter and a clock driver, said clock driver transferring pixel information in one of said at least first and second column groups when said counter counts a predetermined number of counts in response to said clock signals;
• and
• adjusting means for adjusting said predetermined transfer rates depending on the changes in rates of motion of said at least first and second image portions relative to said array.

Apparatus, for processing pixel information representing an image of a scene which compensates for image motion in a predetermined direction comprising:

• an array of cells capable of storing said pixel information corresponding to said scene, said array being arranged in rows and columns;
• column transfer means for organizing said columns of the array into one or more column groups and for transferring pixel information located in said one or more column groups at one or more predetermined transfer rates depending on the rate of motion of portions of said image relative to said array, said column transfer means comprising a master clock providing clock signals at a master clock frequency and one or more transfer control circuits responsive to said clock signals, each of said column transfer control circuits transferring pixel information in one of said one or more column groups, each of said transfer control circuit comprising a counter and a clock driver, said clock driver transferring pixel information in one of said one or more column groups when said counter counts a predetermined number of counts;
• and
• adjusting means for adjusting said one or more predetermined transfer rates depending on the changes in rate of motion of said image relative to said array and for providing said predetermined number of counts to each of said counters.

Apparatus for processing pixel information representing an image of a scene which compensates for image motion in a predetermined direction comprising:

• an array of cells capable of storing said pixel information corresponding to said scene, said array being arranged in rows and columns;
• and
• column transfer means for organizing said columns of the array into N column groups, including a first column group, and for transferring pixel information at a predetermined transfer rate for each column group, f.sub.i, proportional to the image motion relative to said array by being proportional to
• f.sub.1 +(i-1) (f.sub.n -f.sub.1)/(n-1)
• where i is an integer between 1 and N, f.sub.1 is the transfer rate for the first column group, and f.sub.n is the transfer rate for the n.sup.th column group, f.sub.1 and f.sub.n being previously determined.

Apparatus carried by an aircraft capable of motion in a predetermined direction and defining a reference plane that is horizontal during level-flight, said apparatus being capable of processing pixel information representing an image of a scene forward of said aircraft and of compensating for image motion in said predetermined direction comprising:

• an array of cells installed in said aircraft capable of storing said pixel information corresponding to said scene, said array being arranged in rows and columns, said columns of said array defining a column direction;
• imaging means installed in said aircraft for placing said image on said array, said imaging means comprising a lens having a focal length and having a central axis making a forward depression angle .phi. with said reference plane;
• column transfer means installed in said aircraft for organizing said columns of said array into at least one column group and for transferring pixel information located in said at least one column group at least one predetermined transfer rate depending on the rate of motion of portions of said image relative to said array, said at least one column group having pixel information which is transferred at one transfer rate that is proportional to ##EQU11## where F is the focal length of said lens,
• P.sub.x is the pixel size in said column direction,
• V is the velocity of said aircraft,
• H is the height of said aircraft above said scene, and
• (.phi..+-..THETA..sub.i) is the forward depression angle of the point chosen for synchronization for forward motion correction;
• and
• adjusting means installed in said aircraft for adjusting said at least one predetermined transfer rate depending on the change in rate of motion of said image relative to said array.

In a system comprising an array of cells capable of storing pixel information representing at least first and second image portions of a scene, said array being arranged in rows and columns, a method of processing said pixel information in order to compensate for image motion in a predetermined direction comprising the steps of:

• transferring in said array said pixel information representing said first image portion at a first predetermined transfer rate:
• transferring in said array said pixel information representing said second image portion at a second transfer rate different from said first transfer rate, said step of transferring pixel information comprising the steps of
• organizing said columns of said array into at least a first column group storing pixel information corresponding to said first image portion and a second column group storing pixel information corresponding to said second image portion:
• transferring pixel information in said at least first and second column groups at different transfer rates:
• providing clock signals at a master clock frequency;
• and
• initiating transfer of pixel information in each of said at least first and second column groups in response to said clock signals by counting a predetermined number of counts for that column group:
• and
• adjusting said first and second predetermined transfer rates depending on the changes in rate of motion of said first and second image portions relative to said array, whereby resolution of an image created from said pixel information can be improved.

In a system comprising an array of cells capable of storing pixel information representing an image, said array being arranged in rows and columns, a method of processing said pixel information in order to compensate for image motion in a predetermined direction comprising the steps of:

• organizing said columns of said array into N column groups, including a first column group, and
• transferring pixel information at a predetermined transfer rate for each column group, f.sub.i, proportional to the image motion relative to said array by being proportional to
• f.sub.1 +(i-1)(f.sub.n -f.sub.1)/(n-1)
• where i is an integer between 1 and N, f.sub.1 is the transfer rate for said first column group, and f.sub.n is the transfer rate for said n.sup.th column group, f.sub.1 and f.sub.n being previously determined.

In a system comprising an array of cells capable of storing pixel information representing an image, said array being arranged in rows and columns, said columns defining a column direction, said array being installed in an aircraft defining a reference plane that is horizontal during level flight, said system further comprising a lens having a focal length and a central axis, said central axis making a depression angle .phi. with said reference plane, a method of processing pixel information representing a scene in order to compensate for image motion in a predetermined direction comprising the steps of:

• organizing said columns of said array into at least one column group;
• transferring pixel information located in said at least one column group at least one predetermined transfer rate depending on the rate of motion of portions of said image relative to said array, said at least one column group having pixel information which is transferred at one transfer rate, f, that is proportional to ##EQU14## where F is the focal length of said lens,
• P.sub.x is the pixel size in said column direction,
• V is the velocity of said aircraft,
• H is the height of said aircraft above said scene, and
• (.phi..+-..THETA..sub.i) is the forward depression angle of the point chosen for synchronization for forward motion compensation:
• adjusting said at least one predetermined transfer rate depending on the change in rate of motion of said image relative to said array;
• and
• placing said image on said array;
• wherein said scene is forward of said aircraft and said steps of organizing and transferring are performed aboard said aircraft.