Imaging apparatus for providing a composite digital representation of a scene within a field of regard

An apparatus for providing a composite image of a scene within a field of regard, said apparatus comprising:

• sensor means for generating first and second digital representations of first and second framed regions within said field of regard, said sensor means including a sensor having a field of view substantially less than said field of regard and means for scanning said sensor over said field of regard to generate said first and second digital representations of first and second framed regions, wherein said sensor means includes a prediction circuit for predicting the location of said second framed region within said field of regard;
• means for correlating said first and second digital representations to generate offset parameters indicative of relative locations of said first and second framed regions within said field of regard;
• means responsive to said offset parameters for combining said first and second digital representations to synthesize a composite digital representation of said scene;
• and
• display means for generating said composite image in response to said composite digital representation.

A method for providing a composite image representation of a scene within a field of regard, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating first and second digital representations of first and second framed regions within said field of regard, using a sensor having a field of view substantially less than said field of regard and means for scanning said sensor over said field of regard to generate said first and second digital representations of first and second framed regions;
• storing said first digital representation in a first array of memory locations and storing said second digital representation in a second array of memory locations;
• correlating said first and second digital representations to generate offset parameters indicative of relative locations of said first and second framed regions within said field of regard;
• mapping said first and second arrays of sensory memory locations into memory locations within a frame store memory in accordance with said offset parameters thereby registering said first and second digital representations in said frame store memory;
• and
• using said offset parameters to combine said first and second digital representations to synthesize said composite digital representation of said scene.