Enhancing the resolution of multi-spectral image data with panchromatic image data using super resolution pan-sharpening

A method of generating multi-spectral images from first image data having at least two spectral bands with a predetermined first range of resolution and a second image data having a third spectral band with a second range of resolution that is higher than said first range of resolution comprising the steps of:

• detecting an image to generate said first and second image data;
• upsampling said first image data to match the data record size of said second image data to produce upsampled first image data;
• dividing said upsampled first image data by said second image data and subtracting one from the quotient to produce result data;
• exponentiating said second image data with said result data to produce pan-sharpened image data;
• and,
• generating said multi-spectral images from said pan-sharpened image data.

A method of generating multi-spectral images from first image data having at least two spectral bands with a predetermined first range of resolution and second image data having a third spectral band with a second range of resolution that is higher than said first range of resolution comprising the steps of:

• detecting an image to generate said first and second image data;
• upsampling said first image data to match the data record size of said second image data to produce upsampled first image data;
• generating error data by convolving said second image data with a point spread function that describes corrections for detector optics used to detect said image;
• dividing said unsampled first image data by said error data and subtracting one from the quotient to produce result data;
• generating correction data by convolving said result data with said point spread function;
• exponentiating said second image data with said correction data to produce pan-sharpened image data;
• and,
• generating said multi-spectral images from said pan-sharpened image data.

A method of increasing the resolution of first image data having a first predetermined resolution using second image data having a second predetermined resolution that is higher than said first predetermined resolution comprising the steps of:

• dividing said first image data by said second image data to produce a quotient;
• subtracting one from said quotient to produce result data;
• and,
• exponentiating said second image data with said result data to produce third image data that is representative of said first image data having a resolution that is substantially equivalent to said second predetermined resolution.

A device for generating high resolution multi-spectral data from low resolution multi-spectral data and high resolution panchromatic data comprising:

• a plurality of first detectors that generate said low resolution multi-spectral data;
• at least one second detector that generates said high resolution panchromatic data;
• a processor coupled to said plurality of first detectors and said second detector, said processor including:
• a divider that divides said low resolution multi-spectral data by said high resolution panchromatic data to produce a quotient;
• a subtractor that subtracts one from said quotient to produce result data;
• and,
• an exponentiator that exponentiates said high resolution panchromatic data with said result data to produce said high resolution multi-spectral data.

A device for generating high resolution multi-spectral data from low resolution multi-spectral data and high resolution panchromatic data comprising:

• a plurality of first detectors that generate said low resolution multi-spectral data;
• at least one second detector that generates said high resolution panchromatic data;
• a processor coupled to said plurality of first detectors and said second detector, said processor including:
• a first convolver that convolves said high resolution panchromatic data with a point spread function to produce error data;
• a divider that divides said low resolution multi-spectral data by said error data to produce a quotient;
• a subtractor that subtracts one from said quotient to produce result data;
• a second convolver that convolves said result data and said point spread function to produce correction data;
• and,
• an exponentiator that exponentiates said high resolution panchromatic data with said correction data to produce said high resolution multi-spectral data.

A system for generating high resolution multi-spectral images comprising:

• a multisensor detector that generates a plurality of low resolution multi-spectral data signals and at least one high resolution panchromatic data signal from an object that is scanned by said system;
• a processor coupled to said multisensor detector that divides said low resolution multi-spectral data signals by said high resolution panchromatic data signal to produce a quotient, subtracts one from said quotient to produce result data and exponentiates said high resolution panchromatic data with said result data to produce pan-sharpened multi-spectral data;
• and,
• a display that generates said high resolution multi-spectral image from said pan-sharpened multi-spectral data.