System and method for image motion compensation of a CCD image sensor

A focal plane array for use in an electro-optical reconnaissance system, wherein the focal plane array is configured to detect an image of a scene and to convert the image into electronic charge representation of the image, and wherein the focal plane array is operated compensate for motion of objects contained in the scene, comprising:

• a main format area having a plurality of photo-sensitive cells arranged in rows and columns, wherein said rows are arranged in a number of row segments, each row segment corresponding to a separate clocking section, wherein said plurality of photo-sensitive cells are further arranged into a predetermined number of column segments, wherein each of said column segments corresponds to a separate parallel clocking section and each of said column segments is electronically isolated from adjacent column segments;
• a focal plane array control unit that supplies a plurality of clocking signals to said number of row segments, each said clocking signal being applied to a respective row segment to transfer charge between rows in the respective row segment at a transfer rate determined by a frequency of the applied clocking signal, wherein each said clocking signal has a predetermined synchronous timing relationship with each of the other clocking signals to prevent a mismatch in charge transfer between at least one pair of adjacent row segments having different transfer rates;
• and
• at least one serial register coupled to said main format area to receive the electronic charge representation of the image from said main format area.

A method of image motion compensation for an aerial electro-optical reconnaissance system, comprising the steps of:

• (1) imaging a scene onto a focal plane array, wherein the scene contains a plurality of objects, and wherein the focal plane array includes a main format area comprising a plurality of photo-sensitive cells arranged in rows and columns and at least one serial register, wherein the rows are arranged into a number of row segments, each row segment corresponding to a separate clocking section;
• (2) generating a predetermined number of synchronous, separate clocking signals to perform parallel shift clocking of the row segments;
• and
• (3) transferring charges representing a portion of the scene stored in each row of a particular row segment at a charge transfer rate corresponding to a motion rate that the object from the portion of the scene appear to move across that particular row segment, wherein said transferring step includes the steps of:
• transferring charges between rows in each row segment at a charge transfer rate determined by a frequency of one of said separate clocking signals respectively associated with said row segment, and
• synchronizing a timing relationship between said clocking signals to prevent a mismatch in charge transfer between at least one pair of adjacent row segments having different charge transfer rates.

A method of image motion compensation for an aerial electro-optical reconnaissance system, comprising the steps of:

• (1) imaging a scene onto a focal plane array, wherein the scene contains a plurality of objects, and wherein the focal plane array includes a main format area comprising a plurality of photo-sensitive cells arranged in rows and columns, wherein the rows are arranged into a number of row segments and the columns are arranged into a number of column segments, wherein a region comprising at least one row segment and at least one column segment is called a mosaic region, each mosaic region corresponding to a separate clocking section;
• (2) generating a predetermined number of synchronous separate clocking signals to perform parallel shift clocking of the mosaic regions;
• and
• (3) transferring charges representing a portion of the scene stored in a particular mosaic region at a same rate as an object from the scene appears to move across the mosaic region, wherein the charges are read out by a serial register and wherein said transferring step includes the steps of:
• transferring charges between rows in each row segment at a charge transfer rate determined by a frequency of one of said separate clocking signals respectively associated with said row segment, and
• synchronizing a timing relationship between said clocking signals to prevent a mismatch in charge transfer between at least one pair of adjacent row segments having different charge transfer rates.

A method of transferring charges stored in a charge coupled device (CCD) mounted in a moving vehicle to perform image motion compensation, comprising the steps of:

• (1) imaging a moving scene onto the CCD, wherein the CCD includes a main format area comprising a plurality of photo-sensitive cells arranged in rows and columns and at least one serial register;
• (2) arranging the rows into a predetermined number of row segments;
• and
• (3) clocking each row segment with a parallel shift clocking signal such that the rows of a particular row segment shift at a substantially similar rate as objects contained in the moving scene appear to move across a mid point row of the particular row segment, wherein said clocking step includes the steps of:
• transferring charges between rows in each row segment at a charge transfer rate determined by a frequency of one of said separate clocking signals respectively associated with said row segment, and
• synchronizing a timing relationship between said clocking signals to prevent a mismatch in charge transfer between at least one pair of adjacent row segments having different charge transfer rates.