Image scanning method
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsSiegfried Fössel, Lothar Trunk, Heino Möller, Erwin Drachsler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An area, such as an area of the earth's surface, is scanned by a scanner, such as an infrared line scanner, which is moved over the area at different heights and at different speeds. An overscan factor is determined in accordance with the height and speed of the scanner over the scanned area. A first image is centered, and an offset vector between the first image and a subsequently scanned second image is calculated in accordance with an image offset. The first and second images are aligned with one another in accordance with the offset vector. The image content of the aligned images are averaged with one another in overlapping image areas defined by the overscan factor.
Claims8
A method for the image scanning of an area, in particular the earth's surface, by a scanner, in particular an infrared line scanner, which is moved over the area at different heights and at different speeds, the method comprising the following steps:
- a) determining an overscan factor in accordance with the height and the speed of the scanner over the scanned area;
- b) positioning a first image (image0) in a centered manner;
- c) determining an offset vector (dxi, dyi) for subsequently scanned images (imagei, imagei+i, . . . ) in accordance with their image offset (Δx, Δy);
- d) aligning the images with one another with the aid of the offset vectors;
- and
- e) averaging the image content of the images which are aligned with one another in image areas with an overlap defined by the overscan factor.
A method for processing image content of images taken by a camera of image areas where the camera is moved over the image areas at different heights and at different speeds, the method comprising:
- a) collecting at least first and second images;
- b) determining an overlap factor with respect to an overlapping portion of the first and second images, wherein the overlap factor is determined in accordance with the height and the speed of the camera over the image areas;
- and,
- c) averaging only the image content of the first and second images in the overlapping portion defined by the overlap factor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.