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US 8,485,741 B1Granted
Intensified pinhole camera system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsThomas L. Bunn, Lynne C. Eigler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for generating an image. Light is passed though an opening of a housing. The light has an intensity. At least a portion of the light received through the opening is increased using an intensifier unit to form intensified light. The intensified light is converted into a number of signals for the image using an image detection system located inside of the housing.
Claims23
An apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a first pinhole opening configured to pass first light into the housing and a second pinhole opening configured to pass second light into the housing, the first pinhole opening having a first diameter given by the equation d1=√{square root over (f1kλ1)} where “d1” is the first diameter, f1 is a first distance from the first pinhole opening to a first selected optimal image plane, λ1 is a first selected wavelength of the first light, and k is a constant, the second pinhole opening having a second diameter given by the equation d2=√{square root over (f2kλ2)} where “d2” is the first diameter, f2 is a second distance from the second pinhole opening to a second selected optimal image plane, λ2 is a second selected wavelength of the second light, and k is the constant;
- a first shutter attached to the housing and operable to cover and expose the first pinhole;
- a second shutter attached to the housing and operable to cover and expose the second pinhole, wherein the first shutter and the second shutter are configured such that actuation of either the first shutter or the second shutter will cause only one of the first pinhole or the second pinhole to admit light from outside the housing into the housing, while the other of the first pinhole and the second pinhole is covered by a corresponding shutter;
- a first reflector inside the housing and configured to reflect the first light from the first pinhole opening towards a second reflector inside the housing, the second reflector configured to reflect the first light towards an image detection system when the second reflector is in a first position;
- a third reflector inside the housing and configured to reflect the second light from the second pinhole opening towards the second reflector, the second reflector further configured to reflect the second light towards the image detection system when the second reflector is in a second position;
- and
- an image detection system configured to receive the first light and the second light.
4 more elements
A method implemented using a device, the device comprising:
- a housing having a first pinhole opening configured to pass first light into the housing and a second pinhole opening configured to pass second light into the housing, the first pinhole opening having a first diameter given by the equation d1=√{square root over (f1kλ1)} where “d1” is the first diameter, f1 is a first distance from the first pinhole opening to a first selected optimal image plane, λ1 is a first selected wavelength of the first light, and k is a constant, the second pinhole opening having a second diameter given by the equation d2=√{square root over (f2kλ2)} where “d2” is the first diameter, f2 is a second distance from the second pinhole opening to a second selected optimal image plane, λ2 is a second selected wavelength of the second light, and k is the constant;
- a first shutter attached to the housing and operable to cover and expose the first pinhole;
- a second shutter attached to the housing and operable to cover and expose the second pinhole, wherein the first shutter and the second shutter are configured such that actuation of either the first shutter or the second shutter will cause only one of the first pinhole or the second pinhole to admit light from outside the housing into the housing, while the other of the first pinhole and the second pinhole is covered by a corresponding shutter;
- a first reflector inside the housing and configured to reflect the first light from the first pinhole opening towards a second reflector inside the housing, the second reflector configured to reflect the first light towards an image detection system when the second reflector is in a first position;
- a third reflector inside the housing and configured to reflect the second light from the second pinhole opening towards the second reflector, the second reflector further configured to reflect the second light towards the image detection system when the second reflector is in a second position;
- and
- an image detection system configured to receive the first light and the second light, the method comprising:
- receiving the first light from the first pinhole opening, wherein the first light passes to the first reflector, thereafter to the second reflector, and thereafter to the image detection system;
- and
- resolving a first image from the first light using the image detection system.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.