US 8,896,697 B2 · Video motion compensation and stabilization gimbaled imaging system

Abstract

A system and method for compensating for image distortions formed by the motion of a computerized camera system mounted on a moving platform. The camera system includes a camera, wherein the camera acquires a plurality of image frames including images of the environment viewed from within the field of view of the camera. The distortion is formed in the acquired image frame, during and in between image acquisitions. During the image acquisition the camera may be maneuvered in space, typically, in the pan and tilt axis. The method includes the steps of providing camera maneuvering signals, providing sensors for detecting other motions of the camera, computing the pre acquisition aggregated motion vector of the camera, thereby determining the pre acquisition image distortion, and compensating for the determined pre acquisition image distortion by an equivalent vector, in a direction opposite to the direction of the pre acquisition aggregated motion vector.

Claims46

Dependent claims

In a computerized camera system mounted on a moving platform, the system including a camera having one or more image sensor arrays, wherein said camera acquires consecutively, in real time, a plurality of image frames including images of the environment viewed from within the field of view of said camera, a method for compensating for image distortions in said acquired image frames, said image distortions formed by motion of said camera during and in between image acquisitions, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing camera maneuvering signals;
b) providing one or more sensors for detecting said motion of said camera;
c) computing the aggregated motion vector of said camera, thereby determining the pre acquisition image distortion caused by said aggregated motion vector of said camera;
d) compensating for said determined pre acquisition image distortion by a magnitude equal to the magnitude of said aggregated motion vector, in a direction opposite to the direction of said aggregated motion vector;
and
e) acquiring an image frame.

3 more elements

A computerized camera system mounted on a moving platform for compensating for image distortions in acquired image frames, the system including a camera having one or more image sensor arrays, wherein said camera acquires consecutively, in real time, a plurality of image frames including images of environment viewed from within a field of view of said camera, the camera system comprising:

a) a coordinate offset calculation unit;
b) a camera steering control;
c) a displacement sensor;
d) an image sensor configuration control unit;
and
e) a video timing unit,
wherein said video timing unit determines the frame acquisition rate of said camera and wherein said video timing unit begins a frame acquisition cycle having a pre acquisition portion and a post acquisition portion;
wherein said camera steering control provides tilt and/or pan motional data of said camera;
wherein said displacement sensor senses said camera motion in space;
wherein said coordinate offset calculation unit continuously aggregates said sensed motions of said camera and thereby determining an pre acquisition aggregated motion vector;
wherein said image sensor configuration control unit determines the pre acquisition image distortion caused by said pre acquisition aggregated motion vector;
and
wherein said image sensor configuration control unit compensates for said determined pre acquisition image distortion by a magnitude equal to the magnitude of said pre acquisition aggregated motion vector, in a direction opposite to the direction of said pre acquisition aggregated motion vector, whereby creating a pre acquisition compensated image frame.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Video motion compensation and stabilization gimbaled imaging system

Life of this patent

Video motion compensation and stabilization gimbaled imaging system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims46