Multispectral or hyperspectral imaging system and method for tactical reconnaissance
US6831688B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 14, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 21, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/768
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A two-dimensional focal plane array (FPA) is divided into sub-arrays of rows and columns of pixels, each sub-array being responsive to light energy from a target object which has been separated by a spectral filter or other spectrum dividing element into a predetermined number of spectral bands. There is preferably one sub-array on the FPA for each predetermined spectral band. Each sub-array has its own read out channel to allow parallel and simultaneous readout of all sub-arrays of the array. The scene is scanned onto the array for simultaneous imaging of the terrain in many spectral bands. Time Delay and Integrate (TDI) techniques are used as a clocking mechanism within the sub-arrays to increase the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the detected image. Additionally, the TDI length (i.e., number of rows of integration during the exposure) within each sub-array is adjustable to optimize and normalize the response of the photosensitive substrate to each spectral band. The array provides for parallel and simultaneous readout of each sub-array to increase the collection rate of the spectral imagery. All of these features serve to provide a substantial improvement in the area coverage of…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.