초록 ▼

A sensor for creating images containing range depth information is disclosed. The sensor comprises a gated energy transmitter used to “illuminate”the object to be imaged, a gated integrating imaging energy receiver to produce “raw”images, a processor system to combine the raw images from the receive

A sensor for creating images containing range depth information is disclosed. The sensor comprises a gated energy transmitter used to “illuminate”the object to be imaged, a gated integrating imaging energy receiver to produce “raw”images, a processor system to combine the raw images from the receiver to produce a output image, and a timing system to control the gate timing of the transmitter and gate timing of the receiver. In operation, two raw images are created with differing time relationships between the transmitter gating, receiver gating and integrated energy readout. One raw image is a reference image containing no range information while the second image contains range information along with unwanted information such as reflectivity variations. These raw images are processed to produce a final output image in which the unwanted information is mainly cancelled producing an output “range”image. This output image is a one or two dimensional array of data. The position of data in the array is proportional to the angular displacement from the sensor\s boresight. The data at each position in the array is proportional to the range from the sensor (or a reference distance from the sensor) to the point on the object being imaged as determined from the data\s position in the array.

대표청구항 ▼

A range imaging sensor for creating images substantially a function of range to an object within a range depth, comprising in combination: gated energy transmitter means for transmitting energy towards the object; gated integrating imaging receiver means for receiving said transmitted energy reflect

A range imaging sensor for creating images substantially a function of range to an object within a range depth, comprising in combination: gated energy transmitter means for transmitting energy towards the object; gated integrating imaging receiver means for receiving said transmitted energy reflected by the object and integrating said received energy for the images; timing means for gating said transmitter means and said receiver means, said timing means comprising means for initializing an integration level of said integration means, means for gating said transmitter means and said receiver means such that said integration means produces a composite image which is substantially a function of range and unwanted information, and means for gating said transmitter means and said receiver means such that said integration means produces a reference image which is substantially a function of said unwanted information; and processor means for combining said composite image and said reference image to produce a range image which is substantially a function of the range.