Electrooptical sensor technology with actively controllable optics, for imaging
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H04N-007/18
G02B-015/163
G02B-013/12
출원번호
US-0387171
(2009-04-29)
등록번호
US-9304305
(2016-04-05)
발명자
/ 주소
Paul, Andrew E.
Kane, David M.
출원인 / 주소
Arete Associates
대리인 / 주소
Furman IP Law
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
10
초록▼
Plural image planes are illuminated through a single image-collecting objective system. The field of view or magnification (or both), is allocated dynamically among the plural planes. Preferably the planes include two detector planes—one corresponding to a wide field of view (FOV) and the other to a
Plural image planes are illuminated through a single image-collecting objective system. The field of view or magnification (or both), is allocated dynamically among the plural planes. Preferably the planes include two detector planes—one corresponding to a wide field of view (FOV) and the other to a steerable narrow one. Allocation is performed by a beam splitter in combination with a steering mirror, or steering-mirror array, that steers both fields together. The splitter isolates radiation corresponding to the narrow FOV from radiation corresponding to the wide FOV. In method forms of the invention, an electrooptical observation system produces simultaneous plural images for a region of interest. The system displays simultaneous images having respective plural resolutions. In operation a first, relatively wider FOV continuously covers a region of interest; while the second is narrower and has finer resolution than the first.
대표청구항▼
1. A method for operating an electrooptical observation system that produces simultaneous plural images for a region of interest, at least some of said plural images having respective plural resolutions; for use when the system also has an inertial-navigation system and a steering mirror and when th
1. A method for operating an electrooptical observation system that produces simultaneous plural images for a region of interest, at least some of said plural images having respective plural resolutions; for use when the system also has an inertial-navigation system and a steering mirror and when the steering mirror intercepts and deflects radiation that forms the relatively narrower field of view, said method comprising the steps, by a remote operator, of: operating the system to display simultaneous images having respective plural resolutions;controlling the system to cause:at least a first of the simultaneous plural images and a second of the simultaneous plural images to be formed simultaneously from radiation passing through a single optical aperture, radiation that is physically separated into the first and second of the simultaneous plural images formed on a plurality of physically separated imaging planes, including a lower resolution imaging plane and a higher resolution imaging plane;the at least first of the simultaneous plural images to have a relatively wider field of view, and to continuingly cover a region of interest, andthe at least second of the simultaneous plural images to have a narrower field of view, with finer resolution than the relatively-wider-field image, continuingly directed toward a particular detail or details within or associated with the region of interest;using the system to:identify and follow, in the second of the simultaneous plural images with the wider-field of view, the region of interest to maintain an overall situational awareness, and concurrently observe as a real-time telephoto view, in the first of the simultaneous plural images with the narrower-field of view, relatively higher-resolution data and visible scenes for relatively finer investigation and analysis of one or more specialized details;operating the steering mirror to point the relatively narrower field toward a particular region of interest within the relatively wider field;operating the system to employ the inertial-navigation system for measuring spatial coordinates of the relatively narrower view, or of at least one object therein, or both; andoperating the system to incorporate information from the inertial-navigation system to substantially stabilize the steering mirror with respect to inertial space. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the specialized details comprise at least one detail selected from the group consisting of: structures;vehicles;moving objects;animals;marine creatures; andpeople. 3. The method of claim 1, for use when the system is capable of at least one resolution corresponding generally to a hemispherical or panoramic field of regard; and further comprising the steps of: adjusting said relatively wider view to, very generally, a hemispherical or panoramic field of regard; andadjusting said relatively narrower field to a magnification in the range, between coarsest and finest magnification ratios, of three to twelve times. 4. The method of claim 1, for use when the system is capable of at least one resolution corresponding generally to a hemispherical or panoramic field of regard; and further comprising the steps of: adjusting said relatively wider view to, very generally, a hemispherical or panoramic field of regard; andadjusting said relatively narrower field to a magnification in the range, between coarsest and finest magnification ratios, of three to twelve times a lower resolution of the lower resolution imaging plane of the plurality of physically separated imaging planes. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein: the information-incorporating operating step also stabilizes the relatively narrower view with respect to the relatively wider view. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: forwarding measured spatial-coordinate information to a remote facility or platform for use in another application. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: using measured spatial-coordinate information to control an action. 8. The method of claim 7, for use when the system is mounted in a vehicle; and wherein the action-controlling step comprises: a course correction of the vehicle to avoid a collision or to effect a rendezvous. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the action-controlling step comprises: a direct call for operating a weapon to impair an object or creature appearing in one or more of the images. 10. The method of claim 1, for use when the steering mirror is a two-axis steering mirror; and wherein the mirror-operating step comprises: adjusting the steering mirror in two generally orthogonal directions within the relatively wider field. 11. The method of claim 1, further the controlling the system to cause: the radiation to be physically separated into the first and second of the simultaneous plural images formed on the plurality of physically separated imaging planes by a beam splitter positioned in the single optical aperture. 12. The method of claim 11, further the controlling the system to cause: radiation forming the first of the simultaneous plural images to pass from the beam splitter to the steering mirror to the higher resolution imaging plane.
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