EVENT SYNCHRONIZATION FOR DETECTOR SYSTEMS

• US 20030234870A1
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: SHORT, Jeffrey C., HOGAN, Timothy B., OSTROMEK, Timothy E., BACARELLA, Antonio V., PORTER, Jerry D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,970,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/217.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/75 by influencing optical camera components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/76 by influencing the image signals

Abstract

An event synchronizing apparatus E for an image intensification camera system C for gathering image data includes an image intensifier 348 for amplifying received light 312. A relay optic assembly 316 is coupled between the image intensifier 348 and a digital image sensor 350, such as a CMOS or CCD device. Digital logic 352 is used to process or output an image or related data 334. An event detector 340 digitizes an input signal 342 from an illumination source 338 and generates an electrical output synchronization signal 346 in response to the input optical signal 342. The image intensifier camera C derives imaging and control information for the synchronization signal.

Claims

1. An event synchronization apparatus for an image intensification camera system for gathering image data, the apparatus comprising:

an image intensifier means for amplifying received light;

a light transmitting assembly between the image intensifier and a digital image sensor to communicate the amplified received light from the image intensifier;

a digital image sensor to receive and electronically transform the amplified received light from the image intensifier;

digital logic circuitry electronically connected to at least the digital image sensor to process an image or related data; and

,

an event detector circuit for digitizing an input signal from an illuminator source and for generating an output signal communicated to the digital logic in response to the input signal from the illuminator source.

2. The invention of claim wherein the digital logic circuitry adjusts one or more operating characteristics of the digital image sensor selected from the group consisting of:

digital frame rate;

contrast and brightness;

digital image enhancement;

bad sensor pixel detection and correction; and

camera synchronization.

3. The invention of claim wherein the digital logic circuitry adjusts one or more operating characteristics of the image intensifier selected from the group consisting of:

image intensifier gain;

gating; and

synchronization.

4. The invention of claim wherein the digital image sensor is a charge coupled device (CCD).

5. The invention of claim wherein the digital image sensor is a CMOS device.

6. The invention of claim wherein the light transmitting assembly is a relay optic.

7. The invention of claim wherein the light transmitting assembly is a fiber optic bond.