Method for adjusting an object detection apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for adjusting an object detection apparatus, comprising:
- providing an image intensifier tube having a electroluminescent screen, and which produces a screen current output when the image intensifier tube processes electromagnetic radiation;
measuring the screen current output produced by the electroluminescent screen;
providing an emitter of electromagnetic radiation which is electrically coupled with a source of electricity, and which, when periodically energized, produces an electromagnetic radiation output; and
adjusting the period of time which the emitter of electromagnetic radiation is energized based upon the screen current output which is measured at the electroluminescent screen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for adjusting an object detection apparatus is disclosed and which includes the steps of providing an image intensifier tube having an electroluminescent screen, and which produces a screen current output when the image intensifier tube processes electromagnetic radiation; measuring the screen current output produced by the electroluminescent screen; providing an emitter of electromagnetic radiation which is electrically coupled with a source of electricity, and which, when periodically energized, produces an electromagnetic radiation output; and adjusting the period of time which the emitter of electromagnetic radiation is energized based upon the screen current output which is measured at the electroluminescent screen.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for adjusting an object detection apparatus, comprising:
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providing an image intensifier tube having a electroluminescent screen, and which produces a screen current output when the image intensifier tube processes electromagnetic radiation; measuring the screen current output produced by the electroluminescent screen; providing an emitter of electromagnetic radiation which is electrically coupled with a source of electricity, and which, when periodically energized, produces an electromagnetic radiation output; and adjusting the period of time which the emitter of electromagnetic radiation is energized based upon the screen current output which is measured at the electroluminescent screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for adjusting an object detection apparatus comprising:
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providing an image intensifier tube having an electroluminescent screen and which produces a screen current when the image intensifier tube processes electromagnetic radiation; providing a shutter assembly operably coupled to the image intensifier tube and which, when activated, and then deactivated, causes the electroluminescent screen to produce a light output which is converted into an image frame having an associated screen current; providing an emitter of electromagnetic radiation which is operably coupled to the image intensifier tube, and the shutter assembly, and which, when energized, produces electromagnetic radiation which is directed towards an area of interest; and measuring the screen current associated with a first image frame when the emitter of electromagnetic radiation is deenergized, and the shutter assembly is activated.
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18. A method for adjusting an object detection apparatus comprising:
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providing an image intensifier tube having a photoanode, a photocathode, a microchannel plate, and an electroluminescent screen, and which produces a screen current when the image intensifier tube processes electromagnetic radiation; providing a shutter assembly operably coupled to the image intensifier tube and which, when activated, and then deactivated, causes the electroluminescent screen to produce a light output which comprises an image frame having an associated screen current; recording the electroluminescent screen current; and adjusting the voltage potential between the microchannel plate and the photoanode based upon the recorded electroluminescent screen current.
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19. A method for adjusting an object detection apparatus, comprising:
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providing an image intensifier tube having a photoanode, a photocathode, a microchannel plate, and an electroluminescent screen, and which produces a screen current output when the image intensifier tube processes electromagnetic radiation; activating the image intensifier tube by switching the voltage between the microchannel plate and the photocathode on and off; measuring the screen current output produced by the electroluminescent screen when the image intensifier tube is switched on and off; and adjusting the period of time which the image intensifier tube is energized based upon the screen current output which is measured at the electroluminescent screen.
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20. A method for adjusting an object detection apparatus, comprising:
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providing an image intensifier tube having an electroluminescent screen, and which produces a screen current output when the image intensifier tube processes electromagnetic radiation; measuring the screen current output produced by the electroluminescent screen; providing an emitter of electromagnetic radiation which is electrically coupled with a source of electricity, and which, when periodically energized, produces an electromagnetic radiation output; and adjusting the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation output of the emitter of electromagnetic radiation based, at least in part, upon the screen current output which is measured at the electroluminescent screen.
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21. A method for adjusting an object detection apparatus comprising:
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providing an image intensifier tube having an electroluminescent screen and which produces a screen current when the image intensifier tube processes electromagnetic radiation; providing a shutter assembly operably coupled to the image intensifier tube and which, when activated, and then deactivated, causes the electroluminescent screen to produce a light output which comprises an image frame having an associated screen current; providing an emitter of electromagnetic radiation which is operably coupled to the image intensifier tube, and the shutter assembly, and which, when energized, produces electromagnetic radiation which is directed towards an area of interest; measuring the screen current associated with a first image frame when the emitter of electromagnetic radiation is deenergized, and the shutter assembly is activated; after the step of measuring the screen current associated with a first image frame, energizing the emitter of electromagnetic radiation to direct electromagnetic radiation to the area of interest; timing the energizing of the emitter of electromagnetic radiation; activating and deactivating the shutter assembly at a predetermined time after the energizing of the emitter of electromagnetic radiation to capture the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the area of interest, and to produce a second image frame which is associated with a second screen current; comparing the screen currents associated with the first and second image frames to determine if the screen current associated with the second image frame has a greater magnitude relative to the screen current associated with the first image frame; and adjusting the duration of time that the emitter of electromagnetic radiation is energized, and the shutter assembly is activated, and then deactivated based upon the comparison of the screen currents associated with the first and second image frames. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for adjusting an object detection apparatus, comprising:
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providing an image intensifier tube having an electroluminescent screen and which produces a screen current and a light output when the image intensifier tube processes electromagnetic radiation; providing a shutter assembly which is operably coupled to the image intensifier tube and which, when selectively energized, can be placed in a first, activated condition which allows light to be processed by the image intensifier tube, and a second, deactivated condition, which substantially prevents light from being processed by the image intensifier tube; providing an emitter of electromagnetic radiation which, when selectively energized, produces pulses of electromagnetic radiation which are directed towards, and reflected from, an object of interest, and which are then received and selectively processed by the image intensifier tube; providing and positioning an imaging device in light output receiving relation relative to the electroluminescent screen; providing a controller which is controllably coupled with each of the image intensifier tube, shutter assembly and emitter of electromagnetic radiation, and wherein the controller continually energizes the image intensifier tube, selectively energizes the emitter of electromagnetic radiation, and further activates and deactivates the shutter assembly in a predetermined manner so as to cause the electroluminescent screen to produce a light output which can be converted into an electronic image of the object of interest by the imaging device; providing an image signal processor which is operably coupled with each of the controller, and the imaging device, and wherein the image signal processor receives the electronic image produced by the imaging device, and produces a visibly discernible composite image output representative of the object of interest; determining a screen current threshold produced by the electroluminescent screen when the electroluminescent screen is producing an undiscernable image of the object of interest; selectively energizing the emitter of electromagnetic radiation, continually energizing the image intensifier tube, and activating and deactivating the shutter assembly so as to cause the electroluminescent screen to produce multiple image frames each having an associated screen current; comparing the respective screen currents of the multiple image frames against the screen current threshold to determine if the screen currents associated with the respective multiple image frames exceed the screen current threshold; and adjusting the duration that the shutter assembly is activated and then deactivated, so as to cause the electroluminescent screen to produce a light output which can be substantially continually converted into an electronic image of the object of interest by the imaging device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for adjusting an object detection apparatus, comprising:
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a. providing an image intensifier tube having an electroluminescent screen, and which processes electromagnetic radiation so as to produce a light output from the electroluminescent screen, and a screen current associated with the light output; b. providing an emitter of electromagnetic radiation which, when selectively energized, produces pulses of electromagnetic radiation which are directed at, and reflected from an object of interest; c. providing a shutter assembly which is operably coupled to the image intensifier tube, and which when selectively activated and deactivated permits the image intensifier tube to receive and then process the pulses of electromagnetic radiation which are reflected from the object of interest and other electromagnetic radiation which is generated by the object of interest; d. providing a controller which is operably coupled to the image intensifier tube, emitter of electromagnetic radiation and shutter assembly and which continually energizes the image intensifier tube, selectively energizes the emitter of electromagnetic radiation, and further activates and deactivates the shutter assembly; e. providing an imaging device which is located adjacent to the electroluminescent screen, and which receives the light output of the electroluminescent screen and which converts the light output into an electronic image of the object of interest; f. determining a threshold screen current produced by the electroluminescent screen and which is associated with the production of an undiscernable electronic image by the imaging device; g. energizing the image intensifier tube and activating and deactivating the shutter assembly, and then measuring a first screen current produced by the electroluminescent screen; h. after step g, energizing the image intensifier tube, and the emitter of electromagnetic radiation which produces a pulse of electromagnetic radiation which is directed to, and reflected from, the object of interest, and then activating and deactivating the shutter assembly at a predetermined time, and measuring a second screen current produced by the electroluminescent screen; i. comparing the first and second screen currents to each other, and to the predetermined threshold screen current; j. adjusting the duration of time that the emitter of electromagnetic radiation is energized, and the shutter assembly is activated and deactivated based upon the comparison of the respective screen currents; and k. periodically repeating steps g-j so that a visually discernable electronic image of the object of interest is produced by the imaging device.
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Specification