Aimpoint selection processor
First Claim
1. In a video tracking system having a digital correlation tracker, an imaging sensor, video preprocessor means for spatial and amplitude quantizing of the sensor image into pixels and gray levels and means for computing target discriminant functions therefrom, the improvement residing in an aimpoint selection processor, said aimpoint selection processor comprisingimage binary coding means for developing binary target patterns from said discriminant functions,a moment measuring circuit, responsive to said discriminant functions and the output of said image binary coding means, for measuring the moments of said binary target patterns,a microprocessor said microprocessor being programmed to:
- (a) generate and store, from initial binary coding and moment measurement data, a target reference pattern data base defining target pattern size, aspect angle, selected aimpoint and reference points;
(b) compute, from real time binary coding and moment measurement data and said reference pattern data base, an ensemble of estimated aimpoints; and
(c) average said estimated aimpoints to provide an output aimpoint signal, anddata bus means operably connected to said image binary coding means, said moment measuring circuit and said microprocessor.
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Abstract
The selection and designation of an aimpoint on a known type of target appearing in the field of view of a video tracking system imaging sensor is accomplished by (a) developing binary target patterns from quantized sensor data generated in the video tracking system video preprocessor; (b) measuring the moments of the target patterns; (c) developing and storing a target reference pattern data base; (d) computing from real time binary coding and moment measurement data and from the stored target reference pattern data base an ensemble of estimated aimpoints; (e) testing the validity of the estimated aimpoints; and (f) averaging valid estimated aimpoints to provide an output aimpoint signal. Mechanization of the invention comprehends the use of video tracking system functions to provide quantized binary coded target patterns and the use of dedicated accumulators to generate pattern moment measurements. A microprocessor computes and stores the target pattern reference data base and performs the aimpoint selection algorithm.
37 Citations
4 Claims
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1. In a video tracking system having a digital correlation tracker, an imaging sensor, video preprocessor means for spatial and amplitude quantizing of the sensor image into pixels and gray levels and means for computing target discriminant functions therefrom, the improvement residing in an aimpoint selection processor, said aimpoint selection processor comprising
image binary coding means for developing binary target patterns from said discriminant functions, a moment measuring circuit, responsive to said discriminant functions and the output of said image binary coding means, for measuring the moments of said binary target patterns, a microprocessor said microprocessor being programmed to: - (a) generate and store, from initial binary coding and moment measurement data, a target reference pattern data base defining target pattern size, aspect angle, selected aimpoint and reference points;
(b) compute, from real time binary coding and moment measurement data and said reference pattern data base, an ensemble of estimated aimpoints; and
(c) average said estimated aimpoints to provide an output aimpoint signal, anddata bus means operably connected to said image binary coding means, said moment measuring circuit and said microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- (a) generate and store, from initial binary coding and moment measurement data, a target reference pattern data base defining target pattern size, aspect angle, selected aimpoint and reference points;
Specification