Non-scanning integrated optical system with wide field of view search capability
First Claim
1. An integrated multiaperture optical system for viewing a scene, forming an image thereof and detecting and identifying targets therefrom, said optical system comprising;
- a two dimensional array of lens aperture menbers, each said lens aperture member comprising a cylindrical member having first and second lenses disposed therein, said lenses being spaced apart and movable along the major axis of said cylindrical member, each said lens aperture member being oriented to direct electromagnetic wave energy from a discrete region of said scene to a discrete portion of a common locus, the organization and arrangement of said lens aperture members being such that individual discrete portions of the common locus defined by adjacent lens aperture members are substantially contiguous and, collectively, the total of said discrete portions receive electromagnetic wave energy from the total scene being viewed, whereby a quantized replica of said scene is displayed on said common locus,detector means located at said locus and receiving electromagnetic wave energy from said lens aperture members, said detector means comprising a multi-element detector for each said lens aperture member, each element of each said multi-element detector generating data signals in response to received electromagnetic wave energy,a correlation circuit having a memory for each element of each said multi-element detector, each said memory receiving and storing data from its associated detector element, andcomputer means having a memory matrix, said memory matrix receiving and storing data from said correlation circuit memories and said computer means processing the data stored in said memory matrix.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Very wide field of view optical surveillance is realized without scanning or moving parts by means of an integrated multiaperture optical system. The system utilizes light gathering optics in the form of an array of eyelets or lens apertures that direct in-coming light onto a detector layer. The detection layer consists of individual detectors, more than one to a lens. Under the detector layer there is a correlation layer, which contains a memory cell for each detector and circuitry which connects to neighboring memory cells according to a hard wired program. Below the correlation layer is a processing layer which contains microprocessor circuitry allowing further processing of the acquired information. Outlines of objects seen by the system are defined by the microprocessor circuitry using an edge detecting routine. A detected object is identified by correlation with a single number recognition coefficient. The microprocessor circuit includes a memory matrix in which is stored recognition coefficient for objects of interest. The lens aperture can be configured to form either apposition or neural superportion images and algorithms for processing information obtained by both modes of operation are developed. The data processing circuitry is implemented by means of large scale integrated circuit technology whereby the memories in the correlation layer are physically located directly below their associated detectors.
28 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An integrated multiaperture optical system for viewing a scene, forming an image thereof and detecting and identifying targets therefrom, said optical system comprising;
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a two dimensional array of lens aperture menbers, each said lens aperture member comprising a cylindrical member having first and second lenses disposed therein, said lenses being spaced apart and movable along the major axis of said cylindrical member, each said lens aperture member being oriented to direct electromagnetic wave energy from a discrete region of said scene to a discrete portion of a common locus, the organization and arrangement of said lens aperture members being such that individual discrete portions of the common locus defined by adjacent lens aperture members are substantially contiguous and, collectively, the total of said discrete portions receive electromagnetic wave energy from the total scene being viewed, whereby a quantized replica of said scene is displayed on said common locus, detector means located at said locus and receiving electromagnetic wave energy from said lens aperture members, said detector means comprising a multi-element detector for each said lens aperture member, each element of each said multi-element detector generating data signals in response to received electromagnetic wave energy, a correlation circuit having a memory for each element of each said multi-element detector, each said memory receiving and storing data from its associated detector element, and computer means having a memory matrix, said memory matrix receiving and storing data from said correlation circuit memories and said computer means processing the data stored in said memory matrix. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification