Composite visible/thermal-infrared imaging system
First Claim
1. Multispectral imaging apparatus comprising a wavelength-independent focus reflective optical system for receiving visible and infrared radiation from a scene and for focusing the visible and infrared radiation at a common focal plane;
- detector means responsive to both the visible and the infrared radiation focused at the common focal plane, the detector means providing first and second signals representative, respectively, of the visible and the infrared radiation received by the detector means; and
means responsive to the first and second signals for displaying a composite image of the scene, the composite image comprising a black and white visual image of the scene with portions of the image highlighted in color in accordance with the infrared radiation received from corresponding portions of the scene.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Multispectral imaging apparatus for producing a composite visible/infrared image includes a wavelength-independent focus reflective optical system for focusing visible and infrared radiation from a scene onto a hybrid visible/infrared radiation detector. The detector comprises an array of visible radiation responsive elements interspersed with infrared radiation responsive elements and provides first and second output signals corresponding, respectively, to the visible and the infrared radiation impinging upon the detector. The first and second signals are converted to a visible black and white image of the scene and a step-tone false color infrared image of the scene. The images are combined in exact spatial registration to produce a composite image comprising a visible image of the scene which is highlighted by the infrared radiation emitted by the scene.
188 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. Multispectral imaging apparatus comprising a wavelength-independent focus reflective optical system for receiving visible and infrared radiation from a scene and for focusing the visible and infrared radiation at a common focal plane;
- detector means responsive to both the visible and the infrared radiation focused at the common focal plane, the detector means providing first and second signals representative, respectively, of the visible and the infrared radiation received by the detector means; and
means responsive to the first and second signals for displaying a composite image of the scene, the composite image comprising a black and white visual image of the scene with portions of the image highlighted in color in accordance with the infrared radiation received from corresponding portions of the scene. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- detector means responsive to both the visible and the infrared radiation focused at the common focal plane, the detector means providing first and second signals representative, respectively, of the visible and the infrared radiation received by the detector means; and
- 8. Multispectral imaging apparatus comprising a hybrid visible/infrared radiation detector, the detector comprising a semiconductor substrate carrying a plurality of first and second radiation responsive elements, the first and second elements being spatially arranged on the substrate in a matrix such that the first and second elements are interspersed, the first elements being responsive to visible radiation and the second elements being responsive to infrared radiation, and means for providing first and second output signals from the first and second elements, respectively, the first output signal being representative of visible radiation impinging on the first elements and the second output signal being representative of infrared radiation impinging on the second elements.
-
21. Multispectral imaging apparatus comprising a wavelength-independent focus reflective optical system for receiving visible and infrared radiation from a scene and for focusing the visible and infrared radiation at a common focal plane;
- detector means responsive to both the visible and the infrared radiation focused at the common focal plane, the detector means providing first and second signals representative, respectively, of the visible and the infrared radiation received by the detector means, the detector means comprising a spatial array of first and second interspersed detector elements arranged in a matrix on a substrate, the first detector elements being responsive to the visible radiation and producing the first signal, the second detector element being responsive to the infrared radiation and producing the second signal; and
means responsive to the first and second signals for displaying a composite image of the scene, the composite image comprising a black and white visual image of the scene with portions of the image highlighted in color in accordance with the infrared radiation received from corresponding portions of the scene.
- detector means responsive to both the visible and the infrared radiation focused at the common focal plane, the detector means providing first and second signals representative, respectively, of the visible and the infrared radiation received by the detector means, the detector means comprising a spatial array of first and second interspersed detector elements arranged in a matrix on a substrate, the first detector elements being responsive to the visible radiation and producing the first signal, the second detector element being responsive to the infrared radiation and producing the second signal; and
-
22. Multispectral imaging apparatus comprising a wavelength-independent focus reflective optical system for receiving visible and infrared radiation from a scene and for focusing the visible and infrared radiation at a common focal plane;
- detector means responsive to both the visible and the infrared radiation focused at the common focal plane, the detector means providing first and second signals representative, respectively, of the visible and the infrared radiation received by the detector means, the detector means comprising a spatial array of first and second interspersed detector elements arranged in a matrix on a silicon substrate, the first detector elements being responsive to the visible radiation and producing the first signal, the second detector element being responsive to the infrared radiation and producing the second signal, and the first detector elements comprise P-N diodes and the second detector elements comprise metal silicide diodes; and
means responsive to the first and second signals for displaying a composite image of the scene, the composite image comprising a black and white visual image of the scene with portions of the image highlighted in color in accordance with the infrared radiation received from corresponding portions of the scene.
- detector means responsive to both the visible and the infrared radiation focused at the common focal plane, the detector means providing first and second signals representative, respectively, of the visible and the infrared radiation received by the detector means, the detector means comprising a spatial array of first and second interspersed detector elements arranged in a matrix on a silicon substrate, the first detector elements being responsive to the visible radiation and producing the first signal, the second detector element being responsive to the infrared radiation and producing the second signal, and the first detector elements comprise P-N diodes and the second detector elements comprise metal silicide diodes; and
-
23. Multispectral imaging apparatus comprising a wavelength-independent focus reflective optical system for receiving visible and infrared radiation from a scene and for focusing the visible and infrared radiation at a common focal plane;
- detector means responsive to both the visible and the infrared radiation focused at the common focal plane, the detector means providing first and second signals representative, respectively, of the visible and the infrared radiation received by the detector means, the detector means comprising a spatial array of first and second interspersed detector elements arranged in a matrix on a silicon substrate, the first detector elements being responsive to the visible radiation and producing the first signal, the second detector element being responsive to the infrared radiation and producing the second signal, the first and second detector elements comprise thin film diodes; and
means responsive to the first and second signals for displaying a composite image of the scene, the composite image comprising a black and white visual image of the scene with portions of the image highlighted in color in accordance with the infrared radiation received from corresponding portions of the scene.
- detector means responsive to both the visible and the infrared radiation focused at the common focal plane, the detector means providing first and second signals representative, respectively, of the visible and the infrared radiation received by the detector means, the detector means comprising a spatial array of first and second interspersed detector elements arranged in a matrix on a silicon substrate, the first detector elements being responsive to the visible radiation and producing the first signal, the second detector element being responsive to the infrared radiation and producing the second signal, the first and second detector elements comprise thin film diodes; and
-
24. Multispectral imaging apparatus comprising a wavelength-independent focus reflective optical system for receiving visible and infrared radiation from a scene and for focusing the visible and infrared radiation at a common focal plane;
- detector means responsive to both the visible and the infrared radiation focused at the common focal plane, the detector means providing first and second signals representative, respectively, of the visible and the infrared radiation received by the detector means, the detector means comprising a spatial array of first and second interspersed detector elements arranged in a matrix on a substrate, the first detector elements being responsive to the visible radiation and producing the first signal, the second detector element being responsive to the infrared radiation and producing the second signal, the detector means further comprises first means for scanning the first detector elements and for providing the first signal on a first output channel, and second means for scanning the second detector elements and for providing the second signal on a second output channel; and
means responsive to the first and second signals for displaying a composite image of the scene, the composite image comprising a black and white visual image of the scene with portions of the image highlighted in color in accordance with the infrared radiation received from corresponding portions of the scene.
- detector means responsive to both the visible and the infrared radiation focused at the common focal plane, the detector means providing first and second signals representative, respectively, of the visible and the infrared radiation received by the detector means, the detector means comprising a spatial array of first and second interspersed detector elements arranged in a matrix on a substrate, the first detector elements being responsive to the visible radiation and producing the first signal, the second detector element being responsive to the infrared radiation and producing the second signal, the detector means further comprises first means for scanning the first detector elements and for providing the first signal on a first output channel, and second means for scanning the second detector elements and for providing the second signal on a second output channel; and
-
25. Multispectral imaging apparatus comprising a wavelength-independent focus reflective optical system for receiving visible and infrared radiation from a scene and for focusing the visible and infrared radiation at a common focal plane;
- detector means responsive to both the visible and the infrared radiation focused at the common focal plane, the detector means providing first and second signals representative, respectively, of the visible and the infrared radiation received by the detector means, the detector means comprising a spatial array of first and second interspersed detector elements arranged in a matrix on a substrate, the first detector elements being responsive to the visible radiation and producing the first signal, the second detector element being responsive to the infrared radiation and producing the second signal, the detector means further comprises first means for scanning the first detector elements and for providing the first signal on a first output channel, and second means for scanning the second detector elements and for providing the second signal on a second output channel, the second means including threshold adjusting means for setting one or more preselected threshold levels such that only a second signal that is within predetermined threshold limits is displayed; and
means responsive to the first and second signals for displaying a composite image of the scene, the composite image comprising a black and white visual image of the scene with portions of the image highlighted in color in accordance with the infrared radiation received from corresponding portions of the scene.
- detector means responsive to both the visible and the infrared radiation focused at the common focal plane, the detector means providing first and second signals representative, respectively, of the visible and the infrared radiation received by the detector means, the detector means comprising a spatial array of first and second interspersed detector elements arranged in a matrix on a substrate, the first detector elements being responsive to the visible radiation and producing the first signal, the second detector element being responsive to the infrared radiation and producing the second signal, the detector means further comprises first means for scanning the first detector elements and for providing the first signal on a first output channel, and second means for scanning the second detector elements and for providing the second signal on a second output channel, the second means including threshold adjusting means for setting one or more preselected threshold levels such that only a second signal that is within predetermined threshold limits is displayed; and
Specification