Vector lock-in imaging system
First Claim
1. An imaging assembly for producing images synchronous with the periodicity of an object field (12), said assembly (10) comprising;
- reference means for producing a reference signal representing the periodicity of an object field (12), camera means (14) for detecting radiation from the object field (12) producing a video signal of the image comprising a series of pixels representing a frame of the image of the object field (12) and for producing a timing signal for each of said pixels of said frame, processor means (16) for receiving said frame of said video signal and storing said frame in synchronism with said reference signal and for averaging said stored frame with subsequently received frames having said pixels synchronous with said reference signal producing an image signal, and display means (26) for receiving said image signal and displaying the averaged image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The assembly (10) is a real-time imaging device for detecting radiation from an object field which is periodic in time. A video camera (14) detects emitted and reflected radiation from the object field (12) and produces a video signal comprising a series of pixels representing a frame of the image. The video signal is digitized (18) and received by a processor (16). The processor (16) averages the successive frames as in-phase images and quadrature images based on the periodicity of the object field to eliminate unsynchronous noise from the image and to display an image synchronous with the periodicity.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An imaging assembly for producing images synchronous with the periodicity of an object field (12), said assembly (10) comprising;
- reference means for producing a reference signal representing the periodicity of an object field (12), camera means (14) for detecting radiation from the object field (12) producing a video signal of the image comprising a series of pixels representing a frame of the image of the object field (12) and for producing a timing signal for each of said pixels of said frame, processor means (16) for receiving said frame of said video signal and storing said frame in synchronism with said reference signal and for averaging said stored frame with subsequently received frames having said pixels synchronous with said reference signal producing an image signal, and display means (26) for receiving said image signal and displaying the averaged image.
- 2. An assembly as set forth in claim further characterized by including converter means (20) for receiving said image signal and converting it into a display signal to control said display means (26).
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15. A method of producing an image synchronous with the periodicity of an object field, the method including the steps of;
- producing a reference signal representing the periodicity of an object field, detecting radiation from the object field producing a video signal comprising a series of pixels representing a frame of the image of the object field and for producing a timing signal for each of the pixels of the frame, receiving the video signal, storing the frame in synchronism with the reference signal, and averaging the stored frame with subsequently received frames having pixels synchronous with the reference signal producing an image signal, and displaying the averaged image.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
Specification