Multiple target correlator system
First Claim
1. A multiple target correlator system comprising:
- (a) an imaging means for providing an image of an object or scene of interest;
(b) means for modulating a coherent beam with said image to form an image modulated beam;
(c) means for optically Fourier transforming said image modulated beam into a spatial frequency distribution of said image;
(d) multiple matched filter means disposed in the back focal plane of said means for optically Fourier transforming, and comprising at least one matched filter element having at least two matched filters recorded thereon for said object of interest and wherein said at least two matched filters are recorded at a predetermined unique angular difference, said spatial frequency distribution of said image multiplically interacts with said at least two matched filters resulting in first and second product signals;
(e) means for optically inverse Fourier transforming said first and second product signals to produce a pair of optical correlation signals;
(f) a correlation plane detector means, disposed in the back focal plane of said means for optically inverse Fourier transforming, for detecting said pair of optical correlation signals and producing electric output signals representative of said pair of correlation signals; and
(g) means for processing said electric output signals comprising;
storage means having said predetermined unique angular difference of said at least two matched filters stored therein;
means for receiving said electric outputs signals from said correlation plane detector; and
means for calculating the orientation of said particular object of interest and providing said particular object of interest with an identification tag.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple target correlation system for unambiguously detecting, locating and determining the orientation of an array of multiple targets or objects. The multiple target correlator provides a means for fabricating a matched filter array or multiple matched filter with multiple targets stored on a single plate and a method for interrogating this multiple target matched filter with multiple scene images thereby providing for the identification of each object or target and determining its location and orientation in coordinates that are user selectable. The multiple target correlator utilizes a multiple matched filter having two matched filters for each particular object or target stored thereon, and each matched filter is positioned at a unique angle. Since there are two matched filters for each object or target, there will be correlation at two different angles, one for each filter, and since the angular difference is unique for that object, then the difference between the matched filter angles will serve as an identification tag for that object. In addition, the angles at which the consecutive correlations occur are noted and utilized to determine the location and orientation of each of the objects.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A multiple target correlator system comprising:
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(a) an imaging means for providing an image of an object or scene of interest; (b) means for modulating a coherent beam with said image to form an image modulated beam; (c) means for optically Fourier transforming said image modulated beam into a spatial frequency distribution of said image; (d) multiple matched filter means disposed in the back focal plane of said means for optically Fourier transforming, and comprising at least one matched filter element having at least two matched filters recorded thereon for said object of interest and wherein said at least two matched filters are recorded at a predetermined unique angular difference, said spatial frequency distribution of said image multiplically interacts with said at least two matched filters resulting in first and second product signals; (e) means for optically inverse Fourier transforming said first and second product signals to produce a pair of optical correlation signals; (f) a correlation plane detector means, disposed in the back focal plane of said means for optically inverse Fourier transforming, for detecting said pair of optical correlation signals and producing electric output signals representative of said pair of correlation signals; and (g) means for processing said electric output signals comprising; storage means having said predetermined unique angular difference of said at least two matched filters stored therein; means for receiving said electric outputs signals from said correlation plane detector; and
means for calculating the orientation of said particular object of interest and providing said particular object of interest with an identification tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for unambiguously identifying an object and determining its location and orientation, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) scanning a scene for a particular object of interest; (b) providing an image of said particular object of interest; (c) modulating a coherent beam with said image to form an image modulated beam; (d) optically Fourier transforming said image modulated beam into a spatial frequency distribution of said image; (e) interrogating a multiple matched filter, having at least one matched filter element with at least two matched filters recorded thereon, such that said spatial frequency distribution of said image multiplically interacts with said at least two matched filters resulting in first and second product signals when there is a match between said at least two matched filters and said spatial frequency distribution; (f) optically inverse Fourier transforming said first and second product signals to produce a pair of optical correlation signals; (g) calculating the orientation of said particular object of interest based upon the detection of said pair of correlation signals; (h) calculating the position of said particular object of interest based upon the detection of said pair of correlation signals; and (i) calculating and assigning an identification tag to said particular object of interest based upon the detection of said pair of correlation signals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A multiple target correlator system comprising:
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(a) an imaging means for providing an image of an object or some of interest; (b) means for modulating a coherent beam with said image to form an image modulated beam; (c) means for optically Fourier transforming said image modulated beam into a spatial frequency distribution of said image; (d) multiple matched filter means disposed in the back focal plane of said means for optically Fourier transforming, and comprising a plurality of matched filter elements having a plurality of matched filters recorded thereon for said object of interest and wherein said plurality of matched filters are recorded at a predetermined unique angular difference, said spatial frequency distribution of said image multiplically interacts with said plurality of matched filters resulting in first and second product signals; (e) an optical shutter array for addressing a particular matched filter element; (f) means for optically inverse Fourier transforming said first and second product signals to produce a pair of optical correlation signals; (g) a correlation plane detector means, disposed in the back focal plane of said means for optically inverse Fourier transforming, for detecting said pair of optical correlation signals and producing electric output signals representative of said pair of correlation signals; and (h) means for processing said electric output signals comprising; storage means having said predetermined unique angular difference of said plurality of matched filters stored therein; means for receiving said electric output signals from said correlation plane detector; means for calculating the orientation of said particular object of interest and providing said particular object of interest with an identification tag; and resolving means for calculating the position of said particular object of interest in user defined coordinates, said resolving means having means for receiving the position of said particular object of interest, in camera coordinates, from said correlation plane detector and the angular difference between said particular object and the coordinate axis of the particular scene of said particular object of interest from said storage means. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification