Method and apparatus for generating high resolution vidicon camera images

• US 5,270,756 A
• Filed: 02/18/1992
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Training, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Busenberg, Stavros N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US07/838,612
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 358/109, 358/217, 358/113
• US Class Current: 348/144
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/025 by scanning the object
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

An efficient system for generating high resolution photogrammetric image data from a Vidicon camera. The Vidicon camera acquires sequential images of a scene and provides multiple overlapping frames of sequential image data corresponding thereto. A mechanism is provided for maintaining the camera at an optimal angle relative to the direction of movement of the vehicle. A processor operates on the multiple overlapping frames of sequential image data to provide image data of enhanced resolution. Use of overlapping frames of video data allows for the production of images with higher resolution than is currently obtainable with Vidicon cameras or photographic film. In addition, the data is digitizable and convertible to images in real time. Thus, a more efficient system is provided for generating high resolution photogrammetric image data from a Vidicon camera.

Claims

1. A system for generating photogrammetric images comprising:

first means including camera means for generating sequential interlaced scanned images of a scene from a moving vehicle and providing multiple overlapping frames of sequential image data corresponding thereto;

second means for maintaining said camera at an optimal yaw angle relative to the direction of movement of said vehicle to provide equally spaced scanned lines for each of said frames of image data; and

third means for processing said multiple overlapping frames of sequential image data to provide image data of enhanced resolution therefrom.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second means is a preprocessor.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said third means is a processor.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said processor includes an image sharpening processor.

5. The invention of claim 3 wherein said processor includes means for determining the position of the vehicle.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said means for determining the position of the vehicle includes a correlator.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said processor includes means for providing vehicle speed and position information to said correlator.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said processor includes means for providing object identification information to said correlator.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said processor includes means for providing a previous frame of image data to said correlator.

10. A system for generating photogrammetric images comprising:

first means including a Vidicon camera for acquiring sequential images of a scene from a moving vehicle and providing sequential image data corresponding thereto;

second means for maintaining said camera at an optimal angle relative to the direction of movement of said vehicle; and

third means for processing said sequential image data to provide image data of enhanced resolution therefrom, said third means including a processor, said processor including;

means for determining the position of the vehicle, said means for determining the position of the vehicle including;

a correlator,

means for providing vehicle speed and position information to said correlator, and

means for providing object identification information to said correlator, and

means for providing a previous frame of image data to said correlator and

an image sharpening processor.

11. A method for generating photogrammetric images including the steps of:

generating sequential interlaced scanned images of a scene from a moving vehicle with a camera and providing multiple frames of sequential interlaced scanned image data corresponding thereto;

maintaining said camera at an optimal yaw angle relative to the direction of movement of said vehicle to provide equally spaced scanned lines for each of said frames of image data; and

processing said sequential image data to provide image data of enhanced resolution therefrom.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said optimal angle is defined by θ

and is equal to the arcos (x) and x is defined by the relations;

##EQU34## where;

m=degree of resolution improvement (m=2 double the resolution, m=3 triples the resolution, etc.),

v=velocity of the aircraft,

H=height of the Vidicon image frame,

N=number of scan lines per Vidicon frame,

V_s =velocity of scan lines in the Vidicon frame,

α

=angle between the scan lines and the top of the Vidicon frame,

ζ

=time lapse between scanning of two consecutive fields, and

τ

=time required to scan a single scan line.