Optical flow detection system
First Claim
1. An optical flow detection system for receiving a plurality of pixels so as to derive an instantaneous pixel velocity value and a predicted pixel velocity value for each pixel, comprising:
- sensor means for supplying an imaging sequence which includes potential targets represented by at least one pixel;
an image queue for storing said imaging sequence;
gradient means for receiving and comparing said imaging sequence to said stored imaging sequence so as to generate a pixel intensity gradient value for each of said pixels;
calculation means for receiving said pixel intensity gradient values and a predicted pixel velocity value so as to generate an instantaneous pixel velocity value for each pixel; and
smoothing means for receiving said instantaneous pixel velocity values which are employed in a least squares fitting to generate coefficients which are used in a set of quadratic equations to generate said predicted pixel velocity values.
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Abstract
An optical flow detection system is employed in conjunction with a target cuer system, which includes a sensor carried on a platform, for the purpose of either removing undesirable sensor motion or for the purpose of removing undesirable background motion so that targets may be more easily identified. The optical flow detection system includes an optical flow estimator which receives a plurality of pixels and generates therefrom an instantaneous pixel velocity value and a predicted pixel velocity value. The instantaneous pixel velocity values and predicted pixel velocity values are then manipulated to remove undesirable features included in the image sequence generated by the sensor. Methods for operating the optical flow detection system are also provided.
76 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An optical flow detection system for receiving a plurality of pixels so as to derive an instantaneous pixel velocity value and a predicted pixel velocity value for each pixel, comprising:
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sensor means for supplying an imaging sequence which includes potential targets represented by at least one pixel; an image queue for storing said imaging sequence; gradient means for receiving and comparing said imaging sequence to said stored imaging sequence so as to generate a pixel intensity gradient value for each of said pixels; calculation means for receiving said pixel intensity gradient values and a predicted pixel velocity value so as to generate an instantaneous pixel velocity value for each pixel; and smoothing means for receiving said instantaneous pixel velocity values which are employed in a least squares fitting to generate coefficients which are used in a set of quadratic equations to generate said predicted pixel velocity values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for estimating the optical flow of a plurality of pixels by employing a set of quadratic equations to generate a plurality of instantaneous pixel velocity values and a plurality of predicted pixel velocity values for each pixel, comprising the steps of:
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providing a sensor to supply a real-time imaging sequence represented by a plurality of pixels; storing said imaging sequence in an image queue; comparing said stored imaging sequence to said imaging sequence so as to generate an intensity gradient value for each of said pixels; calculating an instantaneous pixel velocity value for each pixel derived from said pixel intensity gradient values and a predicted pixel velocity value by employing a set of quadratic equations; extracting a plurality of pixel velocity statistics from said instantaneous pixel velocity values; using said pixel velocity statistics by a least squares fitting of said pixel velocity statistics to said instantaneous pixel velocity values so as to generate a plurality of pixel velocity coefficients; and providing said pixel velocity coefficients in said set of quadratic equations to generate said predicted pixel velocity values for each pixel. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for estimating the optical flow of a plurality of pixels contained within a video-based imaging sequence, comprising the steps of:
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providing a sensor carried on a platform to supply a real-time imaging sequence represented by a plurality of pixels and storing said imaging sequence in an image queue; generating directional intensity values for each of said pixels by comparing said stored imaging sequence to said imaging sequence; employing a set of quadratic equations to calculate an instantaneous pixel velocity value for each pixel by using said directional intensity values and a plurality of predicted pixel velocity values; extracting a plurality of pixel velocity statistics from said instantaneous pixel velocity values; generating a plurality of pixel velocity coefficients by a least squares fit to previous iterations of said instantaneous pixel velocity values; and generating said plurality of predicted pixel velocity values for each pixel by employing said plurality of pixel velocity coefficients in said set of quadratic equations. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification