Multi spectral imaging system
First Claim
1. An imaging system for generating automatically co-registered images of an object comprising:
- a) a lens assembly for forming a real image of an object at a focal point;
b) a collimating lens for receiving said real image from said focal point, and generating a collimated image beam;
c) a beam splitter assembly positioned to receive said collimated image beam, and split said collimated image beam into at least first and second image beams;
d) first and second tubes having first ends attached to said beam splitter assembly, and having second ends;
e) first and second optical imaging devices attached, one each, to said second ends of said first and second tubes, respectively, for receiving said first and second image beams, respectively; and
f) means for adjusting the lengths of said first and second tubes so that the images received by said first and second optical imaging devices are co-registered with one another.
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Abstract
An optical imaging system provides automatic co-registration of a plurality of multi spectral images of an object which are generated by a plurality of video cameras or other optical detectors. The imaging system includes a modular assembly of beam splitters, lens tubes, camera lenses and wavelength selective filters which facilitate easy reconfiguration and adjustment of the system for various applications. A primary lens assembly generates a real image of an object to be imaged on a reticle which is positioned at a fixed length from a beam splitter assembly. The beam splitter assembly separates a collimated image beam received from the reticle into multiple image beams, each of which is projected onto a corresponding one of a plurality of video cameras. The lens tubes which connect the beam splitter assembly to the cameras are adjustable in length to provide automatic co-registration of the images generated by each camera.
137 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An imaging system for generating automatically co-registered images of an object comprising:
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a) a lens assembly for forming a real image of an object at a focal point; b) a collimating lens for receiving said real image from said focal point, and generating a collimated image beam; c) a beam splitter assembly positioned to receive said collimated image beam, and split said collimated image beam into at least first and second image beams; d) first and second tubes having first ends attached to said beam splitter assembly, and having second ends; e) first and second optical imaging devices attached, one each, to said second ends of said first and second tubes, respectively, for receiving said first and second image beams, respectively; and f) means for adjusting the lengths of said first and second tubes so that the images received by said first and second optical imaging devices are co-registered with one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for generating multiple co-registered optical images comprising the steps of:
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a) focusing a real image of an object to be imaged on a focal point; b) projecting said real image from said focal point through a collimating lens to form a collimated image beam; c) directing said collimated image beam through a beam splitter, and thereby splitting said collimated image beam into a first, transmitted image beam, and a second, reflected image beam; d) directing said second, reflected image beam to a fold mirror for generating a third, reflected image beam; e) directing said first, transmitted image beam through a first lens tube to a first optical imaging device for receiving a first image of said object; f) directing said third, reflected image beam from said fold mirror through a second lens tube to a second optical imaging device for receiving a second image of said object; and g) co-registering said first and second images of said object by adjusting the lengths of said first and second lens tubes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification