Navigation system using hybrid sensor correlation system

• US 5,991,460 A
• Filed: 02/12/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Science Center, Inc.
• Inventors: Mitchell, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): COUSO, YON JUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/022,426
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 382/276, 382/278, 382/100, 382/103, 382/210, 382/211, 359/23, 359/24, 359/28
• US Class Current: 382/278
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for correlating outputs of a plurality of environmental sensor signals to determine a situation. The method includes the steps of dividing a coherent light beam across a diameter of the light beam into a plurality of information transmission zones and modulating a portion of the light beam within at least some of the information transmission zones with a corresponding number of signals of the plurality of environmental sensor signals. The method further includes the steps of deflecting the modulated light beams of the at least some information transmission zones within a holographic memory to provide at least some correlated outputs among the plurality of environmental sensor signals and determining the situation based upon the at least some correlated outputs of the holographic memory.

Claims

1. A method of correlating outputs of a plurality of environmental sensor signals to determine a situation, such method comprising the steps of:

dividing a coherent light beam across a diameter of the light beam into a plurality of information transmission zones;

modulating a portion of the light beam within at least some of the information transmission zones with a corresponding number of signals of the plurality of environmental sensor signals;

deflecting the modulated light beams of the at least some information transmission zones within a holographic memory to provide at least some correlated outputs among the plurality of environmental sensor signals; and

determining the situation based upon the at least some correlated outputs of the holographic memory.

2. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 1 wherein the steps of modulating the light beam further comprising imposing an image on the portion of the light beam within each of the at least some information transmission zones.

3. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 1 wherein the steps of modulating and deflecting further comprise using frequency plane correlation.

4. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 1 wherein the steps of modulating and deflecting further comprise using joint transform correlation.

5. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 1 further comprising correlating a spectrogram with a predetermined geographical location.

6. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 5 wherein the steps of correlating a an image of a spectrogram with a predetermined geographical location further comprises providing a situational awareness annunciation regarding the correlation.

7. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 5 further comprising generating the spectrogram based upon an audio input.

8. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 5 further comprising determining the predetermined geographical location based upon a global positioning system.

9. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 5 further comprising determining the predetermined geographical location based upon correlation of an image from an environmental sensor and a stored image with a holographic image.

10. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 5 further comprising determining the predetermined geographical location based upon correlation of a radar image with a holographic image.

11. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 5 further comprising determining the predetermined geographical location based upon correlation of a video image or its time or frequency components with a holographic image.

12. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 5 further comprising determining the predetermined geographical location based upon correlation of a infrared image with a holographic image.

13. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 5 further comprising determining the predetermined geographical location based upon correlation of a ultrasonic image with a holographic image.

14. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 5 further comprising assigning a correlation coefficient to each correlated output.

15. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 5 further comprising evaluating the at least some correlated outputs based upon an assigned index of reliability.

16. Apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals to determine a situation, such apparatus comprising:

means for dividing a coherent light beam across a diameter of the light beam into a plurality of information transmission zones;

means for modulating a portion of the light beam within at least some of the information transmission zones with a corresponding number of signals of the plurality of environmental sensor signals;

means for deflecting the modulated light beams of the at least some information transmission zones within a holographic memory to provide at least some correlated outputs among the plurality of environmental sensor signals; and

means for determining the situation based upon the at least some correlated outputs of the holographic memory.

17. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 16 wherein the means for modulating the light beam further comprising means for imposing an image on the portion of the light beam within each of the at least some information transmission zones.

18. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 16 wherein the means for modulating and deflecting further comprises means for using frequency plane correlation.

19. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 16 wherein the means for modulating and deflecting further comprises means for using joint transform correlation.

20. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 16 further comprises means for correlating a spectrogram with a predetermined geographical location.

21. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 20 wherein the means for correlating a an image of a spectrogram with a predetermined geographical location further comprises means for providing a situational awareness annunciation regarding the correlation.

22. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 20 further comprising means for generating the spectrogram based upon an audio input.

23. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 20 further comprising means for determining the predetermined geographical location based upon a global positioning system.

24. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 20 further comprising means for determining the predetermined geographical location based upon correlation of an image from an environmental sensor and a stored image with a holographic image.

25. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 20 further comprising means for determining the predetermined geographical location based upon correlation of a radar image with a holographic image.

26. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 20 further comprising means for determining the predetermined geographical location based upon correlation of a video image with a holographic image.

27. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 20 further comprising means for determining the predetermined geographical location based upon correlation of a infrared image with a holographic image.

28. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 20 further comprising means for determining the predetermined geographical location based upon correlation of a ultrasonic image with a holographic image.

29. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 20 further comprising means for assigning a correlation coefficient to each correlated output.

30. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 20 further comprising means for evaluating the at least some correlated outputs based upon an assigned index of reliability.

31. Apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals to determine a situation, such apparatus comprising:

a coherent light beam;

a spatial light modulator which divides the light beam across a diameter of the light beam into a plurality of information transmission zones and which modulates a portion of the light beam within at least some of the information transmission zones with a corresponding number of signals of the plurality of environmental sensor signals;

a holographic memory containing a hologram which deflects the modulated light beams of the at least some information transmission zones within a holographic memory to provide at least some correlated outputs among the plurality of environmental sensor signals; and

a processor which determines the situation based upon the at least some correlated outputs of the holographic memory.

32. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 31 further comprises a spectrum processor which correlates a spectrogram with a predetermined geographical location.

33. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 32 wherein the spectrum processor which correlates an image of a spectrogram with a predetermined geographical location further comprises an audio transducer which provides a situational awareness annunciation regarding the correlation.

34. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 32 further comprising a global position system receiver which determines the predetermined geographical location based upon a global positioning system.

35. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 32 further comprising a radar transceiver.

36. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 32 further comprising a video camera receiver.

37. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 32 further comprising an infrared receiver.

38. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 32 further comprising an ultrasonic receiver.

39. A method of correlating a plurality of situational sensor signals to determine a situation, such method comprising the steps of:

dividing a coherent light beam across a diameter of the light beam into a plurality of information transmission zones;

modulating a portion of the light beam within at least some of the information transmission zones with a corresponding number of signals of the plurality of situational sensor signals;

deflecting the modulated light beams of the at least some information transmission zones within a holographic memory to provide at least some correlated outputs among the plurality of situational sensor signals; and

determining the situation based upon the at least some correlated outputs of the holographic memory.

40. The method of correlating a plurality of situational sensor signals as in claim 39 wherein the steps of modulating the light beam further comprising imposing an image on the portion of the light beam within each of the at least some information transmission zones.

41. The method of correlating a plurality of situational sensor signals as in claim 39 wherein the steps of modulating and deflecting further comprise using frequency plane correlation.

42. The method of correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 39 wherein the steps of modulating and deflecting further comprise using joint transform correlation.

43. Apparatus for correlating a plurality of situational sensor signals to determine a situation, such apparatus comprising:

means for dividing a coherent light beam across a diameter of the light beam into a plurality of information transmission zones;

means for modulating a portion of the light beam within at least some of the information transmission zones with a corresponding number of signals of the plurality of situational sensor signals;

means for deflecting the modulated light beams of the at least some information transmission zones within a holographic memory to provide at least some correlated outputs among the plurality of situational sensor signals; and

means for determining the situation based upon the at least some correlated outputs of the holographic memory.

44. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of situational sensor signals as in claim 43 wherein the means for modulating the light beam further comprises means for imposing an image on the portion of the light beam within each of the at least some information transmission zones.

45. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of situational sensor signals as in claim 43 wherein the means for modulating and deflecting further comprises means for using frequency plane correlation.

46. The apparatus for correlating a plurality of environmental sensor signals as in claim 43 wherein the means for modulating and deflecting further comprise means for using joint transform correlation.

47. Apparatus for correlating a plurality of situational sensor signals to determine a situation, such apparatus comprising:

a spatial light modulator which divides a coherent light beam across a diameter of the light beam into a plurality of information transmission zones and which modulates a portion of the light beam within at least some of the information transmission zones with a corresponding number of signals of the plurality of situational sensor signals;

a holographic memory containing a plurality of holograms which deflects the modulated light beams of the at least some information transmission zones within a holographic memory to provide at least some correlated outputs among the plurality of situational sensor signals; and

a processor which determines the situation based upon the at least some correlated outputs of the holographic memory.

48. A method of correlating a plurality of position-indicating signals to determine a geographical position, such method comprising the steps of:

dividing a coherent light beam across a diameter of the light beam into a plurality of information transmission zones;

spatially modulating a portion of the light beam within at least some of the information transmission zones with a corresponding number of signals of the plurality of position-indicating signals;

deflecting the modulated light beams of the at least some information transmission zones within a holographic memory to provide at least some correlated outputs among the plurality of position-indicating signals; and

correlating geographical position based upon the at least some correlated outputs of the holographic memory.

49. Apparatus for correlating a plurality of position-indicating signals to determine a geographical position, such apparatus comprising:

means for dividing a coherent light beam across a diameter of the light beam into a plurality of information transmission zones;

means for spatially modulating a portion of the light beam within at least some of the information transmission zones with a corresponding number of signals of the plurality of position-indicating signals;

means for deflecting the modulated light beams 0 the at least some information transmission zones within a holographic memory to provide at least some correlated outputs among the plurality of position-indicating signals; and

means for correlating geographical position based upon a detected output of the holographic memory.

50. Apparatus for correlating a plurality of position-indicating signals to determine a geographical position, such apparatus comprising:

a coherent light source;

a spatial light modulator which divides the light beam across a diameter of the light source into a plurality of information transmission zones;

a modulation processor which modulating a portion of the light beam within at least some of the information transmission zones with a corresponding number of signals of the plurality of position-indicating signals;

a holographic memory which deflects the modulated light beams of the at least some information transmission zones within a holographic memory to provide at least some correlated outputs among the plurality of position-indicating signals; and

a photodetector array which correlates geographical position based upon a detected output of the holographic memory.