Method and system for gathering image data using multiple sensors

• US 6,593,561 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Ostromek, Timothy E., Bacarella, Antonio V.
• Primary Examiner(s): PYO, KEVIN K
• Application Number:
  US09/888,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20020195561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250/221, 250/222.1, 250/239, 250/214.VT, 250/330, 359/850, 359/858
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0411 using focussing or collimating elements, i.e. lenses or mirrors; Aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/026 Control of working procedures of a pyrometer, other than calibration; Bandwidth calculation; Gain control
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/07 Arrangements for adjusting the solid angle of collected radiation, e.g. adjusting or orienting field of view, tracking position or encoding angular position optical collimating elements G01J5/0806
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0806 Focusing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or concave mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0846 having multiple detectors for performing different types of detection, e.g. using radiometry and reflectometry channels
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0893 Arrangements to attach devices to a pyrometer, i.e. attaching an optical interface; Spatial relative arrangement of optical elements, e.g. folded beam path G01J5/049 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for gathering image data are disclosed. A first sensor (120) receives light directly from an aperture (114) and generates a first data set in response to the received light. A first reflective surface (130) receives light from the aperture (114) and reflects the received light. A second reflective surface (132) receives light reflected from the first reflective surface (130) and reflects the received light. A second sensor (134) receives light reflected from the second reflective surface (132) and generates a second data set in response to the received light. The second sensor (134) is substantially coaxial with the first sensor (120).

Claims

1. A system for gathering image data, the system comprising:

a casing having an aperture;

a first sensor coupled to the casing, the first sensor operable to receive light directly from the aperture and to generate a first data set in response to the received light;

a first reflective surface coupled to the casing, the first reflective surface operable to receive light from the aperture and to reflect the received light;

a second reflective surface coupled to the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface operable to receive light reflected from the first reflective surface and to reflect the received light; and

a second sensor coupled to the second reflective surface, the second sensor operable to receive light reflected from the second reflective surface and to generate a second data set in response to the received light, the second sensor substantially coaxial with the first sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises an image intensifier sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reflective surface has a diameter greater than a diameter of the second reflective surface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reflective surface has a diameter in the range of eight to ten centimeters and has a focal length in the range of twenty-four to twenty-six millimeters.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second reflective surface has a diameter in the range of seven to ten centimeters and has a focal length in the range of twenty-four to twenty-six millimeters.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising optics coupled to the first sensor and operable to focus light from the aperture onto the first sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fusing module coupled to the first sensor and to the second sensor and operable to:

receive the first data set and the second data set; and

fuse the first data set and the second data set to generate a fused data set.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a display coupled to the fusing module and operable to:

receive the fused data set; and

display an image generated from the fused data set.

10. A method for gathering image data, the method comprising:

receiving light directly through an aperture;

generating a first data set in response to the light received through the aperture using a first sensor;

reflecting the light received through the aperture using a first reflective surface;

reflecting light received from the first reflective surface using a second reflective surface;

receiving light reflected from the second reflective surface using a second sensor, the second sensor substantially coaxial with the first sensor;

generating a second data set in response to the received light using the second sensor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second sensor comprises an image intensifier sensor.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first reflective surface has a diameter greater than a diameter of the second reflective surface.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first reflective surface has a diameter in the range of eight to ten centimeters and has a focal length in the range of twenty-four to twenty-six millimeters.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the second reflective surface has a diameter in the range of seven to ten centimeters and has a focal length in the range of twenty-four to twenty-six millimeters.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising focusing light from the aperture onto the first sensor using optics.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving the first data set and the second data set; and

fusing the first data set and the second data set to generate a fused data set.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving the fused data set; and

displaying an image generated from the fused data set.

19. A system for gathering image data, the system comprising:

a casing having an aperture;

an inner sensor coupled to the casing, the inner sensor operable to receive light directly from the aperture and to generate a first data set in response to the received light;

a plurality of outer assemblies coupled to the casing, each outer assembly comprising;

a first reflective surface operable to receive light directly from the aperture and to reflect the received light;

a second reflective surface coupled to the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface operable to receive light reflected from the first reflective surface and to reflect the received light; and

an outer sensor coupled to the second reflective surface, the outer sensor operable to receive light reflected from the second reflective surface and to generate a second data set in response to the received light, the outer sensor substantially coaxial with the inner sensor.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the inner sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one outer sensor comprises an image intensifier sensor.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the first reflective surface has a diameter greater than a diameter of the second reflective surface.

23. The system of claim 19, further comprising optics coupled to the inner sensor and operable to focus light from the aperture onto the inner sensor.

24. The system of claim 19, further comprising a fusing module coupled to the inner sensor and to the outer sensors and operable to:

receive the first data set and the second data sets; and

fuse the first data set and the second data sets to generate a fused data set.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a display coupled to the fusing module and operable to:

receive the fused data set; and

display an image generated from the fused data set.