Unattended spatial sensing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A spatial sensing apparatus comprising:
- optics defining an optical path so as to distribute electromagnetic radiation intercepted thereby over an image plane;
a detector array to produce electrical signals proportional to the distribution of the electromagnetic radiation over the image plane;
a processor electrically coupled to the detector array to produce an image from the electrical signals upon a positive determination that the distribution of the electromagnetic radiation over the image plane is other than a predetermined excluded spatial distribution thereof; and
a data storage unit to store the image such that the image is retrievable therefrom.
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Abstract
An unattended ground sensor system includes a sensor to produce pixel data from a radiating target within its field of view. The detection of such a target is implemented detectors in the sensor other than those used for imaging. Once a target has been detected, the sensor collects a linear array of pixels data at each sampling period throughout the time interval during which the target is within the field of view of the sensor. The linear arrays of pixels are transmitted to a location remote from the sensor, where they are analyzed to classify and identify the target and an alert is issued to applicable personnel when the classification and identification of the target warrants such.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A spatial sensing apparatus comprising:
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optics defining an optical path so as to distribute electromagnetic radiation intercepted thereby over an image plane; a detector array to produce electrical signals proportional to the distribution of the electromagnetic radiation over the image plane; a processor electrically coupled to the detector array to produce an image from the electrical signals upon a positive determination that the distribution of the electromagnetic radiation over the image plane is other than a predetermined excluded spatial distribution thereof; and a data storage unit to store the image such that the image is retrievable therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A spatial sensing system comprising:
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a sensor to produce an image indicative of a distribution of electromagnetic energy emitted from a target in the field of view thereof, the image being produced upon a positive determination that a spatiotemporal distribution of the electromagnetic radiation over an image plane of the sensor is other than a predetermined excluded spatial distribution thereof; a communication system to transmit an alert upon a positive determination that the target in the field of view of the sensor is a member of a predetermined class of targets; and a receiving device to receive the transmitted alert. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of monitoring a region of interest in a field of view of an optical sensor for target activity, the method comprising:
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establishing at least one class of targets for which an alert is to be issued upon a positive determination that a member of the class is within the field of view of the optical sensor; providing the optical sensor with a detector array to produce an image indicative of a distribution of the electromagnetic radiation over an image plane thereof upon a positive determination that the distribution of the electromagnetic radiation is not that corresponding to an excluded class of targets; positioning the optical sensor in space to intercept the electromagnetic radiation such that the production of the image indicative of distribution of the electromagnetic radiation corresponding to the excluded class of targets is inhibited; determining whether the image produced by the positioned optical sensor corresponds to the member of the class of targets; and transmitting the alert to a terminal device upon the positive determination that the image corresponds to the member of the class of targets. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of monitoring a region of interest in a field of view of an optical sensor for target activity, the method comprising:
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establishing at least one class of targets for which an image is to be transmitted upon a positive determination that a member of the class is within the field of view of the optical sensor; providing the optical sensor with a detector array to produce the image from a plurality of line images corresponding to a spatiotemporal distribution of the electromagnetic radiation over an image plane thereof upon a positive determination that the distribution of the electromagnetic radiation is not that corresponding to an excluded class of targets; assembling a set of the line images of the image in accordance with available bandwidth of a communication channel over which the image is to be conveyed; and transmitting the set of line images to a terminal device such that the available bandwidth is not exceeded thereby. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification