Imaging system for providing separate simultaneous real time images from a singel image sensor

• US 4,991,020 A
• Filed: 02/17/1989
• Issued: 02/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Zwirn, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Application Number:
  US07/311,785
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 358/93, 358/101, 358/108, 358/109, 358/125, 358/126, 358/49, 358/113, 358/160, 358/183, 358/22, 250/330, 250/334
• US Class Current: 348/563
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A system is disclosed for providing separate simultaneous real time images from a single image sensor. The invention 10 is adapted for use with an image sensor 12 which provides a first set of electrical signals in response to electromagnetic energy received thereby from a scene and includes a processor 16 for processing the first set of electrical signals to provide a second set of electrical signals and at least one display 14 for providing first and second separate simultaneous real time images in response to the first and second sets of electrical signals respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the processor 16 includes circuitry for increasing the sampling rate of the image sensor 12 and a deconvolver 30 for processing the highly sampled signals to generate a second set of electrical signals which, when displayed contemporaneously with said first electrical signals, provide an enhanced magnified portion of the sensed scene.

Claims

1. An imaging system for providing separate simultaneous real time images from a single image sensor, said imaging system comprising:

means for providing a first set of electrical signals in response to electromagnetic energy received thereby from a scene;

first display means directly connected electrically to said sensor for displaying a first image representative of said first set of electrical signals;

processing means for processing said first set of electrical signals to provide a second set of electrical signals and

second display means for displaying a second image representative of said second set of electrical signals.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said processing means includes means for enhancing said second image.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said means for enhancing said image includes means for effectively increasing a sampling rate of said image sensor.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said means for effectively increasing a sampling rate of said image sensor includes multiple image registration means for forming a mosaic of displaced ones of successive video frames generated by said image sensor.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said means for effectively increasing a sampling rate of said image sensor includes frame memory means for storing said successive video frames of generated by said sensor means.

6. The invention of claim 3 wherein said processing means includes deconvolving means for deconvolving said increase sample rate frames of first electrical signals stored in said frame memory means.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said deconvolving means includes means for convolving said first set of increased sample rate electrical signals with the inverse or the point spread function associated with the degradations of said image sensor to provide a set of convolved signals.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said deconvolving means includes means for enhancing said first set of increased sample rate electrical signals to provide said second set of electrical signals and said second set of electrical signals represent said enhanced second image.

9. An imaging system for providing separate simultaneous real time images from a single image sensor comprising:

sensor means for providing a first set of electrical signals in response to electromagnetic energy received thereby from a scene;

means for providing a first set of electrical signals in response to electromagnetic energy received thereby from a scene;

first display means directly connected electrically to said sensor for displaying a first image representative of said first set of electrical signals;

processing means for processing said first set of electrical signals to provide a second set of electrical signals, said processing means including means for enhancing said second image including;

means for effectively increasing a sampling rate of said sensor means,

means for convolving said first set of increased sample rate electrical signals with the inverse of the point spread function associated with the degradations of said sensor means to provide a set of convolved signals; and

second display means for displaying a second image representative of said second set of electrical signals.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said means for effectively increasing a sampling rate of said sensor means includes multiple image registration means for forming a mosaic of displaced ones of successive video frames generated by said sensor means.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said means for effectively increasing a sampling rate of said sensor means includes frame memory means for storing said successive video frames generated by said sensor means.

12. A method for providing separate simultaneous real time images from a single image sensor including the steps of:

providing a first set of electrical signals in response to electromagnetic energy received thereby from a scene;

displaying in a first display, directly connected electrically to said sensor, a first image representative of said first set of electrical signals;

processing said first set of electrical signals to provide a second set of electrical signals and

displaying in a second display a second image representative of said second set of electrical signals.