Patent US3655911A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3655911A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic stereoplotting system
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1969-12-22
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Granted: 1972-04-11
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Expires: 1989-12-22
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed in an automatic stereoplotting system utilizing a registration error signal responsive servomechanism to correct parallax and indicate elevation of actual terrain imaged at certain points in a pair of stereo photographs. The inherent steady state following error of the servomechanism is compensated to provide an elevation indicating output that corresponds in time with output signals identifying the relative positions of the image points being considered.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard Ronald Johnston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
Automatic stereoplotting apparatus comprising: frame means for retaining a pair of stereographic images; extraction means for extracting image detail information retained by discrete sections in said pair of stereographic images; correlation means responsive to said image detail information for producing a parallax error signal, parallax correcting servomechanism means operatively associated with said stereographic images and adapted to select said discrete sections from which information is extracted, said servomechanism means being controlled by said parallax error signal so as to select discrete sections retaining registerable image detail; drive means for producing uniform relative movement between both of said stereographic images and said extraction means so as to continuously and simultaneously change in each of said images, said sections from which information is extracted; identification means responsive to said drive means to provide an output that identifies in said images the positions of said discrete sections from which information is extracted; position indication means responsive to movement of said parallax correcting servomechanism means to provide an output dependent upon the position of said servomechanism means; and compensating means that compensates for the inherent steady state following error of said servomechanism means thereby establishing an output from said position indicating means that always corresponds to a position of said servomechanism means produced by image detail information extracted from discrete image sections the positions of which are simultaneously identified by the output of said identification means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
Automatic stereoplotting apparatus comprising: frame means for retaining a pair of stereographic images; extraction means for extracting image detail information retained by discrete sections in said pair of stereographic images; correlation means responsive to said image detail information for producing a parallax error signal, parallax correcting servomechanism means operatively associated with said stereographic images and adapted to select said discrete sections from which information is extracted, said servomechanism means being controlled by said parallax error signal so as to select discrete sections retaining registerable image detail; drive means for producing uniform relative movement between both of said stereographic images and said extraction means so as to continuously and simultaneously change in each of said images, said sections from which information is extracted; identification means responsive to said drive means to provide an output that identifies in said images the positions of said discrete sections from which information is extracted; position indication means responsive to movement of said parallax correcting servomechanism means to provide an output dependent upon the position of said servomechanism means; and compensating means that compensates for the inherent steady state following error of said servomechanism means thereby establishing an output from said position indicating means that always corresponds to a position of said servomechanism means produced by image detail information extracted from discrete image sections the positions of which are simultaneously identified by the output of said identification means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Automatic stereoplotting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said compensating means produces in said stereographic images a displacement in the positions of said discrete sections from which information is being extracted relative to the positions of said other discrete sections being simultaneously identified by the output of said identification means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Automatic stereoplotting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said displacement produced by said compensating means is in the direction of relative movement produced by said drive means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Automatic stereoplotting apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said compensating means maintains said sections from which information is being extracted advanced with respect to said sections being identified in the direction of relative extraction means movement produced by said drive means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
Automatic stereoplotting apparatus according to claim 4 including velocity control means for variably controlling the velocity of said relative movement, and wherein said compensating means is adapted to vary the magnitude of said displacement dependent upon the velocity of relative movement produced by said velocity control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
Automatic stereoplotting apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said extraction means comprises scanning means for directing scanning beams through said discrete sections in said pair of stereographic images, and conversion means for converting said scanning beams into electrical analog signals possessing said information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Automatic stereoplotting apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said scanning means produce scanning patterns that define said sections in said pair of stereographic images.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Automatic stereoplotting apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said said scanning means comprise beam deflection means and said compensating means produces said displacement by applying a scanning pattern position control signal to said beam deflection means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Automatic stereoplotting apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said frame means comprises an x-y carriage retaining said images and adapted to be driven in orthogonally related directions by said drive means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
Automatic stereoplotting apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said servomechanism selects said discrete sections by producing relative movement between said images retained by said x-y carriage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
177 words
Automatic image registration apparatus comprising: frame means for retaining a pair of stereographic images; viewing means adapted to provide a stereographic display of corresponding areas in said pair of stereographic images; extraction means for extracting information regarding the image detail retained by discrete sections of said pair of stereographic images; automatic image registration means comprising servomechanism means responsive to said information extracted by said extraction means, said automatic image registration means adapted to effect registration of homologous image detail in said stereographic display provided by said viewing means; drive means for producing uniform relative movement of both of said stereographic images with respect to both said extraction means and said viewing means so as to continuously change both said corresponding areas displayed by said viewing means and said discrete sections from which information is extracted; and variable position control means for adjustably establishing in said stereographic images the positions of said corresponding areas being displayed by said viewing means relative to the positions of said discrete sections from which information is being extracted by said extraction means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
177 words
Automatic image registration apparatus comprising: frame means for retaining a pair of stereographic images; viewing means adapted to provide a stereographic display of corresponding areas in said pair of stereographic images; extraction means for extracting information regarding the image detail retained by discrete sections of said pair of stereographic images; automatic image registration means comprising servomechanism means responsive to said information extracted by said extraction means, said automatic image registration means adapted to effect registration of homologous image detail in said stereographic display provided by said viewing means; drive means for producing uniform relative movement of both of said stereographic images with respect to both said extraction means and said viewing means so as to continuously change both said corresponding areas displayed by said viewing means and said discrete sections from which information is extracted; and variable position control means for adjustably establishing in said stereographic images the positions of said corresponding areas being displayed by said viewing means relative to the positions of said discrete sections from which information is being extracted by said extraction means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
Automatic image registration apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said variable position control means is adapted to maintain the centers of said corresponding areas displaced relative to the centers of said discrete sections, said displacement being in the direction of relative movement produced by said drive means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
Automatic image registration apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said variable position control means is adapted to maintain said centers of said corresponding areas advanced with respect to said centers of said discrete sections in the direction of relative extraction means movement produced by said drive means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
Automatic image registration apparatus according to claim 12 including velocity control means for variably controlling the velocity of said relative movement, and wherein said variable position control means is adapted to vary the magnitude of said displacement between the centers of said corresponding areas and the centers of said discrete sections dependent upon the velocity of relative movement produced by said velocity control means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
Automatic image registration apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said extraction means comprises scanning means for directing scanning beams through said discrete sections in said pair of stereographic images, and conversion means for converting said scanning beams into electrical analog signals possessing said information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
Automatic image registration apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said scanning means produce scanning patterns that define said sections in said pair of stereographic images.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
Automatic image registration apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said scanning means comprise beam deflection means and said position control means produces said displacement by applying a scanning pattern position control signal to said beam deflection means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
Automatic image registration apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said frame means comprises an x-y carriage retaining said images and adapted to be driven in orthogonally related directions by said drive means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
Automatic image registration apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said servomechanism selects said discrete sections by producing relative moVement between said images retained by said x-y carriage.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
67 words
Automatic image registration apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said position control means compensates for the inherent steady state following error of said servomechanism means so that said servomechanism means is instantaneously effective to register given pairs of said corresponding areas in response to image detail information extracted from discrete sections the centers of which are coincident with the centers of said given pairs of corresponding areas.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
64 words
Automatic image registration apparatus according to claim 20 including velocity control means for variably controlling the velocity of said relative movement, and wherein said variable position control means is adapted to vary the magnitude of said displacement between the centers of said corresponding areas and the centers of said discrete sections dependent upon the velocity of relative movement produced by said velocity control means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-11 | 1975-10-11 | 1976-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-11 | 1979-10-11 | 1980-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-11 | 1983-10-11 | 1984-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |