Automatic photo comparision system

Claim 11

A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said comparing means comprises a difference amplifier arranged to develop a difference signal corresponding to the difference between the respective video signals and means for applying said difference signal to the output means to control the reproduction of said selected photograph portions.

Claim 12

A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said comparing means comprises a correlator for providing a correlation signal proportional to the degree of correlation of the respective video signals and means responsive to the correlation signal for selectively controlling the application of the video signals to the output means.

Claim 13

A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the means responsive to the correlation signal comprises a gate circuit coupled to receive the video signals, said gate circuit being controllable by the correlation signal.

Claim 14

A system in accordance with claim 8 further including a threshold circuit coupled to receive the correlation signal and to inhibit the gate circuit in the presence of correlation signals above a predetermined threshold.

Claim 15

An automatic photo comparison system comprising: means for presenting correspondingly projected input information representing particular terrain at different times, means for comparing said input information for related small areas of the terrain to determine the degree of correlation between corresponding areas at said different times, and means coupled to the comparing means for providing an output record depicting only the portions of the terrain encountering changes in the interval between the different times at which the respective input information originated.

Claim 16

An automatic photo comparison system comprising: means for presenting correspondingly projected input information representing particular terrain at different times, means for comparing said input information for related small areas of the terrain to determine the degree of correlation between corresponding areas at said different times, and means coupled to the comparing means for providing an output record depicting only the portions of the terrain encountering changes in the interval between the different times at which the respective input information originated.

Claim 17

An automatic photo comparison system comprising: a signal correlating means, means for scanning in time coincidence corresponding portions of a pair of input photographs, means for generating video signals for application to said correlating means in response to said scanning means, and print-out means coupled to the correlating means for providing reproductions of only particular portions of a selected input photograph corresponding to a lack of correlation of said video signals.

Claim 18

An automatic photo comparison system comprising: a signal correlating means, means for scanning in time coincidence corresponding portions of a pair of input photographs, means for generating video signals for application to said correlating means in response to said scanning means, and print-out means coupled to the correlating means for providing reproductions of only particular portions of a selected input photograph corresponding to a lack of correlation of said video signals.

Claim 19

An automatic photo comparison system comprising: means for mounting a pair of orthophotos representing corresponding input information, a flying spot scanner for automatically scanning corresponding portions of the orthophotos, a pair of photomultipliers coupled to receive light passing through the orthophotos in order to generate respective video signals in response thereto, means for printing out a record in response to said video signals, correlating means for indicating the degree of correlation of the respective video signals, and gating means connected to the correlating means and coupled between the photomultiplier and the record printing means to block the video signals from the record printing means whenever the degree of correlation is above a preset level.

Claim 20

An automatic photo comparison system comprising: means for mounting a pair of orthophotos representing corresponding input information, a flying spot scanner for automatically scanning corresponding portions of the orthophotos, a pair of photomultipliers coupled to receive light passing through the orthophotos in order to generate respective video signals in response thereto, means for printing out a record in response to said video signals, correlating means for indicating the degree of correlation of the respective video signals, and gating means connected to the correlating means and coupled between the photomultiplier and the record printing means to block the video signals from the record printing means whenever the degree of correlation is above a preset level.

Claim 21

An automatic photo comparison system comprising: a table for positioning a pair of orthophotos representing corresponding input information, a single flying spot scanner, light directing means disposed to direct light from the flying spot scanner to corresponding portions of the orthophotos, first and second cathode ray tube display devices, deflection means for controlling the positions of the electron beams of the flying spot scanner and the cathode ray tube display devices, photoelectric means for generating respective video signals corresponding to the light from the scanned portions of the orthophotos, gating means connected between the photoelectric means and the cathode ray tube display devices and arranged to block the passage of the video signals to the cathode ray tube display devices upon the application of a gate control signal, a correlator coupled to receive the video signals and to provide a correlation signal in response thereto, and a threshold circuit coupled between the correlatOr and the gate circuit for applying a gate control signal in the presence of the correlation signal above a predetermined threshold.

Claim 22

An automatic photo comparison system comprising: a table for positioning a pair of orthophotos representing corresponding input information, a single flying spot scanner, light directing means disposed to direct light from the flying spot scanner to corresponding portions of the orthophotos, first and second cathode ray tube display devices, deflection means for controlling the positions of the electron beams of the flying spot scanner and the cathode ray tube display devices, photoelectric means for generating respective video signals corresponding to the light from the scanned portions of the orthophotos, gating means connected between the photoelectric means and the cathode ray tube display devices and arranged to block the passage of the video signals to the cathode ray tube display devices upon the application of a gate control signal, a correlator coupled to receive the video signals and to provide a correlation signal in response thereto, and a threshold circuit coupled between the correlatOr and the gate circuit for applying a gate control signal in the presence of the correlation signal above a predetermined threshold.

Claim 23

An automatic photo comparison system comprising: a table for positioning a pair of orthophotos taken at different times but representing corresponding terrain, a single flying spot scanner, a half-silvered mirror disposed to pass a portion of the light from the flying spot scanner to one of the orthophotos while reflecting the remainder of the light incident thereon, a second mirror disposed to direct light from the half-silvered mirror to the other orthophoto in order to scan corresponding portions of the orthophotos, first and second cathode ray tube display devices, deflection means for controlling the positions of the electron beams of the flying spot scanner and the cathode ray tube display devices, photoelectric means for generating respective video signals corresponding to the light from the scanned portions of the orthophotos, gating means connected between the photoelectric means and the cathode ray tube display devices and arranged to pass to video signals to the cathode ray tube display devices in the absence of a gate control signal, a correlator coupled to receive the video signals and to provide a correlation signal in response thereto, and a threshold circuit coupled between the correlator and the gate circuit for applying a gate control signal in the presence of a correlation signal above a predetermined threshold, whereby the first cathode ray tube display device presents a display of the terrain undergoing cultural change as it appeared before the change and the second cathode ray tube display device presents a display of the same terrain as it appeared after the change.

Claim 24

An automatic photo comparison system comprising: a table for positioning a pair of orthophotos taken at different times but representing corresponding terrain, a single flying spot scanner, a half-silvered mirror disposed to pass a portion of the light from the flying spot scanner to one of the orthophotos while reflecting the remainder of the light incident thereon, a second mirror disposed to direct light from the half-silvered mirror to the other orthophoto in order to scan corresponding portions of the orthophotos, first and second cathode ray tube display devices, deflection means for controlling the positions of the electron beams of the flying spot scanner and the cathode ray tube display devices, photoelectric means for generating respective video signals corresponding to the light from the scanned portions of the orthophotos, gating means connected between the photoelectric means and the cathode ray tube display devices and arranged to pass to video signals to the cathode ray tube display devices in the absence of a gate control signal, a correlator coupled to receive the video signals and to provide a correlation signal in response thereto, and a threshold circuit coupled between the correlator and the gate circuit for applying a gate control signal in the presence of a correlation signal above a predetermined threshold, whereby the first cathode ray tube display device presents a display of the terrain undergoing cultural change as it appeared before the change and the second cathode ray tube display device presents a display of the same terrain as it appeared after the change.

Claim 25

A photo comparison system comprising: means for presenting different views of particular terrain taken at different times but in a form having corresponding projection in the respective views, means for synchronously scanning corresponding portions of the respective views, means responsive to the scanning means for developing electrical signals on individual channels in accordance with the views being scanned, switching means for selecting means for selecting between the individual channels, display means coupled to the switching means for presenting in succession the images corresponding to the signals selected by the switching means, and means for graphically reproducing only selected portions of said views.

Claim 26

A photo comparison system comprising: means for presenting different views of particular terrain taken at different times but in a form having corresponding projection in the respective views, means for synchronously scanning corresponding portions of the respective views, means responsive to the scanning means for developing electrical signals on individual channels in accordance with the views being scanned, switching means for selecting means for selecting between the individual channels, display means coupled to the switching means for presenting in succession the images corresponding to the signals selected by the switching means, and means for graphically reproducing only selected portions of said views.

Claim 27

A photo comparison system comprising: means for scanning a pair of photographs representing particular terrain in corresponding projection, means responsive to the scanning means for providing video signals on respective channels corresponding to the photographs, display means for reproducing images corresponding to the photographs in response to the video signals, switching means coupled between the video signal channels and the display means for alternately applying the respective video signals to the display means, means for correlating the video signals on said channels, and means responsive to the correlation means for reproducing only portions of said photographs exhibiting a selected range of correlation.

Claim 28

A photo comparison system comprising: means for scanning a pair of photographs representing particular terrain in corresponding projection, means responsive to the scanning means for providing video signals on respective channels corresponding to the photographs, display means for reproducing images corresponding to the photographs in response to the video signals, switching means coupled between the video signal channels and the display means for alternately applying the respective video signals to the display means, means for correlating the video signals on said channels, and means responsive to the correlation means for reproducing only portions of said photographs exhibiting a selected range of correlation.