US3703133A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Obtaining ground truth for multispectral photography
Assignee: Spectral Data Corp
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Filing: 1970-03-31
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Granted: 1972-11-21
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Expires: 1990-03-31
Abstract
Abstract The ratio of the intensity of the radiation directionally reflected from a background or reference target in a selected portion of a spectral region extending from substantially 260 nanometers to substantially 3,000 nanometers or emitted by the target in a selected portion of a spectral region extending from substantially 3,000 nanometers to substantially 20,000 nanometers to the intensity of incident solar radiation at a point near the target is determined at intervals of 5 nanometers. Similar ratios are determined for a specimen of an anomalous target visually similar to the background target. Filters are selected for multispectral photography having maximum transparency in the bands where the ratios are different. Multispectral photographs employing such filters are optimally adapted to distinguish between the two types of targets.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward F Yost Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:18
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B29/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of establishing ground truth for multispectral photography comprising the steps of measuring the intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from or emitted by a target of interest at a given time at the wavelength associated with a first frequency; measuring the intensity of solar radiation at the same time and at the same wavelength incident at a point near said target; computing the ratio of one of said intensity measurements to the other; and making corresponding measurements and computing the ratios thereof at the wavelength associated with a second frequency closely spaced apart from said first frequency; these steps being repeated at a sufficient number of closely-spaced-apart frequencies of a region of the electromagnetic spectrum to determine the spectral signature of the target.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of establishing ground truth for multispectral photography comprising the steps of measuring the intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from or emitted by a target of interest at a given time at the wavelength associated with a first frequency; measuring the intensity of solar radiation at the same time and at the same wavelength incident at a point near said target; computing the ratio of one of said intensity measurements to the other; and making corresponding measurements and computing the ratios thereof at the wavelength associated with a second frequency closely spaced apart from said first frequency; these steps being repeated at a sufficient number of closely-spaced-apart frequencies of a region of the electromagnetic spectrum to determine the spectral signature of the target.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of establishing ground truth for multispectral photography comprising the steps of measuring the intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from or emitted by a target of interest at a given time at the wavelength associated with a first frequency; measuring the intensity of solar radiation at the same time and at the same wavelength incident at a point near said target; computing the ratio of one of said intensity measurements to the other; and making corresponding measurements and computing the ratios thereof at the wavelength associated with a second frequency closely spaced apart from said first frequency; these steps being repeated at a sufficient number of closely-spaced-apart frequencies of a region of the electromagnetic spectrum to determine the spectral signature of the target.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of establishing ground truth for multispectral photography comprising the steps of measuring the intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from or emitted by a target of interest at a given time at the wavelength associated with a first frequency; measuring the intensity of solar radiation at the same time and at the same wavelength incident at a point near said target; computing the ratio of one of said intensity measurements to the other; and making corresponding measurements and computing the ratios thereof at the wavelength associated with a second frequency closely spaced apart from said first frequency; these steps being repeated at a sufficient number of closely-spaced-apart frequencies of a region of the electromagnetic spectrum to determine the spectral signature of the target.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said region of the electromagnetic spectrum extends from substantially 260 nanometers to substantially 20,000 nanometers and the intervals between the wavelengths respectively associated with said plurality of frequencies within said region of the electromagnetic spectrum are substantially 5 nanometers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said region of the electromagnetic spectrum extends from substantially 350 nanometers to substantially 1,300 nanometers and the intervals between the wavelengths respectively associated with said plurality of frequencies within said region of the electromagnetic spectrum are substantially 5 nanometers.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of multispectral photography in which a plurality of separate lens systems form a corresponding plurality of related black-and-white photographic images of a common scene, comprising the steps of determining the spectral signature of a control target, determining the spectral signature of an anomalous target, comparing said spectral signatures to identify a plurality of discriminating spectral bands at which said spectral signatures are different, mounting in combination with each of said lens systems a different filter, said filters respectively having maximum transparency in said discriminating spectral bands, and forming said related black-and-white images respectively through said lens-filter combinations, whereby, when said images are developed and viewed additively, it is possible to distinguish visually between targets similar to said control target and targets similar to said anomalous target.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of multispectral photography in which a plurality of separate lens systems form a corresponding plurality of related black-and-white photographic images of a common scene, comprising the steps of determining the spectral signature of a control target, determining the spectral signature of an anomalous target, comparing said spectral signatures to identify a plurality of discriminating spectral bands at which said spectral signatures are different, mounting in combination with each of said lens systems a different filter, said filters respectively having maximum transparency in said discriminating spectral bands, and forming said related black-and-white images respectively through said lens-filter combinations, whereby, when said images are developed and viewed additively, it is possible to distinguish visually between targets similar to said control target and targets similar to said anomalous target.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein there is a crossover of said spectral signatures between at least two of said discriminating spectral bands.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the absolute differences in said spectral signatures are greatest in said discriminating spectral bands.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
274 words
A method of multispectral photography in which a plurality of separate lens systems form a corresponding plurality of related black-and-white photographic images of a common scene, comprising the steps of determining, at each of a plurality of closely-spaced-apart frequencies of a region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the ratio of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from or emitted by a background target at the wavelength associated with such frequency and at a given time to the intensity of solar radiation at the same wavelength and at the same time incident at a point near said background target, whereby the spectral signature of said background target is determined, determining, at each of a plurality of closely-spaced-apart frequencies of the same region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the ratio of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from or emitted by an anomalous target at the wavelength associated with such frequency and at a given time to the intensity of solar radiation at the same wavelength and at the same time incident at a point near said anomalous target, whereby the spectral signature of said anomalous target is determined, comparing said spectral signatures to identify a plurality of discriminating spectral bands in which the associated reflectance/incident ratios of the control and anomalous targets are different, mounting in combination with each of said lens systems a different filter, said filters respectively having maximum transparency in said discriminating spectral bands, and forming said related black-and-white images respectively through said lens-filter combinations, whereby, when said images are developed and viewed additively, it is possible to distinguish visually between targets similar to said control target and targets similar to said anomalous target.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
274 words
A method of multispectral photography in which a plurality of separate lens systems form a corresponding plurality of related black-and-white photographic images of a common scene, comprising the steps of determining, at each of a plurality of closely-spaced-apart frequencies of a region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the ratio of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from or emitted by a background target at the wavelength associated with such frequency and at a given time to the intensity of solar radiation at the same wavelength and at the same time incident at a point near said background target, whereby the spectral signature of said background target is determined, determining, at each of a plurality of closely-spaced-apart frequencies of the same region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the ratio of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from or emitted by an anomalous target at the wavelength associated with such frequency and at a given time to the intensity of solar radiation at the same wavelength and at the same time incident at a point near said anomalous target, whereby the spectral signature of said anomalous target is determined, comparing said spectral signatures to identify a plurality of discriminating spectral bands in which the associated reflectance/incident ratios of the control and anomalous targets are different, mounting in combination with each of said lens systems a different filter, said filters respectively having maximum transparency in said discriminating spectral bands, and forming said related black-and-white images respectively through said lens-filter combinations, whereby, when said images are developed and viewed additively, it is possible to distinguish visually between targets similar to said control target and targets similar to said anomalous target.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for establishing ground truth for multispectral photography comprising downward-looking means responsive to electromagnetic radiation of a selected wavelength reflected from or emitted bY a target of interest for producing a signal representative of the intensity of said reflected or emitted electromagnetic radiation at said wavelength, upward-looking means mounted near said target and responsive to electromagnetic radiation of the same wavelength for producing a signal representative of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation simultaneously incident at said wavelength, data-coupler and recording means responsive to said signals for recording indicia representative of the intensity of said reflected or emitted electromagnetic radiation and the intensity of said incident electromagnetic radiation, wherefrom the ratio of the former intensity to the latter is calculable, and control means for varying the wavelength to which said downward looking means and said upward-looking means are simultaneously responsive, wherefrom a series of ratios is calculable indicative of the spectral signature of said target.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for establishing ground truth for multispectral photography comprising downward-looking means responsive to electromagnetic radiation of a selected wavelength reflected from or emitted bY a target of interest for producing a signal representative of the intensity of said reflected or emitted electromagnetic radiation at said wavelength, upward-looking means mounted near said target and responsive to electromagnetic radiation of the same wavelength for producing a signal representative of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation simultaneously incident at said wavelength, data-coupler and recording means responsive to said signals for recording indicia representative of the intensity of said reflected or emitted electromagnetic radiation and the intensity of said incident electromagnetic radiation, wherefrom the ratio of the former intensity to the latter is calculable, and control means for varying the wavelength to which said downward looking means and said upward-looking means are simultaneously responsive, wherefrom a series of ratios is calculable indicative of the spectral signature of said target.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising standard reflectance means and motive means for permitting said downward-looking means to respond selectively to electromagnetic radiation reflected from or emitted by said target and to electromagnetic radiation reflected from or emitted by said standard reflectance means, whereby indicia respectively representative of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation reflected from or emitted by said standard reflectance means at various wavelengths and indicia respectively representative of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation simultaneously incident at such wavelengths are recorded from time to time to facilitate calibration of said apparatus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising a lamp of standard brightness forcalibrating the measurement of said intensity by said downward-looking means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising a spectral-line lamp for calibrating said control means for accurate selection of said wavelength.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3527533A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-21 | 1976-05-22 | 1976-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-21 | 1980-05-22 | 1980-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-21 | 1984-05-22 | 1984-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |