Patent US4419692A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4419692A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High speed infrared imaging system
Assignee: Texas Medical Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1981-12-31
•
Granted: 1983-12-06
•
Expires: 2001-12-31
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a method of referencing and operating an infrared imaging system that may be used with virtually any system. A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed using a mechanical scanning mirror that minimizes spatial scan distortion.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Modisette
- 👤 Ralph B. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:03
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/02; H04N3/08; H04N3/09; H04N23/00; H04N23/20; H04N23/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of calibrating an imaging system having a plurality of detectors, comprising: adjusting a slueable radiance source within about the range of radiance to be sensed by the imaging system, sensing the slueable radiance with a plurality of detectors, and clamping the output of each detector of said plurality to an internal reference.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of calibrating an imaging system having a plurality of detectors, comprising: adjusting a slueable radiance source within about the range of radiance to be sensed by the imaging system, sensing the slueable radiance with a plurality of detectors, and clamping the output of each detector of said plurality to an internal reference.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said output of each channel is clamped to the average value of the output of said plurality of detectors while said detectors are sensing said slueable radiance source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said output of each channel is clamped to the output of one of the channels while said detectors are sensing said slueable radiance source.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of calibrating an imaging system having a plurality of detectors and detector channels comprising: sensing a first reference radiance source with a plurality of detectors, adjusting the output of each of the detector channels as a function of a first internal reference, sensing a second reference radiance source with said plurality of detectors, adjusting the output of each of the detector channels as a function of a second internal reference, adjusting a slueable reference radiance source to within about the range of radiance to be imaged by the imaging system, sensing said sluable reference radiance source with said plurality of detectors, and clamping the output of each detector channel to the average output of the plurality of detector channels.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of calibrating an imaging system having a plurality of detectors and detector channels comprising: sensing a first reference radiance source with a plurality of detectors, adjusting the output of each of the detector channels as a function of a first internal reference, sensing a second reference radiance source with said plurality of detectors, adjusting the output of each of the detector channels as a function of a second internal reference, adjusting a slueable reference radiance source to within about the range of radiance to be imaged by the imaging system, sensing said sluable reference radiance source with said plurality of detectors, and clamping the output of each detector channel to the average output of the plurality of detector channels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein the output of each detector channel sensing said slueable reference radiance source is clamped to the output of one of the detector channels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein the second reference source is a greater radiance than the first reference and the slueable reference radiance source is intermediate said first radiance source and said second radiance source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein the output of each detector channel sensing said slueable reference radiance is clamped to a third internal reference.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein said plurality of detectors are all the detectors in the imaging system.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus comprising: scanning means for scanning radiance in object space, said scanning means comprising a multi-faceted, tilted-faced mirror having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the object space; reference radiance source means for providing calibration information to said scanning means, said reference radiance means comprising two fixed references of differing radiance and a third slueable reference radiance; detector means responsive to said scanning means and said reference radiance source means for converting sensed radiance to electrical signals, said detector means comprising a plurality of detectors responsive to the spectral band sought to be sensed in the object space; signal processing means for electronically processing said electrical signals to form image signals, said signal processing means comprising: a preamplifier for each detector; analog processor means for clamping said electrical signals from the detectors to internal reference voltages when said detectors are sensing said fixed and slueable reference radiances; formatting means responsive to said electrical signals for generating digital and analog video signals; and diaplay means responsive to said image signals for displaying an image of the radiance in object space.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus comprising: scanning means for scanning radiance in object space, said scanning means comprising a multi-faceted, tilted-faced mirror having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the object space; reference radiance source means for providing calibration information to said scanning means, said reference radiance means comprising two fixed references of differing radiance and a third slueable reference radiance; detector means responsive to said scanning means and said reference radiance source means for converting sensed radiance to electrical signals, said detector means comprising a plurality of detectors responsive to the spectral band sought to be sensed in the object space; signal processing means for electronically processing said electrical signals to form image signals, said signal processing means comprising: a preamplifier for each detector; analog processor means for clamping said electrical signals from the detectors to internal reference voltages when said detectors are sensing said fixed and slueable reference radiances; formatting means responsive to said electrical signals for generating digital and analog video signals; and diaplay means responsive to said image signals for displaying an image of the radiance in object space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said scanning means has eight faces which are offset about a nominal 45° angle to provide for vertical scanning of the detector array into object space; said reference radiance source means are thermoelectric devices capable of being set at temperatures between -10° and +100° Centigrade, said detector means is a line array of infrared detectors, and said analog processor means includes means for converting the detector array output from representing radiance values into apparent radiometric temperature values.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said scanning means rotates at a speed that causes the imaging system to operate at a frame rate of 60 frames per second.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as in claims 9, 10 or 11 wherein at least a part of the signal processing means is shared by means of multiplexing.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
51 words
An apparatus as in claims 9, 10 or 11 including interlace optic means for offsetting the detector array in object space by one detector width during every second revolution of said scanning means, and said detector means is a line array whose individual detectors are set apart by one detector width.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
70 words
An apparatus as in claims 9, 10 or 11 including a beam splitter means for dividing said sensed radiance into a plurality of beams, a plurality of detector arrays positioned so as to be responsive to said plurality of beams, and switching means between said plurality of detector arrays and said signal processing means for selecting the detector array whose electrical output is to be processed to form an image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 14 including a plurality of signal processing means responsive to the electrical output of said plurality of detector arrays.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
Method as in claim 1 wherein said slueable radiance source is adjusted to the mid-point of the range of radiance to be sensed by the imaging system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein said slueable radiance source is adjusted to about the mid-point of the range of radiance to be imaged by the imaging system.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as in claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein said detector means is a time-delayed and integrated plurality of infrared detectors.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claims 10 or 11, wherein said formatting means includes a digital memory containing memory elements sufficient to store not more than two subfields of data.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as in claims 10 or 11, wherein said formatter means generates a composite video signal that utilizes only one television field.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3631248A
Cited
US4193688A
Cited
US3718757A
Cited
US4027159A
Cited
US3798366A
Cited
US3830970A
Cited
US3895182A
Cited
US4191967A
Cited
US4121248A
Cited
US4142206A
Cited
US4214271A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-12-05 | 1987-06-06 | 1987-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-12-05 | 1991-06-06 | 1991-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-12-05 | 1995-06-06 | 1995-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |