US4561019A — Frequency diversity for image enhancement

Claim 1

Independent Claim 102 words

A method of reducing speckle in signals received from an object irradiated with finite-bandwidth, coherent pulses of any form of radiation that exhibits a wave nature, comprising: generating finite-bandwidth, coherent pulses and transmitting said pulses toward an object; receiving the signals scattered by said object to derive therefrom separate, component, noncoherent signals, each representative of the components of said scattered signals in component frequency bands within said finite bandwidth; and combining the component, noncoherent signals to obtain composite noncoherent signals, wherein the degradation of the signals due to speckle is less than in noncoherent signals derived directly from the original received signals.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 102 words

A method of reducing speckle in signals received from an object irradiated with finite-bandwidth, coherent pulses of any form of radiation that exhibits a wave nature, comprising: generating finite-bandwidth, coherent pulses and transmitting said pulses toward an object; receiving the signals scattered by said object to derive therefrom separate, component, noncoherent signals, each representative of the components of said scattered signals in component frequency bands within said finite bandwidth; and combining the component, noncoherent signals to obtain composite noncoherent signals, wherein the degradation of the signals due to speckle is less than in noncoherent signals derived directly from the original received signals.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of receiving comprises: receiving the signals scattered by said object with a coherent receiver; filtering said received signals to obtain separate, component, coherent signals having different frequency content; and deriving separate noncoherent signals from the separate coherent signals.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method as set forth in claim 2 further including, after the step of filtering, the step of weighting and processing said component, coherent signals separately as a function of such parameters as time, frequency content and signal amplitude.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method as set forth in claim 2 further including, after the step of deriving separate noncoherent signals, the step of weighting and processing said component noncoherent signals separately as a function of such parameters as time, frequency content, and signal amplitude.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of transforming said composite noncoherent signals into a set of composite signals that map the irradiated object into a form suitable for inspection, such as an image.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the steps of filtering, deriving separate noncoherent signals, and combining are performed on signals in the analog domain.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method as set forth in claim 2 further including the step of digitizing the received signals, and wherein the steps of filtering, deriving separate noncoherent signals, and combining are performed on signals in the digital domain.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the step of filtering comprises passing the received signals through at least two band-pass filters having substantially nonoverlapping, adjacent and equal pass bandwidth characteristics to obtain at least two filtered signals having different frequency content.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the step of filtering comprises passing the received signal through at least two band-pass filters having substantially nonoverlapping adjacent passbands and about equal Q factor.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method as set forth in claim 2 further including the step of normalizing the received signals to compensate for characteristics in system components to provide signals containing information more accurately representing information from said scattering object.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 further including the steps of separately mapping the irradiated object from each of the separate noncoherent signals, separately processing each of said mappings, and combining the separate mappings into a composite mapping, wherein the degradation of the mapping due to speckle is less than in a mapping of noncoherent signals derived directly from the original received signals.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 115 words

A method of enhancing resolution in signals received from an object irradiated with a finite-bandwidth, coherent pulse of any form of radiation that exhibits a wave nature, comprising: generating finite-bandwidth, coherent pulses and transmitting said pulses toward an object; receiving the signals scattered by said object with a coherent receiver; filtering said received signals to obtain separate, component, coherent signals having different frequency content; weighting said component, coherent signals separately as a function of frequency content; combining said component, coherent signals to obtain composite coherent signals; and deriving noncoherent signals from said composite coherent signals, wherein the resolution of the noncoherent signals is enhanced compared to noncoherent signals derived directly from the original received signals.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 115 words

A method of enhancing resolution in signals received from an object irradiated with a finite-bandwidth, coherent pulse of any form of radiation that exhibits a wave nature, comprising: generating finite-bandwidth, coherent pulses and transmitting said pulses toward an object; receiving the signals scattered by said object with a coherent receiver; filtering said received signals to obtain separate, component, coherent signals having different frequency content; weighting said component, coherent signals separately as a function of frequency content; combining said component, coherent signals to obtain composite coherent signals; and deriving noncoherent signals from said composite coherent signals, wherein the resolution of the noncoherent signals is enhanced compared to noncoherent signals derived directly from the original received signals.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of weighting comprises processing said component, coherent signals separately as a function of such parameters as time, frequency content and signal amplitude.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method as set forth in claim 12 further including the step of transforming the derived noncoherent signals into signals that map the irradiated object into a form suitable for inspection, such as an image.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the steps of filtering, weighting deriving noncoherent signals, and combining are performed on signals in the analog domain.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method as set forth in claim 12 further including the step of digitizing the received signals, and wherein the steps of filtering, weighting, deriving noncoherent signals, and combining are performed on signals in the digital domain.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of filtering comprises passing the signals through at least two band-pass filters having substantially nonoverlapping, adjacent and equal pass bandwidth characteristics to obtain at least two filtered signals having different frequency content.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of filtering comprises passing the signals through at least two band-pass filters having substantially nonoverlapping adjacent passbands and about equal Q factor.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method as set forth in claim 12 further including the step of normalizing the received signals to compensate for characteristics in system components and to provide signals containing information more accurately representing information from said scattering object.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 108 words

Apparatus for reducing speckle in signals received from an object irradiated with a finite-bandwidth, coherent pulse of any form of radiation that exhibits a wave nature, comprising: means for generating finite-bandwidth, coherent pulses and transmitting said pulses toward an object; means for receiving the signals scattered by said object and for deriving therefrom separate, component, noncoherent signals, each representative of the components of said scattered signals in component frequency bands within said finite bandwith; and means for combining said component, noncoherent signals to obtain composite noncoherent signals, wherein the degradation of the signals due to speckle is less than in noncoherent signals derived directly from the received signals.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 108 words

Apparatus for reducing speckle in signals received from an object irradiated with a finite-bandwidth, coherent pulse of any form of radiation that exhibits a wave nature, comprising: means for generating finite-bandwidth, coherent pulses and transmitting said pulses toward an object; means for receiving the signals scattered by said object and for deriving therefrom separate, component, noncoherent signals, each representative of the components of said scattered signals in component frequency bands within said finite bandwith; and means for combining said component, noncoherent signals to obtain composite noncoherent signals, wherein the degradation of the signals due to speckle is less than in noncoherent signals derived directly from the received signals.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 56 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein the means for receiving and deriving comprises: means for receiving the signals scattered by said object with a coherent receiver; means for filtering said received signals to obtain separate, component, coherent signals having different frequency content; and means for deriving separate noncoherent signals from the separate coherent signals.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 further including means for weighting and processing said component, coherent signals separately as a function of such parameters as time, frequency content, and signal amplitude.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 further including means for weighting and processing said component noncoherent signals separately as a function of such parameters as time, frequency content, and signal amplitude.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 further including means for transforming said composite noncoherent signals into a set of composite signals that map the irradiated object into a form suitable for inspection, such as an image.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 further including means for digitizing said received signals, and wherein the signals filtered, derived and combined are digital signals.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein the means for filtering comprises at least two band-pass filters having substantially nonoverlapping, adjacent and equal pass bandwidth characteristics to thereby obtain at least two filtered signals having different frequency content.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein the means for filtering comprises at least two band-pass filters having substantially adjacent passbands and about equal Q factor.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 further including means for normalizing the received signals to compensate for characteristics in system components and to provide signals containing information more accurately representing information from said scattering object.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 77 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 further including means for separately mapping the irradiated object into a form suitable for inspection, such as an image, from each of the separate noncoherent signals, means for separately processing each of said mappings, and means for combining the separate mappings into a composite mapping, wherein the degradation of the composite mapping due to speckle is less than in a mapping of noncoherent signals derived directly from the received signals.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 125 words

Apparatus for enhancing resolution in signals received from an object irradiated with a finite-bandwidth, coherent pulse of any form of radiation that exhibits a wave nature, comprising: means for generating finite-bandwidth, coherent pulses and transmitting said pulses toward an object; means for receiving the signals scattered by said object with a coherent receiver; means for filtering said received signals to obtain separate, component, coherent signals having different frequency content; means for weighting said component, coherent signals separately as a function of frequency content; means for combining said component, coherent signals to obtain composite coherent signals; means for deriving noncoherent signals from said composite coherent signals, wherein the resolution of the noncoherent signals is enhanced compared to noncoherent signals derived directly from the original received signals.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 125 words

Apparatus for enhancing resolution in signals received from an object irradiated with a finite-bandwidth, coherent pulse of any form of radiation that exhibits a wave nature, comprising: means for generating finite-bandwidth, coherent pulses and transmitting said pulses toward an object; means for receiving the signals scattered by said object with a coherent receiver; means for filtering said received signals to obtain separate, component, coherent signals having different frequency content; means for weighting said component, coherent signals separately as a function of frequency content; means for combining said component, coherent signals to obtain composite coherent signals; means for deriving noncoherent signals from said composite coherent signals, wherein the resolution of the noncoherent signals is enhanced compared to noncoherent signals derived directly from the original received signals.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein the means for weighting comprises means for processing said component, coherent signals separately as a function of such parameters as time, frequency content and signal amplitude.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus is set forth in claim 30 further including means for transforming the derived noncoherent signals into signals that map the irradiated object into a form suitable for inspection, such as an image.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 30 further including means for digitizing said received signals, and wherein the signals filtered, weighted, combined, and derived are digital signals.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 38 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein the means for filtering comprises at least two band-pass filters having substantially nonoverlapping, adjacent and equal pass bandwidth characteristics to obtain at least two filtered signals having different frequency content.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein the means for filtering comprises at least two band-pass filters having substantially nonoverlapping, adjacent passbands and about equal Q factor.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 30 further including means for normalizing the received signals to compensate for characteristics in system components and to provide signals containing information more accurately representing information from said scattering object.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-12-23	1989-06-24	1989-12-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-12-23	1993-06-24	1993-12-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-12-23	1997-06-24	1997-12-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Frequency diversity for image enhancement

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