US5013919A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Detector element signal comparator system
Assignee: Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1989-10-17
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Granted: 1991-05-07
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Expires: 2009-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A detector element signal comparator system is used for noise reduction and image enhancement by comparing the output of any detector signal processor within a module to the output of any other detector signal processor within the same module. The detector element signal comparator system has a comparator for each detector signal processor, a comparator bus to connect the output of any detector signal processor to the comparators of all other detector signal processors, a switch for each detector signal processor to selectively connect each detector signal processor to the comparator bus, and an output bus for communicating the comparator signal from the detector element signal comparator to the next stage of signal processing.
Inventors
- 👤 Allen L. Solomon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:37
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/18; G08B13/189; G08B13/194; H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/20; H04N25/60; H04N25/67; H04N25/671
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A noise reduction circuit for an infrared detector module having a plurality of infrared detector elements, the circuit comprising: (a) a comparator circuit contained within the module and in electrical communication with said detector elements; and (b) wherein said comparator circuit is operative to compare an output from a first selected detector element to an output from any other selected detector element of the module.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A noise reduction circuit for an infrared detector module having a plurality of infrared detector elements, the circuit comprising: (a) a comparator circuit contained within the module and in electrical communication with said detector elements; and (b) wherein said comparator circuit is operative to compare an output from a first selected detector element to an output from any other selected detector element of the module.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
The circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein the comparator circuit comprises: (a) a plurality of comparators, the number of comparators substantially conforming to the number of detector elements, each comparator connected to a dedicated detector element and connectable to any other detector element; (b) a comparator input bus connectable to each comparator and connectable to each detector element for selectively connecting the output of any detector element to any of the comparators; and (c) a plurality of first switches for connecting the detector elements to said comparator input bus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The circuit as recited in claim 2 further comprising a comparator output bus connectable to each of the comparators.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The circuit as recited in claim 3 further comprising a plurality of second switches for connecting a selected comparator to the comparator input bus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The circuit as recited in claim 4 further comprising signal processing circuitry for conditioning the output of said detector elements for further processing at a remote location, said signal processor electrically connected intermediate each of the detector elements and said comparator circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit as recited in claim 5 wherein the output of the comparator circuit is representative of the difference in amplitudes of the compared detector element signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The circuit as recited in claim 6 wherein the output signal of said comparator circuit is operated upon by a noise reduction algorithm to reduce the noise component of the compared detector element signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The circuit as recited in claim 7 wherein the algorithm systematically selects detector element signals to be compared.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The circuit as recited in claim 7 wherein the selection of detector element signals to be compared is dependent upon the detected image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
A comparator circuit for use with a detector array, said detector array having a plurality of detector elements, the comparator circuit comprising: (a) a plurality of comparators, the number of comparators substantially conforming to the number of detector elements, each comparator having first and second input ports, the first input port being connected to an associated detector element and the second input port being connectable to any other detector element; (b) a comparator input bus connectable to the second input port of each comparator; and (c) a plurality of first switches for shorting the comparator to selectively connect said detector elements to said comparator input bus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
A comparator circuit for use with a detector array, said detector array having a plurality of detector elements, the comparator circuit comprising: (a) a plurality of comparators, the number of comparators substantially conforming to the number of detector elements, each comparator having first and second input ports, the first input port being connected to an associated detector element and the second input port being connectable to any other detector element; (b) a comparator input bus connectable to the second input port of each comparator; and (c) a plurality of first switches for shorting the comparator to selectively connect said detector elements to said comparator input bus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The comparator circuit as recited in claim 10 further comprising a plurality of second switches for selectively connecting the comparator input bus to the comparator second input ports.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for reducing the noise content of signals output from a plurality of detector elements comprising the steps of: (a) receiving output signals from a plurality of detector elements; (b) connecting a first selected detector element signal to a first of a plurality of comparators; (c) connecting a second selected detector element signal to a comparator input bus, the comparator input bus being connectable to each of the comparators; (d) connecting the first comparator to the input bus; (e) comparing the first and second detector element signals input to the comparator; and (f) outputting a signal representative of the comparison onto an output bus.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for reducing the noise content of signals output from a plurality of detector elements comprising the steps of: (a) receiving output signals from a plurality of detector elements; (b) connecting a first selected detector element signal to a first of a plurality of comparators; (c) connecting a second selected detector element signal to a comparator input bus, the comparator input bus being connectable to each of the comparators; (d) connecting the first comparator to the input bus; (e) comparing the first and second detector element signals input to the comparator; and (f) outputting a signal representative of the comparison onto an output bus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of selectively connecting the comparator to the comparator input bus with a switch, such that only the comparator with which the first and second detector element signals are to be compared is connected to the comparator input bus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the steps of connecting a first selected detector element signal to a comparator and connecting a second selected detector element signal to a comparator input bus are performed according to an algorithm which systematically selects detector element signals to be compared.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the steps of connecting a first selected detector element signal to a comparator and connecting a second selected detector element signal to a comparator input bus are dependent upon the detector element signals, the detector element signals determining which detector element signals are to be compared.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the step of applying a noise reduction algorithm to the output signal representative of the comparison to eliminate extraneous signal components.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as recited in claim 16 further comprising the step of applying an image enhancement algorithm to the output signal after application of the noise reduction algorithm to aid in target acquisition and tracking by making the target more distinguishable from the background.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-05-06 | 1994-11-05 | 1995-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-06 | 1998-11-05 | 1999-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-06 | 2002-11-05 | 2003-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |