US5033015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automated system for testing an imaging sensor
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1990-10-25
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Granted: 1991-07-16
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Expires: 2010-10-25
Abstract
Abstract An automated system for testing imaging sensors 10 is disclosed. The automated system 10 provides an accurate and repeatable method for testing imaging sensors. The automated system 10 includes an input circuit 20 for receiving input from an imaging sensor system and providing a signal in response thereto, a processor 30 for operating on said signal and generating data therefrom, and a computer 40 for providing output in response to the data. A specific teaching of the invention includes a method for obtaining data for the lookup table and calculating addresses for the data wherein the addresses are a function of the signal and noise components of the imaging sensor system output, while the data relates to actual responses of human observers.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Zwirn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N17/00; H04N17/002; G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/0002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
An automated system for testing a sensor system by evaluating the output of said sensor system with respect to a known target, said automated system comprising: input means for receiving input from said sensor system and providing a first signal in response thereto; processing means for operating on said first signal and generating first data therefrom, said processing means including: filtering means for separating noise from said first signal, said filtering means further including scene averaging means for separating random noise from said first signal to provide a pure signature and first subtracting means for subtracting said first signal from said pure signature to provide a pure noise signal and means for computing at least one address in response to a function of the pure signature and pure noise components of said first signal; and table means for providing stored data in response to an input of said address thereto, said stored data being representative of a response of at least one human observer viewing a display of the output of an imaging system in response to a known input.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
An automated system for testing a sensor system by evaluating the output of said sensor system with respect to a known target, said automated system comprising: input means for receiving input from said sensor system and providing a first signal in response thereto; processing means for operating on said first signal and generating first data therefrom, said processing means including: filtering means for separating noise from said first signal, said filtering means further including scene averaging means for separating random noise from said first signal to provide a pure signature and first subtracting means for subtracting said first signal from said pure signature to provide a pure noise signal and means for computing at least one address in response to a function of the pure signature and pure noise components of said first signal; and table means for providing stored data in response to an input of said address thereto, said stored data being representative of a response of at least one human observer viewing a display of the output of an imaging system in response to a known input.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The automated system for testing of claim 1 wherein said input means includes camera means for receiving optical output from said imaging system and providing said first signal in response thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The automated system for testing of claim 1 wherein said processing means includes histogram means for determining the portions of said pure noise signal that are within a specified range of values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The automated system for testing of claim 1 wherein said filtering means includes memory means for providing a fixed pattern noise signal from said pure signature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The automated system for testing of claim 4 wherein said filtering means includes second subtracting means for subtracting said fixed pattern noise signal from said pure signature to provide a pure signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The automated system for testing of claim 5 wherein said processing means includes peak means for detecting the value of said pure signal that is greater than a first value and valley means for detecting the value of said pure signal that is less than a second value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The automated system for testing of claim 1 wherein said table means is a lookup table containing stored data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The automated system for testing of claim 7 wherein a function of said first data is provided as an address to said lookup table and said output is provided from said lookup table in response thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The automated system for testing of claim 8 wherein said function of said first data includes a peak value P, a valley value V, and a noise component N.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The automated system for testing of claim 9 wherein said function is P-V/P+V.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The automated system for testing of claim 9 wherein said function is P+V/N.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The automated system for testing of claim 7 wherein said table means includes interpolator means for estimating the values of said stored data from a derived function of said first data.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for obtaining data representing acceptable imaging sensor system output including the steps of: (a) separating the input from an imaging sensor system into signal and noise components; (b) obtaining first values representing acceptable values of said input at a set of spatial frequencies as determined by a chosen group of human observers; and (c) deriving data as a function of said signal and said noise components at said spatial frequencies corresponding to each value of said first values.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for obtaining data representing acceptable imaging sensor system output including the steps of: (a) separating the input from an imaging sensor system into signal and noise components; (b) obtaining first values representing acceptable values of said input at a set of spatial frequencies as determined by a chosen group of human observers; and (c) deriving data as a function of said signal and said noise components at said spatial frequencies corresponding to each value of said first values.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
127 words
An automated system for testing a sensor system by evaluating the output of said sensor system with respect to a known target, said automated system comprising: input means for receiving input from said sensor system and providing a first signal in response thereto; processing means for operating on said first signal and generating first data therefrom; and table means for providing output in response to said first data, said table means including a lookup table, wherein a function of said first data is provided as an address to said lookup table and said output is provided from said lookup table in response thereto, said function of said first data being P-V/P+V where P is a peak value and V is a valley value of said first data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
127 words
An automated system for testing a sensor system by evaluating the output of said sensor system with respect to a known target, said automated system comprising: input means for receiving input from said sensor system and providing a first signal in response thereto; processing means for operating on said first signal and generating first data therefrom; and table means for providing output in response to said first data, said table means including a lookup table, wherein a function of said first data is provided as an address to said lookup table and said output is provided from said lookup table in response thereto, said function of said first data being P-V/P+V where P is a peak value and V is a valley value of said first data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
132 words
An automated system for testing a sensor system by evaluating the output of said sensor system with respect to a known target, said automated system comprising: input means for receiving input from said sensor system and providing a first signal in response thereto; processing means for operating on said first signal and generating first data therefrom; and table means for providing output in response to said first data, said table means including a lookup table, wherein a function of said first data is provided as an address to said lookup table and said output is provided from said lookup table in response thereto, said function of said first data being P+V/N where P is a peak value, V is a valley value, and N is a noise component of said first data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
132 words
An automated system for testing a sensor system by evaluating the output of said sensor system with respect to a known target, said automated system comprising: input means for receiving input from said sensor system and providing a first signal in response thereto; processing means for operating on said first signal and generating first data therefrom; and table means for providing output in response to said first data, said table means including a lookup table, wherein a function of said first data is provided as an address to said lookup table and said output is provided from said lookup table in response thereto, said function of said first data being P+V/N where P is a peak value, V is a valley value, and N is a noise component of said first data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The automated system for testing of claim 14 or 15 wherein said table means includes interpolator means for estimating the values of said stored data from a derived function of said first data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The automated system for testing of claim 14 or 15 wherein said processing means includes filtering means for separating noise from said first signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The automated system for testing of claim 17 wherein said filtering means includes scene averaging means for separating random noise from said first signal to provide a pure signature.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The automated system for testing of claim 18 wherein said filtering means includes first subtracting means for subtracting said first signal from said pure signature to provide a pure noise signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The automated system for testing of claim 19 wherein said processing means includes histogram means for determining the portions of said pure noise signal that are within specified ranges of values.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The automated system for testing of claim 17 wherein said filtering means includes memory means for providing a fixed pattern noise signal from said pure signature.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The automated system for testing of claim 21 wherein said filtering means includes second subtracting means for subtracting said fixed pattern noise signal from said pure signature to provide a pure signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
The automated system for testing of claim 22 wherein said processing means includes peak means for detecting the value of said pure signal that is greater than a first value and valley means for detecting the value of said pure signal that is less than a second value.
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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) | 1994-07-15 | 1995-01-14 | 1995-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-15 | 1999-01-14 | 1999-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-15 | 2003-01-14 | 2003-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |