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US5049995A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image intensifier system

Assignee: Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1990-01-19
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Granted: 1991-09-17
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Expires: 2010-01-19
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Abstract

Abstract An improved image intensifier system including an image intensifier, a camera operative to receive the output of the image intensifier and to transmit a signal including a multiplicity of pixel sets, a television monitor operative to receive the television signal from the camera and to translate such a signal into an image, and apparatus for reducing spikes in an image by detecting the spikes in a given pixel set, henceforth called the first pixel set, and replacing the spikes with information derived from a different pixel set, henceforth called the second pixel set.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yair Shimoni

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 02:42
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/60; H04N25/68; H04N25/683; H04N23/00; H04N23/80; H04N23/81

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
An image intensification system comprising: an image intensifier for receiving light from an image and providing an image intensifier light output; a camera for receiving said image intensified light output and for transmitting a television signal including a multiplicity of pixel sets; a television monitor for receiving said television signal and for translating said television signal into a television image; means for reducing spikes in said television signal by detecting the spikes in a first pixel set and correcting the spikes with information derived form a second pixel set.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 89 words
An image intensification system comprising: an image intensifier for receiving light from an image and providing an image intensifier light output; a camera for receiving said image intensified light output and for transmitting a television signal including a multiplicity of pixel sets; a television monitor for receiving said television signal and for translating said television signal into a television image; means for reducing spikes in said television signal by detecting the spikes in a first pixel set and correcting the spikes with information derived form a second pixel set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 1 and wherein said television signal is interlaced.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 1 and wherein said television signal is non-interlaced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 1 and wherein said television signal is large format.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 2 and wherein said pixel sets are fields.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 3 and wherein said pixel sets are frames and wherein a frame is two consecutive fields.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 1 and wherein said first and second pixel sets are corrected and stored separately.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 5 and wherein said first and second pixel sets are corrected separately and stored in an interlaced manner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 42 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 1 and wherein said first and second pixel sets are corrected separately and stored together and wherein elements of the corrected form of said first pixel set replace corresponding elements of said second pixel set.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 17 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 1 and wherein said television signal is a digital signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 21 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 10 and wherein said television signal is the output of a digital television camera.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 10 and wherein said television signal is the digitized output of an analog television camera.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 21 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 1 and wherein said television signal is the output of an analog television camera.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 16 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 11 and wherein said camera comprises a CCD camera.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 18 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 12 and wherein said camera comprises an SIT or ISIT camera.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 13 and wherein said camera is an ISIT camera.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 19 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 1 and wherein said means for reducing spikes include a digital memory.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 19 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 1 and wherein said means for reducing spikes include an analog memory.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 19 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 1 and wherein said means for reducing spikes include a semi-analog memory.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 64 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 1 and wherein said means for reducing spikes include means for differencing elements of said first pixel set with elements of a derived signal based upon said second pixel set and means for comparing said differences between said elements of said first pixel set and said elements derived from said second pixel set with a threshold level.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 40 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 20 and wherein said elements of said derived signal are derived from information in an area of said second pixel set equivalent to an area around said elements of said first pixel set.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 59 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 20 and wherein said means for comparing produces a new signal which is equal to the elements of the first pixel set if said differences are less than the threshold level and is equal to said elements of said derived signal if said differences are greater or equal to said threshold level.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 54 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 22 and wherein said means for differencing and for comparing produces a new signal which is equal to a linear combination of said elements of said first pixel set and said elements of said derived signal if said differences are greater or equal to said threshold level.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 18 words
An image intensifier system according to claim 1 and wherein said first and second pixel sets are consecutive.
Claim 26
Independent Claim 73 words
A method of image intensification comprising the steps of: receiving light from an image and providing an image intensified light output; receiving said image intensified light output and transmitting a television signal including a multiplicity of pixel sets; and reducing spikes in said television output, said step of reducing comprising the steps of: detecting the spikes in a first pixel set; and replacing the spikes with information derived from a second pixel set.
Claim 27
Independent Claim 73 words
A method of image intensification comprising the steps of: receiving light from an image and providing an image intensified light output; receiving said image intensified light output and transmitting a television signal including a multiplicity of pixel sets; and reducing spikes in said television output, said step of reducing comprising the steps of: detecting the spikes in a first pixel set; and replacing the spikes with information derived from a second pixel set.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method according to claim 25 and wherein said television signal is interlaced.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method according to claim 25 and wherein said television signal is non-interlaced.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 25 and wherein said television signal is large format.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method according to claim 25 and wherein said pixel sets are fields.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 13 words
A method according to claim 25 and wherein said pixel sets are frames.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 25 and wherein said first and second pixel sets are corrected and stored separately.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 40 words
A method according to claim 25 and wherein said first and second pixel sets are corrected separately and stored together and wherein elements of the corrected form of said first pixel set replace corresponding elements of said second pixel set.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method according to claim 26 and wherein said first and second pixel sets are corrected separately and stored in an interlaced manner.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 26 and wherein said first and second pixel sets are consecutive.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 64 words
A method according to claim 25 and wherein said step for reducing spikes include a step of differencing elements of said first pixel set with elements of a derived signal based upon said second pixel set and a step of comparing said differences between said elements of said first pixel set and said elements derived from said second pixel set with a threshold level.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method according to claim 35 and wherein said elements of said derived signal are derived from information in an area of said second pixel set equivalent to an area around said elements of said first pixel set.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 57 words
A method according to claim 35 and wherein said step of comparing produces a new signal which is equal to said elements of said first pixel set if said differences are less than said threshold level and is equal to said elements of said derived signal if said differences are greater or equal to said threshold level.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 51 words
A method according to claim 35 and wherein said step of differencing and comparing produces a new signal which is equal to a linear combination of said elements of said first pixel set and said elements of said derived signal if said differences are greater or equal to said threshold level.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 66 words
A method according to claim 25 and wherein said step of reducing comprises the steps of the following algorithm: ##EQU1## where F(I,X,Y) is a digital element of said first pixel set, T h is said threshold level, F'(I,X,Y) is a digital corrected element of said first pixel set and G(I,X,Y) is defined as G(I,X,Y)=[F"(I-1, X,Y+1)+F"(I-1, X,Y-1)]/2 where F"(I-1) is said corrected and stored second pixel set.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 65 words
A method according to claim 25 and wherein said step of reducing comprises the steps of the following algorithm: ##EQU2## where F(I,T[L]) is an analog element of said first pixel set, T h is said threshold level, F'(I,T[L]) is an analog corrected element of said first pixel set and G(I,T[L]) is defined as G(I,T[L])=[F"(I-1,T[L+1])+F"(I-1,T[L-1]) ]/2 where F"(I-1) is said corrected and stored second pixel set.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 69 words
A method according to claim 25 and wherein said step of reducing comprises the steps of the following algorithm: ##EQU3## where F(I,X,Y) is an element of said first pixel set, A is a predetermined constant, T h is said threshold level, F'(I,X,Y) is a corrected element of said first pixel set and G(I,X,Y) is defined as G(I,X,Y)=[F"(I-1, X,Y+1)+F"(I-1, X,Y-1)]/2 where F"(I-1) is said corrected and stored second pixel set.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1994-09-16 1995-03-18 1995-09-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-09-16 1999-03-18 1999-09-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-09-16 2003-03-18 2003-09-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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