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US5140147A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Intrafield interleaved sampled video processor/reformatter

Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1990-08-14
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Granted: 1992-08-18
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Expires: 2010-08-14
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for recovering the resolution lost when the FPA FLIR receiver scans the image at a first predetermined frequency to avoid flicker on moving objects. The input image contains 960 lines of coarse resolution data and the output field requires 480 lines of fine resolution data. The processor delays the sampling of the even numbered channels so that these samples occur between the samples taken by the odd numbered channels. The output circuit combines the signals from the odd numbered and even numbered channels which appear on two separate input lines thereto into one interleaved output on an output line. Since the detector elements overlap by 50 percent, the resulting data has increased horizontal resolution at the expense of a slight vertical distortion. More specifically, the processor combines an even numbered line with the odd numbered line thereabove in the first field and with the odd numbered line therebelow in the second field to increase vertical resolution. The vertical distortion generates a fixed frequency component in the output video that can be reduced by a filter.

Inventors

  • 👤 James S. Barnett

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 21:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/20

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 154 words
A method for recovering the resolution lost when a receiver scans an image at a first predetermined frequency to avoid flicker on moving objects, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a detector array having detectors disposed in matrix formation composed of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; (b) scanning energy over said array to provide an output from each said detector indicative of the energy impinging thereon; (c) shifting the outputs from each of said detectors in alternate said rows in the same direction to a location between the original columnar position thereof and the next columnar position in the direction of said shifting; (d) forming a first field composed by combining alternately the outputs of alternate ones of said rows and the shifted outputs in an adjacent row in a predetermined direction; and (e) providing a display for reading out said first field to provide a display of said outputs.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 154 words
A method for recovering the resolution lost when a receiver scans an image at a first predetermined frequency to avoid flicker on moving objects, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a detector array having detectors disposed in matrix formation composed of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; (b) scanning energy over said array to provide an output from each said detector indicative of the energy impinging thereon; (c) shifting the outputs from each of said detectors in alternate said rows in the same direction to a location between the original columnar position thereof and the next columnar position in the direction of said shifting; (d) forming a first field composed by combining alternately the outputs of alternate ones of said rows and the shifted outputs in an adjacent row in a predetermined direction; and (e) providing a display for reading out said first field to provide a display of said outputs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 55 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising forming a second field composed by combining alternately the output of said alternate ones of said rows and the shifted outputs in an adjacent row in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction and reading out said second field to provide an interlaced display with said first field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said energy is infrared energy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said energy is infrared energy.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 158 words
A system for recovering the resolution lost when a receiver scans an image at a first predetermined frequency to avoid flicker on moving objects, comprising: (a) a detector array having detectors disposed in matrix formation composed of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; (b) a scanner for scanning energy over said array to provide an output from each said detector indicative of the energy impinging thereon; (c) a shifting circuit for shifting the outputs from each of said detectors in alternate said rows in the same direction to a location between the original columnar position thereof and the next columnar position in the direction of said shifting; (d) a first field forming circuit for forming a first field composed by combining alternately the outputs of alternate ones of said rows and the shifted outputs in an adjacent row in a predetermined direction; (e) reading out said first field to provide a display of said outputs.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 158 words
A system for recovering the resolution lost when a receiver scans an image at a first predetermined frequency to avoid flicker on moving objects, comprising: (a) a detector array having detectors disposed in matrix formation composed of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; (b) a scanner for scanning energy over said array to provide an output from each said detector indicative of the energy impinging thereon; (c) a shifting circuit for shifting the outputs from each of said detectors in alternate said rows in the same direction to a location between the original columnar position thereof and the next columnar position in the direction of said shifting; (d) a first field forming circuit for forming a first field composed by combining alternately the outputs of alternate ones of said rows and the shifted outputs in an adjacent row in a predetermined direction; (e) reading out said first field to provide a display of said outputs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 61 words
The system of claim 5 further comprising a second field forming circuit for forming a second field composed by combining alternately the output of said alternate ones of said rows and the shifted output in an adjacent row in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction and reading out said second field to provide an interlaced display with said first field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 11 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said energy is infrared energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 11 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said energy is infrared energy.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3911467A Cited
US4873442A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-08-18 1996-02-17 1996-08-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-08-18 2000-02-17 2000-08-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-08-18 2004-02-17 2004-08-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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