US5789622A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Focal plane array calibration method
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1996-09-12
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Granted: 1998-08-04
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Expires: 2016-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A method of calibrating gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array 10 comprising individual detector elements 14, including: (a) focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array 10; (b) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements 14 as a first image frame at the first power level; (c) for each detector element 14, translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (d) reading the corresponding electrical signal from the detector elements 14 as a second image frame at the first power level; (e) focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array 10; (f) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements 14 as a first image frame at the second power level; (g) for each detector element 14, translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (h) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements 14 as a second image frame at the second power level; (i) selecting a reference detector element 18; (j) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element 18; and (k) determining the offset of the adjacent detector elements 14.
Inventors
- 👤 Bill H. Quon
- 👤 Paul S. Lee
- 👤 Steven W. Fornaca
- 👤 Karen E. Yokoyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:49
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/60; H04N25/67; H04N25/671; H04N25/673; H04N23/00; H04N23/20; H04N25/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
315 words
A method of calibrating gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the method comprising the steps of: (a) focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (b) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (c) for each detector element, translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (d) reading the corresponding electrical signal from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (e) focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (f) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (g) for each detector element, translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (h) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (i) selecting a reference detector element; (j) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element from: (1) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and the second images at the first and the second power levels, respectively, and (2) the gain of the reference detector element; (k) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements from: (1) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and second image frames at the first power level, (2) the gain of the reference detector element, (3) the offset of the reference detector element, and (4) the gain of said adjacent detector elements; and (l) repeating steps (i) and (k) for one or more detector elements of the detector array.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
315 words
A method of calibrating gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the method comprising the steps of: (a) focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (b) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (c) for each detector element, translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (d) reading the corresponding electrical signal from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (e) focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (f) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (g) for each detector element, translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (h) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (i) selecting a reference detector element; (j) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element from: (1) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and the second images at the first and the second power levels, respectively, and (2) the gain of the reference detector element; (k) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements from: (1) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and second image frames at the first power level, (2) the gain of the reference detector element, (3) the offset of the reference detector element, and (4) the gain of said adjacent detector elements; and (l) repeating steps (i) and (k) for one or more detector elements of the detector array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the gain of the adjacent detector elements includes computing: (1) the ratio of the difference of the electrical signals observed by the reference detector under the two source power levels, to the difference of the electrical signals observed by the adjacent detectors under the two source power levels, and (2) the gain of the reference detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
163 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of determining the gain of the adjacent detector elements comprises computing the relation: A.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij -V.sub.ij)/(V'.sub.i+1j -V.sub.i+1j)×A.sub.ij wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V' ij is the electrical signal of the reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; V' i+1j is the electrical signal of the adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image signal at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; and A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
144 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the offset of the adjacent detector element comprises computing the relation: O.sub.i+1j =(V.sub.ij /A.sub.ij -V.sub.i+1j /A.sub.i+1j)+O.sub.ij A.sub.ij /A.sub.i+1j wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2 . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; O ij is the offset of the reference detector element ij; and O i+1j is the offset of the adjacent detector element i+1j.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
494 words
A method of calibrating gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the method comprising the steps of: (a) focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (b) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (c) for each detector element, translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (d) reading the corresponding electrical signal from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (e) focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (f) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (g) for each detector element, translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (h) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (i) selecting a reference detector element; (j) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector elements by computing the relation: A.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij -V.sub.ij)/(V'.sub.i+1j -V.sub.i+1j)×A.sub.ij wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V' ij is the electrical signal of the reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; V' i+1j is the electrical signal of the adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image signal at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; and A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; (k) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements by computing the relation: O.sub.i+1j =(V.sub.ij /A.sub.ij -V.sub.i+1j /A.sub.i+1j)+O.sub.ij A.sub.ij /A.sub.i+1j wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; O ij is the offset of the reference detector element ij; and O i+1j is the offset of the adjacent detector element i+1j; and (l) repeating steps (i) and (k) for one or more detector elements of the detector array.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
494 words
A method of calibrating gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the method comprising the steps of: (a) focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (b) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (c) for each detector element, translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (d) reading the corresponding electrical signal from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (e) focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (f) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (g) for each detector element, translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (h) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (i) selecting a reference detector element; (j) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector elements by computing the relation: A.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij -V.sub.ij)/(V'.sub.i+1j -V.sub.i+1j)×A.sub.ij wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V' ij is the electrical signal of the reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; V' i+1j is the electrical signal of the adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image signal at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; and A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; (k) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements by computing the relation: O.sub.i+1j =(V.sub.ij /A.sub.ij -V.sub.i+1j /A.sub.i+1j)+O.sub.ij A.sub.ij /A.sub.i+1j wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; O ij is the offset of the reference detector element ij; and O i+1j is the offset of the adjacent detector element i+1j; and (l) repeating steps (i) and (k) for one or more detector elements of the detector array.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
315 words
A method of calibrating gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the method comprising the steps of: (a) focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (b) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (c) for each detector element, translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (d) reading the corresponding electrical signal from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (e) focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (f) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (g) for each detector element, translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (h) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (i) selecting a reference detector element; (j) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element from: (1) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and the second images at the first and the second power levels, respectively, and (2) the gain of the reference detector element; (k) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements from: (1) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and second image frames at the second power level, (2) the gain of the reference detector element, (3) the offset of the reference detector element, and (4) the gain of said adjacent detector elements; and (l) repeating steps (i) and (k) for one or more detector elements of the detector array.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
315 words
A method of calibrating gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the method comprising the steps of: (a) focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (b) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (c) for each detector element, translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (d) reading the corresponding electrical signal from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (e) focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (f) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (g) for each detector element, translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (h) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (i) selecting a reference detector element; (j) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element from: (1) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and the second images at the first and the second power levels, respectively, and (2) the gain of the reference detector element; (k) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements from: (1) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and second image frames at the second power level, (2) the gain of the reference detector element, (3) the offset of the reference detector element, and (4) the gain of said adjacent detector elements; and (l) repeating steps (i) and (k) for one or more detector elements of the detector array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
163 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the step of determining the gain of the adjacent detector elements comprises computing the relation: A.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij -V.sub.ij)/(V'.sub.i+1j -V.sub.i+1j)×A.sub.ij wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V' ij is the electrical signal of the reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; V' i+1j is the electrical signal of the adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image signal at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; and A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
144 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the step of determining the offset of the adjacent detector element comprises computing the relation: O.sub.i+1j =(V.sub.ij /A.sub.ij -V.sub.i+1j /A.sub.i+1j)+O.sub.ij A.sub.ij /A.sub.i+1j wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V' ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V' i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; O ij is the offset of the reference detector element ij; and O i+1j is the offset of the adjacent detector element i+1j.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
493 words
A method of calibrating gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the method comprising the steps of: (a) focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (b) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (c) for each detector element, translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (d) reading the corresponding electrical signal from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (e) focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (f) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (g) for each detector element, translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (h) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (i) selecting a reference detector element; (j) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element by computing the relation: A.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij -V.sub.ij)/(V'.sub.i+1j -V.sub.i+1j)×A.sub.ij wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V' ij is the electrical signal of the reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; V'i+1j is the electrical signal of the adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image signal at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; and A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; (k) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements by computing the relation: O.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij /A.sub.ij -V'.sub.i+1j /A.sub.i+1j)+O.sub.ij A.sub.ij /A.sub.i+1j wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V' ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V' i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; O ij is the offset of the reference detector element ij; and O i+1j is the offset of the adjacent detector element i+1j; and (l) repeating steps (i) and (k) for one or more detector elements of the detector array.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
493 words
A method of calibrating gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the method comprising the steps of: (a) focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (b) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (c) for each detector element, translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (d) reading the corresponding electrical signal from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (e) focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (f) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (g) for each detector element, translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element; (h) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (i) selecting a reference detector element; (j) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element by computing the relation: A.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij -V.sub.ij)/(V'.sub.i+1j -V.sub.i+1j)×A.sub.ij wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V' ij is the electrical signal of the reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; V'i+1j is the electrical signal of the adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image signal at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; and A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; (k) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements by computing the relation: O.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij /A.sub.ij -V'.sub.i+1j /A.sub.i+1j)+O.sub.ij A.sub.ij /A.sub.i+1j wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V' ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V' i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; O ij is the offset of the reference detector element ij; and O i+1j is the offset of the adjacent detector element i+1j; and (l) repeating steps (i) and (k) for one or more detector elements of the detector array.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
328 words
A computer software system for calibrating gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the software system comprising: (a) program instructions for focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (b) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (c) program instructions for translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; (d) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signal from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (e) program instructions for focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (f) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (g) program instructions for translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; (h) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; and (i) program instructions for: (1) selecting a reference detector element; (2) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and the second images at the first and the second power levels, respectively, and (b) the gain of the reference detector element; and (3) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and second image frames at the first power level, (b) the gain of the reference detector element, (c) the offset of the reference detector element, and (d) the gain of said adjacent detector elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
328 words
A computer software system for calibrating gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the software system comprising: (a) program instructions for focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (b) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (c) program instructions for translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; (d) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signal from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (e) program instructions for focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (f) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (g) program instructions for translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; (h) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; and (i) program instructions for: (1) selecting a reference detector element; (2) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and the second images at the first and the second power levels, respectively, and (b) the gain of the reference detector element; and (3) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and second image frames at the first power level, (b) the gain of the reference detector element, (c) the offset of the reference detector element, and (d) the gain of said adjacent detector elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer software system of claim 10 wherein the program instructions in part (i) include program instructions for performing steps (i)(1)-(i)(3) for two or more detector elements in the array.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
169 words
The computer software system of claim 10 wherein the program instruction for determining the gain of the adjacent detector elements includes program instruction for computing the relation: A.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij -V.sub.ij)/(V'.sub.i+1j -V.sub.i+1j)×A.sub.ij wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2 . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V' ij is the electrical signal of the reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; V' i+1j is the electrical signal of the adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image signal at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; and A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
150 words
The computer software system of claim 10 wherein the program instructions for determining the offset of the adjacent detector elements include program instructions for computing the relation: O.sub.i+1j =(V.sub.ij /A.sub.ij -V.sub.i+1j /A.sub.i+1j)+O.sub.ij A.sub.ij /A.sub.i+1j wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; O ij is the offset of the reference detector element ij; and O i+1j is the offset of the adjacent detector element i+1j.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
327 words
A computer software system for calibrating gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the software system comprising: (a) program instructions for focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (b) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (c) program instructions for translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; (d) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signal from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (e) program instructions for focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (f) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (g) program instructions for translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; (h) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (i) program instructions for: (1) selecting a reference detector element; (2) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and the second images at the first and the second power levels, respectively, and (b) the gain of the reference detector element; and (3) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and second image frames at the second power level, (b) the gain of the reference detector element, (c) the offset of the reference detector element, and (d) the gain of said adjacent detector elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
327 words
A computer software system for calibrating gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the software system comprising: (a) program instructions for focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (b) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (c) program instructions for translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; (d) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signal from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (e) program instructions for focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (f) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (g) program instructions for translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; (h) program instructions for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (i) program instructions for: (1) selecting a reference detector element; (2) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and the second images at the first and the second power levels, respectively, and (b) the gain of the reference detector element; and (3) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and second image frames at the second power level, (b) the gain of the reference detector element, (c) the offset of the reference detector element, and (d) the gain of said adjacent detector elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The software system of claim 14 wherein the program instructions in part (i) include program instructions for performing steps (i)(1)-(i)(3) for two or more detector elements in the array.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
168 words
The software system of claim 14 wherein the program instructions for determining the gain of the adjacent detector elements includes program instructions for computing the relation: A.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij -V.sub.ij)/(V'.sub.i+1j -V.sub.i+1j)×A.sub.ij wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V' ij is the electrical signal of the reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; V' i+1j is the electrical signal of the adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image signal at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; and A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
148 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the program instructions for determining the offset of the adjacent detector element include program instructions for computing the relation: O.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij /A.sub.ij -V'.sub.i+1j /A.sub.i+1j)+O.sub.ij A.sub.ij /A.sub.i+1j wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V' ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V' i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; O ij is the offset of the reference detector element ij; and O i+1j is the offset of the adjacent detector element i+1j.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
346 words
A focal plane array calibration system for calibrating the gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the system comprising: (a) an optical assembly for focusing incoming image signals onto the detector array; (b) an input system for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements; and (c) a controller for controlling the optical assembly and the input system for: (1) focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (2) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (3) translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; (4) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (5) focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (6) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (7) translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; and (8) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (d) a processor for: (1) selecting a reference detector element; (2) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and the second images at the first and the second power levels, respectively, and (b) the gain of the reference detector element; (3) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and second image frames at the first power level, (b) the gain of the reference detector element, (c) the offset of the reference detector element, and (d) the gain of said adjacent detector elements.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
346 words
A focal plane array calibration system for calibrating the gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the system comprising: (a) an optical assembly for focusing incoming image signals onto the detector array; (b) an input system for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements; and (c) a controller for controlling the optical assembly and the input system for: (1) focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (2) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (3) translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; (4) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (5) focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (6) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (7) translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; and (8) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (d) a processor for: (1) selecting a reference detector element; (2) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and the second images at the first and the second power levels, respectively, and (b) the gain of the reference detector element; (3) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and second image frames at the first power level, (b) the gain of the reference detector element, (c) the offset of the reference detector element, and (d) the gain of said adjacent detector elements.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
165 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the processor includes means for determining the gain of the adjacent detector elements by computing the relation: A.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij -V.sub.ij)/(V'.sub.i+1j -V.sub.i+1j)×A.sub.ij wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V' ij is the electrical signal of the reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; V' i+1j is the electrical signal of the adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image signal at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; and A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
146 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the processor includes means for determining the offset of the adjacent detector elements by computing the relation: O.sub.i+1j =(V.sub.ij /A.sub.ij -V.sub.i+1j /A.sub.i+1j)+O.sub.ij A.sub.ij /A.sub.i+1j wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2 . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; O ij is the offset of the reference detector element ij; and O i+1j is the offset of the adjacent detector element i+1j.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
346 words
A focal plane array calibration system for calibrating the gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the system comprising: (a) an optical assembly for focusing incoming image signals onto the detector array; (b) an input system for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements; and (c) a controller for controlling the optical assembly and the input system for: (1) focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (2) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (3) translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; (4) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (5) focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (6) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (7) translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; and (8) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (d) a processor for: (1) selecting a reference detector element; (2) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and the second images at the first and the second power levels, respectively, and (b) the gain of the reference detector element; (3) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and second image frames at the second power level, (b) the gain of the reference detector element, (c) the offset of the reference detector element, and (d) the gain of said adjacent detector elements.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
346 words
A focal plane array calibration system for calibrating the gains and offsets for a two-dimensional detector array comprising individual detector elements, the system comprising: (a) an optical assembly for focusing incoming image signals onto the detector array; (b) an input system for reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements; and (c) a controller for controlling the optical assembly and the input system for: (1) focusing a first incoming image signal at a first power level onto the detector array; (2) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the first power level; (3) translating the first incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; (4) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the first power level; (5) focusing a second incoming image signal at a second power level onto the detector array; (6) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a first image frame at the second power level; (7) translating the second incoming image signal by a detector element distance onto an adjacent detector element for each detector element; and (8) reading the corresponding electrical signals from the detector elements as a second image frame at the second power level; (d) a processor for: (1) selecting a reference detector element; (2) determining the gain of detector elements adjacent to the reference detector element from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and the second images at the first and the second power levels, respectively, and (b) the gain of the reference detector element; (3) determining the offset of said adjacent detector elements from: (a) the corresponding electrical signals of the reference detector element and said adjacent detector elements from the first and second image frames at the second power level, (b) the gain of the reference detector element, (c) the offset of the reference detector element, and (d) the gain of said adjacent detector elements.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
165 words
The system of claim 21 wherein the processor includes means for determining the gain of the adjacent detector elements by computing the relation: A.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij -V.sub.ij)/(V'.sub.i+1j -V.sub.i+1j)×A.sub.ij wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the first power level; V' ij is the electrical signal of the reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the first power level; V' i+1j is the electrical signal of the adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image signal at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; and A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
146 words
The system of claim 21 wherein the processor includes means for determining the offset of the adjacent detector elements by computing the relation: O.sub.i+1j =(V'.sub.ij /A.sub.ij -V'.sub.i+1j /A.sub.i+1j)+O.sub.ij A.sub.ij /A.sub.i+1j wherein: N and M define the dimensions of the rows and columns of the detector array, respectively; i=1,2, . . . N-1; j=1,2, . . . M; V' ij is the electrical signal of a reference detector element ij from the first image frame at the second power level; V' i+1j is the electrical signal of an adjacent detector element i+1j from the second image frame at the second power level; A ij is the gain of the reference detector element ij; A i+1j is the gain of the adjacent detector element i+1j; O ij is the offset of the reference detector element ij; and O i+1j is the offset of the adjacent detector element i+1j.
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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) | 2001-08-03 | 2002-02-02 | 2002-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-03 | 2006-02-02 | 2006-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-03 | 2010-02-02 | 2010-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |