US5852492A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fused lasar range/intensity image display for a human interpretation of lasar data
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1996-06-07
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Granted: 1998-12-22
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Expires: 2016-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for generating a range image and an intensity image of a target field is disclosed. The range image and the intensity image are fused into a single image that contains range and intensity information. In one embodiment, only a single range band is illuminated with colors in the fused image. This range band can be scrolled throughout the fused image to detect three dimensional features more clearly.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald W. Nimblett
- 👤 Bruno J. Evans
- 👤 Gary K. Jenkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/48; G01S7/51; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/08; G01S17/10; G01S17/88; G01S17/89
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of generating target information, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a three-dimensional image; (b) generating a two-dimensional image; (c) combining the three-dimensional image and the two-dimensional image to generate a fused image; and (d) scrolling the three-dimensional image through the two-dimensional image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of generating target information, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a three-dimensional image; (b) generating a two-dimensional image; (c) combining the three-dimensional image and the two-dimensional image to generate a fused image; and (d) scrolling the three-dimensional image through the two-dimensional image.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of generating target information, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a three-dimensional image; (b) generating a two-dimensional image; (c) combining the three-dimensional image and the two-dimensional image to generate a fused image; and (e) scrolling the three-dimensional image through the two-dimensional image, wherein the three-dimensional image is displayed as a color band in the fused image.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of generating target information, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a three-dimensional image; (b) generating a two-dimensional image; (c) combining the three-dimensional image and the two-dimensional image to generate a fused image; and (e) scrolling the three-dimensional image through the two-dimensional image, wherein the three-dimensional image is displayed as a color band in the fused image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
In a LADAR system adapted to generate a three-dimensional range image and a two-dimensional intensity image, the improvement comprising: means for combining the three-dimensional range image and the two-dimensional intensity image into a fused image; and means for scrolling the three-dimensional range image through the two-dimensional intensity image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
In a LADAR system adapted to generate a three-dimensional range image and a two-dimensional intensity image, the improvement comprising: means for combining the three-dimensional range image and the two-dimensional intensity image into a fused image; and means for scrolling the three-dimensional range image through the two-dimensional intensity image.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of generating target information, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a three-dimensional range image; (b) generating a two-dimensional intensity image; (c) combining the three-dimensional range image and the two-dimensional intensity image to generate a fused image; and (d) scrolling the three-dimensional range image through the two-dimensional intensity image.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of generating target information, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a three-dimensional range image; (b) generating a two-dimensional intensity image; (c) combining the three-dimensional range image and the two-dimensional intensity image to generate a fused image; and (d) scrolling the three-dimensional range image through the two-dimensional intensity image.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of generating target information, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a three-dimensional range image; (b) generating a two-dimensional intensity image; (c) combining the three-dimensional range image and the two-dimensional intensity image to generate a fused image; and (d) scrolling the three-dimensional range image through the two-dimensional intensity image; wherein the three-dimensional range image is displayed as a color band when the three-dimensional range image is scrolled through the two-dimensional intensity image, and wherein the three-dimensional range image displayed at a given time as the color band in the fused image corresponds to an interval of ranges, and colors in the color band indicate respective ranges within the interval of ranges.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of generating target information, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a three-dimensional range image; (b) generating a two-dimensional intensity image; (c) combining the three-dimensional range image and the two-dimensional intensity image to generate a fused image; and (d) scrolling the three-dimensional range image through the two-dimensional intensity image; wherein the three-dimensional range image is displayed as a color band when the three-dimensional range image is scrolled through the two-dimensional intensity image, and wherein the three-dimensional range image displayed at a given time as the color band in the fused image corresponds to an interval of ranges, and colors in the color band indicate respective ranges within the interval of ranges.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
53 words
An apparatus for generating target information, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a three-dimensional range image; means for generating a two-dimensional intensity image; means for combining the three-dimensional range image and the two-dimensional intensity image to generate a fused image; and means for scrolling the three-dimensional range image through the two-dimensional intensity image.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
53 words
An apparatus for generating target information, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a three-dimensional range image; means for generating a two-dimensional intensity image; means for combining the three-dimensional range image and the two-dimensional intensity image to generate a fused image; and means for scrolling the three-dimensional range image through the two-dimensional intensity image.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of generating target information, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a range image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value; (b) generating an intensity image; (c) combining the range image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value with the intensity image to generate a fused image; and (d) scrolling the range image through the intensity image.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of generating target information, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a range image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value; (b) generating an intensity image; (c) combining the range image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value with the intensity image to generate a fused image; and (d) scrolling the range image through the intensity image.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of generating target information, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a range image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value; (b) generating a two-dimensional intensity image; (c) combining the range image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value with the two-dimensional intensity image to generate a fused image; (d) scrolling the range image through the two-dimensional intensity image; and (e) displaying the range image as a color band when the range image is scrolled through the two-dimensional intensity image wherein the range image displayed at a given time as the color band in the fused image corresponds to an interval of ranges, and colors in the color band indicate respective ranges within the interval of ranges.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of generating target information, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a range image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value; (b) generating a two-dimensional intensity image; (c) combining the range image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value with the two-dimensional intensity image to generate a fused image; (d) scrolling the range image through the two-dimensional intensity image; and (e) displaying the range image as a color band when the range image is scrolled through the two-dimensional intensity image wherein the range image displayed at a given time as the color band in the fused image corresponds to an interval of ranges, and colors in the color band indicate respective ranges within the interval of ranges.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for generating target information, the apparatus comprising: means for generating an image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value; means for generating a two-dimensional intensity image; means for combining the image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value with the two-dimensional intensity image to generate a fused image; and means for scrolling the image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value through the two-dimensional intensity image.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for generating target information, the apparatus comprising: means for generating an image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value; means for generating a two-dimensional intensity image; means for combining the image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value with the two-dimensional intensity image to generate a fused image; and means for scrolling the image wherein each pixel has an x, y, and z value through the two-dimensional intensity image.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for collecting and displaying target information comprising the steps of: scanning a target field; collecting range data and reflectivity data for each location in the target field; generating a three-dimensional image from the range data; generating a two-dimensional image from the reflectivity data; combining the three-dimensional image and the two-dimensional image to form a fused image of the target field; and scrolling the three-dimensional image through the two-dimensional image.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for collecting and displaying target information comprising the steps of: scanning a target field; collecting range data and reflectivity data for each location in the target field; generating a three-dimensional image from the range data; generating a two-dimensional image from the reflectivity data; combining the three-dimensional image and the two-dimensional image to form a fused image of the target field; and scrolling the three-dimensional image through the two-dimensional image.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for collecting and displaying target information comprising the steps of: scanning a target field; collecting range data and reflectivity data for each location in the target field; generating a three-dimensional image from the range data; generating a two-dimensional image from the reflectivity data; combining the three-dimensional image and the two-dimensional image to form a fused image of the target field; scrolling the three-dimensional image through the two-dimensional image; and displaying the three-dimensional image as a color band when the three-dimensional image is scrolled through the two-dimensional image and wherein the three-dimensional image displayed at a given time as the color band in the fused image corresponds to an interval of ranges, and colors in the color band indicate respective ranges within the interval of ranges.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for collecting and displaying target information comprising the steps of: scanning a target field; collecting range data and reflectivity data for each location in the target field; generating a three-dimensional image from the range data; generating a two-dimensional image from the reflectivity data; combining the three-dimensional image and the two-dimensional image to form a fused image of the target field; scrolling the three-dimensional image through the two-dimensional image; and displaying the three-dimensional image as a color band when the three-dimensional image is scrolled through the two-dimensional image and wherein the three-dimensional image displayed at a given time as the color band in the fused image corresponds to an interval of ranges, and colors in the color band indicate respective ranges within the interval of ranges.
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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) | 2001-12-21 | 2002-06-22 | 2002-12-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-21 | 2006-06-22 | 2006-12-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-21 | 2010-06-22 | 2010-12-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |