IP Library Granted Patent US 6,861,638
Granted Patent B2
US 6,861,638 · App. 10/224,924 · Granted Mar 1, 2005

Method and system for generating an image having multiple hues

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,861,638
App. No.
10/224,924
Granted
Mar 1, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A technique for generating an image having multiple hues includes filtering first photons at a first wavelength range using a first input filter section of an input filter, and filtering second photons at a second wavelength range using a second input filter section of the input filter. The first photons are directed towards a tube pixel set of a sensor, and the second photons are directed towards the tube pixel set. The first photons and the second photons are detected at the sensor. The first photons are received using a first output filter section of an output filter, and the second photons are received using a second output filter section of the output filter. An image is generated from the first photons and the second photons.

Claims (99)

1. A system for generating an image having a plurality of hues, comprising:

an input filter comprising:

an input obscurant for blocking photons;

a first input filter section operable to filter a plurality of first photons at a first wavelength range; and

a second input filter section operable to filter a plurality of second photons at a second wavelength range;

a sensor comprising a tube pixel set and operable to detect the first photons and the second photons directed towards the tube pixel set;

an output filter comprising:

a first output filter section operable to filter the first photons; and

a second output filter section operable to filter the second photons; and

an output device operable to receive the first photons and the second photons from the output filter, and to generate an image from the first photons and the second photons.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an image intensifier operable to:

multiply the first photons; and

multiply the second photons.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first wavelength range corresponds to a first hue; and

the second wavelength range corresponds to a second hue.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first input lens section of an input lens operable to direct the first photons towards the tube pixel set; and

a second input lens section of the input lens operable to direct the second photons towards the tube pixel set.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a displacement device operable to:

move the first input filter section to direct the first photons towards the tube pixel set; and

move the second input filter section to direct the second photons towards the tube pixel set.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first input filter section is operable to move and to direct the first photons towards the tube pixel set;

the first output filter section is operable to move and to receive the first photons directed towards the tube pixel set;

the second input filter section is operable to move and to direct the second photons towards the tube pixel set; and

the second output filter section is operable to move and to receive the second photons directed towards the tube pixel set.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an input obscurant operable to:

direct the first photons towards the first input filter section; and

direct the second photons towards the second input filter section; and

an output obscurant operable to:

direct the first photons towards the first output filter section; and

direct the second photons towards the second output filter section.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the input filter comprises a plurality of light sensitive elements.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the input filter comprises the input filter sections configured according to a Bayer pattern.

10. A method for generating an image having a plurality of hues, comprising:

providing an input obscurant for blocking photons;

filtering a plurality of first photons at a first wavelength range using a first input filter section of an input filter;

filtering a plurality of second photons at a second wavelength range using a second input filter section of the input filter;

directing the first photons towards a tube pixel set of a sensor;

directing the second photons towards the tube pixel set;

detecting the first photons and the second photons at the sensor;

filtering the first photons using a first output filter section of an output filter;

filtering the second photons using a second output filter section of the output filter; and

generating an image from the first photons and the second photons.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising multiplying the first photons and the second photons at the sensor comprising an image intensifier.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

the first wavelength range corresponds to a first hue; and

the second wavelength range corresponds to a second hue.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

directing the first photons towards the tube pixel set using a first input lens section of an input lens; and

directing the second photons towards the tube pixel set using a second input lens section of the input lens.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

moving the first input filter section to direct the first photons towards the tube pixel set;

moving the first output filter section to receive the first photons directed towards the tube pixel set;

moving the second input filter section to direct the second photons towards the tube pixel set; and

moving the second output filter section to receive the second photons directed towards the tube pixel set.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

moving said input obscurant to direct the first photons towards the first input filter section;

moving an output obscurant to direct the first photons towards the first output filter section;

moving the input obscurant to direct the second photons towards the second input filter section; and

moving the output obscurant to direct the second photons towards the second output filter section.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the input filter comprises the input filter sections configured according to a Bayer pattern.

17. A method for generating an image having a plurality of hues, comprising:

providing an input obscurant for blocking photons;

moving a first input filter section of an input filter to direct a plurality of first photons at a first wavelength range towards a tube pixel set of a sensor;

filtering the first photons using the first input filter section;

detecting the first photons at the sensor;

moving a first output filter section of an output filter to receive the first photons directed towards the tube pixel set;

filtering the first photons musing the first output filter section;

moving a second input filter section of the input filter to direct a plurality of second photons at a second wavelength range towards the tube pixel set;

filtering the second photons using the second input filter section;

detecting the second photons at the sensor;

moving a second output filter section of the output filter to receive the second photons directed towards the tube pixel set;

filtering the second photons using the second output filter section; and

generating an image from the first photons and the second photons.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising multiplying the first photons and the second photons at the sensor comprising an image intensifier.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein:

the first wavelength range corresponds to a first hue; and

the second wavelength range corresponds to a second hue.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

directing the first photons towards the tube pixel set using a first input lens section of an input lens; and

directing the second photons towards the tube pixel set using a second input lens section of the input lens.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the input filter comprises the input filter sections configured according to a Bayer pattern.

22. A method for generating an image having multiple hues, comprising:

moving a first input filter section of an input filter to direct a plurality of first photons at a first wavelength range towards a tube pixel set of an image intensifier, the input filter comprising a plurality of input filter sections configured in a Bayer pattern, the first wavelength range corresponding to a first hue;

directing the first photons towards the first input filter section using a first input lens section of an input lens;

filtering the first photons using the first input filter section;

multiplying the first photons at the image intensifier;

moving a first output filter section of an output filter to receive the first photons directed towards the tube pixel set;

filtering the first photons using the first output filter section;

moving a second input filter section of the input filter to direct a plurality of second photons at a second wavelength range towards the tube pixel set, the second wavelength range corresponding to a second hue;

directing the second photons towards the second input filter section using a second input lens section of the input lens;

filtering the second photons using the second input filter section;

multiplying the second photons at the image intensifier;

moving a second output filter section of the output filter to receive the second photons directed towards the tube pixel set;

filtering the second photons using the second output filter section; and

generating an image from the first photons and the second photons.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO ADD OMITTED NUMBERS FROM THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT, PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 023180, FRAME 0884. Recorded May 16, 2011
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN GUIDANCE AND ELECTRONICS COMPANY, INC.
To: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026423/0191 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE SCHEDULE IN ORIGINAL ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 023180 FRAME 0962. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 3, 2011
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN GUIDANCE AND ELECTRONICS COMPANY, INC.
To: L-3 COMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025897/0345 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2009
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN GUIDANCE AND ELECTRONICS COMPANY, INC.
To: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023180/0962 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2008
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN GUIDANCE AND ELECTRONICS COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 020762/0295 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2002
From: BACARELLA, ANTONIO V.; OSTROMEK, TIMOTHY E.
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 013220/0155 →