IP Library Granted Patent US 7,373,023
Granted Patent B2
US 7,373,023 · App. 10/706,705 · Granted May 13, 2008

Method and system for generating an image

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,373,023
App. No.
10/706,705
Granted
May 13, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

Generating an image includes receiving a light at sensors, where the light is associated with images. A previous matrix is determined, where the previous matrix includes image information associated with an image. For each sensor, a current image data corresponding to a current image is generated and a current matrix is determined using the previous matrix and the current image data. The current matrix includes image information associated with the current image. A fusion matrix is computed according to the current matrix of each sensor, where the fusion matrix initiates generation of a fused image.

Claims (52)

1. A method for generating an image, comprising:

receiving light at a plurality of sensors, the light associated with a plurality of images;

repeating the following for each sensor of the plurality of sensors:

determining a previous matrix comprising image information associated with a previous image of the plurality of images;

generating current image data corresponding to a current image of the plurality of images; and

determining a current matrix using the previous matrix and the current image data, the current matrix comprising image information associated with the current image; and

computing a fusion matrix by fusing the current matrix of each sensor of the plurality of sensors, the fusion matrix operable to initiate generation of a fused image.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a current matrix further comprises calculating a change matrix indicating a change associated with the previous matrix and the current image data.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the current matrix further comprises determining a difference between the current image data and the previous matrix.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein computing the fusion matrix further comprises computing the fusion matrix only if a change matrix indicates a change associated with a previous matrix and a current matrix.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein computing the fusion matrix further comprises computing the fusion matrix at a fusion processor, the fusion processor comprising a member of the group consisting of a neural net, a plurality of logic operators, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), one or more solid state circuits, and a hardware architecture.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a display matrix according to the fusion matrix, the display matrix operable to generate the fused image.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the fused image generated in accordance with the fusion matrix.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising processing each current matrix to enhance one or more components of each current matrix.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is associated with a different wavelength range.

10. A system for generating an image, comprising:

a plurality of sensors operable to receive a light the tight associated with a plurality of images; and

a processor coupled to the plurality of sensors and operable to:

repeat the following for each sensor of the plurality of sensors:

determine a previous matrix comprising image information associated with a previous image of the plurality of images;

generate current image data corresponding to a current image of the plurality of images; and

determine a current matrix using the previous matrix and the current image data, the current matrix comprising image information associated with the current image; and

compute a fusion matrix by fusing the current matrix of each sensor of the plurality of sensors, the fusion matrix operable to initiate generation of a fused image.

11. The system of claim 10 , the processor further operable to calculate a change matrix indicating a change associated with the previous matrix and the current image data.

12. The system of claim 10 , the processor further operable to determine a difference between the current image data and the previous matrix.

13. The system of claim 10 , the processor further operable to compute the fusion matrix only if a change matrix indicates a change associated with a previous matrix and a current matrix.

14. The system of claim 10 , the processor further operable to compute the fusion matrix at a fusion processor, the fusion processor comprising a member of the group consisting of a neural net, a plurality of logic operators, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), one or mote solid state circuits, and a hardware architecture.

15. The system of claim 10 , the processor further operable to generate a display matrix according to the fusion matrix, the display matrix operable to generate the fused image.

16. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a display coupled to the processor and operable to display the fused image generated in accordance with the fusion matrix.

17. The system of claim 10 , the processor further operable to process each current matrix to enhance one or more components of each current matrix.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is associated with a different wavelength range.

19. A system for generating an image, comprising:

means for receiving light at a plurality of sensors, the light associated with a plurality of images;

means for repeating the following for each sensor of the plurality of sensors:

determining a previous matrix comprising image information associated with a previous image of the plurality of images;

generating current image data corresponding to a current image of the plurality of images; and

determining a current matrix using the previous matrix and the current image data, the current matrix comprising image information associated with the current image; and

means for computing a fusion matrix by fusing the current matrix of each sensor of the plurality of sensors, the fusion matrix operable to initiate generation of a fused image.

20. A method for generating an image, comprising:

receiving a light at a plurality of sensors, the light associated with a plurality of images, each sensor of the plurality of sensors being associated with a particular wavelength range;

repeating the following for each sensor of the plurality of sensors:

determining a previous matrix comprising image information associated with a previous image of the plurality of images;

generating current image data corresponding to a current image of the plurality of images;

determining a current matrix using the previous matrix and the current image data, the current matrix comprising image information associated with the current image, the current matrix determined by:

determining a difference between the current image data and the previous matrix; and

calculating a change matrix using the difference; and

processing each current matrix to enhance once or more components of each current matrix;

computing a fusion matrix by fusing the current matrix of each sensor of the plurality of sensors by:

computing the fusion matrix only if any change matrix indicates a change associated with a previous matrix and a current matrix; and

computing the fusion matrix at a fusion processor, the fusion processor comprising a member of the group consisting of a neural net, a plurality of logic operators, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), solid state circuits, and a hardware architecture, the fusion matrix operable to initiate generation of a fused image;

generating a display matrix according to the fusion matrix, the display matrix operable to generate the fused image; and

displaying the fused image generated in accordance with the fusion matrix.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2011
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN GUIDANCE AND ELECTRONICS COMPANY, INC.
To: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025895/0888 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 22, 2008
From: LITTON SYSTEMS, INC.
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN GUIDANCE AND ELECTRONICS COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 020426/0089 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2003
From: OSTROMEK, TIMOTHY E.; BACARELLA, ANTONIO V.
To: LITTON SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 014701/0504 →