IP Library Granted Patent US 7,098,436
Granted Patent B2
US 7,098,436 · App. 11/068,257 · Granted Aug 29, 2006

Method and system for generating an image having multiple hues

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,098,436
App. No.
11/068,257
Granted
Aug 29, 2006
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 (42)

1. A multi-hue intensified image generator comprising:

an input filter for receiving photons and filtering received photons, said input filter comprising sections for filtering photons of a predetermined hue;

an image intensifier for receiving filtered photons from said input filter, said image intensifier multiplying said photons;

an output obscurant directing photons from said image intensifier;

an output filter for receiving filtered and intensified photons from said image intensifier, said output filter comprising sections for filtering photons of a predetermined hue, said sections movable using a displacement device; and

a multi-hue display device for displaying a multi-hue intensified image comprising a display that displays an image perceived as having multiple hues when said input filter and said output filter are moved at a sufficient frequency.

2. The multi-hue intensified image generator of claim 1 wherein said input filter sections are movable using a displacement device.

3. The multi-hue intensified image generator of claim 1 further comprising:

an input lens comprising sections directing photons onto said input filter sections.

4. The multi-hue intensified image generator of claim 1 wherein said display device comprises:

a phosphor screen for receiving photons from said output filter.

5. The multi-hue intensified image generator of claim 4 wherein said output filter corrects for the spectral characteristics of said phosphor screen.

6. The multi-hue intensified image generator of claim 1 wherein said output filter comprises features for tint control.

7. The multi-hue intensified image generator of claim 1 wherein said image intensifier comprises:

a microchannel plate.

8. The multi-hue intensified image generator of claim 2 wherein said input filter and said output filter are moved approximately 60 times per second.

9. The multi-hue intensified image generator of claim 1 wherein said input filter comprises a sensing array.

10. A method of generating an intensified multi-hue image comprising:

providing a first filter for receiving photons, said first filter comprising sections for filtering received photons of predetermined hues;

providing an image intensifier for receiving filtered photons from said first filter;

providing an output obscurant directing photons from said image intensifier;

providing a second filter for receiving filtered and intensified photons from said image intensifier, said second filter comprising sections for filtering received photons of predetermined hues;

providing an output device for receiving photons from said second filter and generating a displayed image using said received photons; and

moving said first filter and said second filter using at least one displacement device, said first filter and said second filter being moved at a frame rate that generates a displayed image on said phosphor screen perceived as having multiple colors.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said moving occurs approximately 60 times per second.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said providing a first filter comprises providing a first filter comprising a sensing array.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said second filter corrects for the spectral characteristics of said phosphor screen.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said second filter controls tint.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing at least one input lens for directing photons through said first filter.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said output device is selected from the group consisting of:

database, monitor, printer, lens, phosphor screen, and any combination thereof.

17. A multi-hue image intensifier comprising:

means for input filtering received photons;

means for intensifying receiving photons from said means from input filtering, said means comprising a microchannel array;

means for output filtering, said means operable to receive photons from said means for intensifying, said means further comprising an output obscurant directing photons from said means for intensifying;

means for receiving output, said means operable to receive photons from said means for output filtering;

means for moving said input filtering means and said output filtering means.

18. The multi-hue image intensifier of claim 17 further wherein said means for receiving output displays an image.

19. The multi-hue image intensifier of claim 18 wherein said means for moving is operable to move said input filtering means and said output filtering means at a rate sufficient to generate an image on said means for receiving output that is perceived as having multiple hues.

20. The multi-hue image intensifier of claim 17 wherein said means for output filtering corrects for the spectral characteristics of said means for receiving output.

21. The multi-hue image intensifier of claim 17 wherein said means for output filtering comprises means for tint control.

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 020762/0293 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2006
From: BACARELLA, ANTONIO V.; OSTROMEK, TIMOTHY E.
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017301/0644 →