SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING LIGHT SOURCES
A method for detecting light sources, including capturing an image including a sub-infrared light emitter, applying a filter to a pixel of the captured image to isolate a signal strength of a range of frequencies, and comparing the signal strength of the filtered pixel to an expected signal strength of a background spectra for the range of frequencies. As a result of a difference between the signal strength of the filtered pixel and the expected signal strength exceeding a predetermined threshold, the method includes identifying the pixel as corresponding to a light emitter. As a result of the difference between the signal strength of the filtered pixel and the expected signal strength not a predetermined threshold, the method includes identifying the pixel as not corresponding to a light emitter.
1 . A method comprising:
capturing an image including a sub-infrared light emitter;
applying a filter to a pixel of the captured image to isolate a signal strength of a range of frequencies;
comparing the signal strength of the filtered pixel to an expected signal strength of a background spectra for the range of frequencies; and
as a result of a difference between the signal strength of the filtered pixel and the expected signal strength exceeding a predetermined threshold, identifying the pixel as corresponding to a light emitter; or
as a result of the difference between the signal strength of the filtered pixel and the expected signal strength not a predetermined threshold, identifying the pixel as not corresponding to a light emitter.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
analyzing a spectral radiance of the light emitter and identifying a spectral peak of the light emitter; and
utilizing a range of frequencies corresponding to the spectral peak in applying the filter.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein more than one spectral peak is identified, the method further comprising applying a plurality of filters to the pixel, each of the plurality of filters configured to isolate a signal strength of a range of frequencies corresponding to one of the spectral peaks.
4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
analyzing a spectral radiance of the light emitter and identifying a spectral trough of the light emitter; and
applying a filter to the pixel of the captured image to isolate a signal strength of a range of frequencies corresponding to the spectral trough.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
repeating the steps of applying, comparing, and identifying for each of a plurality of pixels of the captured image; and
generating a bitmap image wherein pixels corresponding to a light emitter are assigned a first value and pixels not corresponding to a light emitter are assigned a second value.
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
overlaying the bitmap image on the captured image; and
projecting the overlaid image as a heads-up display including indications of the light emitters.
7 . A system comprising:
an image sensor configured to capture an image including a sub-infrared light emitter;
a memory configured to store the captured image;
a processor coupled to the image sensor and the memory, the processor being configured to:
receive the captured image and apply a filter to a pixel of the captured image to isolate a signal strength of a range of frequencies;
compare the signal strength of the filtered pixel to an expected signal strength of a background spectra for the range of frequencies; and
as a result of a difference between the signal strength of the filtered pixel and the expected signal strength exceeding a predetermined threshold, identify the pixel as corresponding to a light emitter; or
as a result of the difference between the signal strength of the filtered pixel and the expected signal strength not a predetermined threshold, identify the pixel as not corresponding to a light emitter.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
analyze a spectral radiance of the light emitter and identify a spectral peak of the light emitter; and
utilize a range of frequencies corresponding to the spectral peak when the filter is applied.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein more than one spectral peak is identified, and the processor is further configured to apply a plurality of filters to the pixel, each of the plurality of filters is configured to isolate a signal strength of a range of frequencies corresponding to one of the spectral peaks.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
analyze a spectral radiance of the light emitter and identifying a spectral trough of the light emitter; and
apply a filter to the pixel of the captured image to isolate a signal strength of a range of frequencies corresponding to the spectral trough.
11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
repeat the steps to apply, compare, and identify light emitters for each of a plurality of pixels of the captured image; and
generate a bitmap image wherein pixels corresponding to a light emitter are assigned a first value and pixels not corresponding to a light emitter are assigned a second value.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
overlay the bitmap image on the captured image; and
cause a heads-up display to project the overlaid image including indications of the light emitters.
13 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
receive a captured image including a sub-infrared light emitter;
apply a filter to a pixel of the captured image to isolate a signal strength of a range of frequencies;
compare the signal strength of the filtered pixel to an expected signal strength of a background spectra for the range of frequencies; and
as a result of a difference between the signal strength of the filtered pixel and the expected signal strength exceeding a predetermined threshold, identify the pixel as corresponding to a light emitter; or
as a result of the difference between the signal strength of the filtered pixel and the expected signal strength not a predetermined threshold, identify the pixel as not corresponding to a light emitter.
14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
analyze a spectral radiance of the light emitter and identify a spectral peak of the light emitter; and
utilize a range of frequencies corresponding to the spectral peak when the filter is applied.
15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to apply a plurality of filters to the pixel, each of the plurality of filters configured to isolate a signal strength of a range of frequencies corresponding to an identified spectral peak of a spectral radiance of the light emitter.
16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
analyze a spectral radiance of the light emitter and identifying a spectral trough of the light emitter; and
apply a filter to the pixel of the captured image to isolate a signal strength of a range of frequencies corresponding to the spectral trough.
17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
repeat the steps to apply, compare, and identify light emitters for each of a plurality of pixels of the captured image; and
generate a bitmap image wherein pixels corresponding to a light emitter are assigned a first value and pixels not corresponding to a light emitter are assigned a second value.
18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
overlay the bitmap image on the captured image; and
cause a heads-up display to project the overlaid image including indications of the light emitters.