IP Library Granted Patent US 11,606,492
Granted Patent B2
US 11,606,492 · App. 17/328,586 · Granted Mar 14, 2023

Auto-focus acquisition for remote flying targets

Inventors: Brian Marcin Camacho (Irvine, CA); Calvin Michael Hareng (Newport Beach, CA); Corey Martin Hass (Costa Mesa, CA); Forrest Nelson Iandola (San Jose, CA); Gokul Ganesh Subramanian (Watertown, MA); Nadav Ben-Haim (Newport Beach, CA); Adnan Esmail (Los Angeles, CA); Kevin Michael Christensen (Irvine, CA)
Assignee: Anduril Industries, Inc.
H04N5/23216G01S13/867H04N5/23296
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,606,492
App. No.
17/328,586
Granted
Mar 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for automatically acquiring focus of remote flying objects (RFOs) includes an interface and processor. The interface is configured to receive a radar data and a lens temperature data. The processor is configured to determine a focal setting for a lens system based at least in part on the radar data and the lens temperature data; and provide the focal setting for the lens system.

Claims (65)

1. A system, comprising:

an interface configured to:

receive a radar data, wherein the radar data comprises an azimuth angle and an elevation angle;

receive a lens temperature data; and

receive an image taken using a focal setting for a lens system in a pointing direction for the lens system; and

a processor configured to:

determine the focal setting for the lens system based at least in part on the radar data and the lens temperature data, wherein the pointing direction is set for the lens system based at least in part on the azimuth angle and the elevation angle;

provide the focal setting for the lens system;

determine that there is an object in the image that is not in focus;

indicate that the object is not in focus; and

change the focal setting for the lens system until the object is in focus in response to determining that the image is not in focus, wherein the focal setting for the lens is determined by scanning in one direction and then in another direction.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radar data comprises a radar range distance.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein determining the focal setting is based at least in part on the radar range distance.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the focal setting is based at least in part on a look up table, a calculation, or a zoom setting.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that there is an object in the image that is in focus and indicate that the object is in focus.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining that the object in the image is in focus uses a neural network classifier or an edge detection algorithm.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the focal setting is determined with a subsystem of the lens system turned off.

8. A system, comprising:

an interface configured to:

receive a radar data, wherein the radar data comprises an azimuth angle and an elevation angle;

receive a lens temperature data; and

receive an image taken using a focal setting for a lens system in a pointing direction for the lens system; and

a processor configured to:

determine the focal setting for the lens system based at least in part on the radar data and the lens temperature data, wherein the pointing direction is set for the lens system based at least in part on the azimuth angle and the elevation angle;

provide the focal setting for the lens system;

determine that an object is unable to be determined in the image; and

indicate that it is unknown whether there is the object in the image.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to change the focal setting of the lens system in response to determining that an object is unable to be determined in the image.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to change a zoom setting of the lens system in response to determining that an object is unable to be determined in the image.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to change a pointing direction of the lens system in response to determining that an object is unable to be determined in the image.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the pointing direction is changed in a search pattern for the object comprising one of the following: a spiral, a square spiral, a raster, an up-down sweep that alternates left of center and right of center, or a Z-shaped pattern.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving a radar data, wherein the radar data comprises an azimuth angle and an elevation angle;

receiving a lens temperature data;

receiving an image taken using a focal setting for a lens system in a pointing direction for the lens system;

determining, using a processor, the focal setting for the lens system based at least in part on the radar data and the lens temperature data, wherein the pointing direction is set for the lens system based at least in part on the azimuth angle and the elevation angle;

providing the focal setting for the lens system;

determining that there is an object in the image that is not in focus;

indicating that the object is not in focus; and

changing the focal setting for the lens system until the object is in focus in response to determining that the object in the image is not in focus, wherein the focal setting for the lens is determined by scanning in one direction and then in another direction.

14. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a radar data, wherein the radar data comprises an azimuth angle and an elevation angle;

receiving a lens temperature data;

receiving an image taken using a focal setting for a lens system in a pointing direction for the lens system;

determining, using a processor, the focal setting for the lens system based at least in part on the radar data and the lens temperature data, wherein the pointing direction is set for the lens system based at least in part on the azimuth angle and the elevation angle;

providing the focal setting for the lens system;

determining that there is an object in the image that is not in focus;

indicating that the object is not in focus; and

changing the focal setting for the lens system until the object is in focus in response to determining that the object in the image is not in focus, wherein the focal setting for the lens is determined by scanning in one direction and then in another direction.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving a radar data, wherein the radar data comprises an azimuth angle and an elevation angle;

receiving a lens temperature data;

receiving an image taken using a focal setting for a lens system in a pointing direction for the lens system;

determining, using a processor, the focal setting for the lens system based at least in part on the radar data and the lens temperature data, wherein the pointing direction is set for the lens system based at least in part on the azimuth angle and the elevation angle;

providing, using the processor, the focal setting for the lens system;

determining, using the processor, that an object is unable to be determined in the image; and

indicating, using the processor, that it is unknown whether there is the object in the image.

16. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a radar data, wherein the radar data comprises an azimuth angle and an elevation angle;

receiving a lens temperature data;

receiving an image taken using a focal setting for a lens system in a pointing direction for the lens system;

determining the focal setting for the lens system based at least in part on the radar data and the lens temperature data, wherein the pointing direction is set for the lens system based at least in part on the azimuth angle and the elevation angle;

providing the focal setting for the lens system;

determining that an object is unable to be determined in the image; and

indicating that it is unknown whether there is the object in the image.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: ANDURIL INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068526/0728 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2021
From: CAMACHO, BRIAN MARCIN; HARENG, CALVIN MICHAEL; HASS, COREY MARTIN; IANDOLA, FORREST NELSON; SUBRAMANIAN, GOKUL GANESH; BEN-HAIM, NADAV; ESMAIL, ADNAN; CHRISTENSEN, KEVIN MICHAEL
To: ANDURIL INDUSTRIES INC.
Reel/Frame 057137/0446 →
Continuity (1)
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