IP Library Granted Patent US 10,852,421
Granted Patent B1
US 10,852,421 · App. 16/751,161 · Granted Dec 1, 2020

Sparse phase unwrapping

Inventors: Rick S. Chartrand (Los Alamos, NM); Matthew T. Calef (Los Alamos, NM)
Assignee: Descartes Labs, Inc.
G01S13/9023G06K9/0063G06K9/6206G06T3/0068
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,852,421
App. No.
16/751,161
Granted
Dec 1, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

Sparse phase unwrapping is disclosed. A first image and a second image are received. The first image and the second image are coregistered. The first image and the second image comprise respective phase data. An unwrapped interferogram is generated, including by solving an optimization problem using a nonconvex penalty function, where minimizing the penalty function produces sparse minimizers.

Claims (29)

1. A system, comprising:

a processor configured to:

receive a first image and a second image, wherein the first image and the second image are coregistered and wherein the first image and the second image comprise respective phase data; and

generate an unwrapped interferogram including by solving an optimization problem using a nonconvex penalty function, wherein minimizing the penalty function produces sparse minimizers; and

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein application of the penalty function results in a sparse difference between an estimated gradient and a gradient of an estimated unwrapped phase.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to generate a wrapped differential interferogram that includes per pixel phase differences between pixels appearing in both the first image and the second image.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to detect a subsidence at least in part by using the unwrapped interferogram.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to detect mining activity at least in part by using the unwrapped interferogram.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to detect plowing activity at least in part by using the unwrapped interferogram.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to perform a coregistration the first and the second image.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving a first image and a second image, wherein the first image and the second image are coregistered and wherein the first image and the second image comprise respective phase data; and

generating an unwrapped interferogram including by solving an optimization problem using a nonconvex penalty function, wherein minimizing the penalty function produces sparse minimizers.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein application of the penalty function results in a sparse difference between an estimated gradient and a gradient of an estimated unwrapped phase.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising generating a wrapped differential interferogram that includes per pixel phase differences between pixels appearing in both the first image and the second image.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising detecting a subsidence at least in part by using the unwrapped interferogram.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising detecting mining activity at least in part by using the unwrapped interferogram.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising detecting plowing activity at least in part by using the unwrapped interferogram.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising performing a coregistration of the first and the second image.

15. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a computer to:

receive a first image and a second image, wherein the first image and the second image are coregistered and wherein the first image and the second image comprise respective phase data; and

generate an unwrapped interferogram including by solving an optimization problem using a nonconvex penalty function, wherein minimizing the penalty function produces sparse minimizers.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein application of the penalty function results in a sparse difference between an estimated gradient and a gradient of an estimated unwrapped phase.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause a computer to generate a wrapped differential interferogram that includes per pixel phase differences between pixels appearing in both the first image and the second image.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause a computer to detect a subsidence at least in part by using the unwrapped interferogram.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause a computer to detect mining activity at least in part by using the unwrapped interferogram.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause a computer to detect plowing activity at least in part by using the unwrapped interferogram.

21. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause a computer to perform a coregistration of the first and the second image.

Assignments (8)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2025
From: GEOSYS-INTL, INC.; EARTHDAILY ANALYTICS USA, INC.; EARTHDAILY ANALYTICS CORP.; SKYFOREST INC.
To: TRINITY CAPITAL INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071379/0919 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2025
From: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: DESCARTES LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071276/0248 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2025
From: DESCARTES DEBT PARTNERS, LLC
To: DESCARTES LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071223/0433 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2025
From: DESCARTES LABS, INC.
To: EARTHDAILY ANALYTICS USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 070478/0433 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 27, 2022
From: DESCARTES LABS, INC.
To: DESCARTES DEBT PARTNERS, LLC
Reel/Frame 060647/0896 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2022
From: DESCARTES LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 059324/0563 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S CITY PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 051604 FRAME 0477. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNEE'S CITY IS SANTA FE. Recorded Jul 9, 2020
From: CHARTRAND, RICK S.; CALEF, MATTHEW T.
To: DESCARTES LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053177/0937 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2020
From: CHARTRAND, RICK S.; CALEF, MATTHEW T.
To: DESCARTES LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051604/0477 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,694,329