Patents by Inventor Chester L. Smitherman
Chester L. Smitherman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9797980Abstract: An imaging sensor system, having a view of a target area comprising: a rigid mount unit having at least two imaging sensors disposed within the mount unit, wherein a first imaging and a second imaging sensor each has a focal axis passing through an aperture in the mount unit, wherein the first imaging sensor generates a first image area comprising a first data array of pixels and the second imaging sensor generates a second image area comprising a second data array of pixels, wherein the first and second imaging sensors are offset to have a first image overlap area in the target area, wherein the first sensors image data bisects the second sensors image data in the first image overlap area.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Visual Intelligence LPInventor: Chester L. Smitherman
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Publication number: 20160313435Abstract: An imaging sensor system, having a view of a target area comprising: a rigid mount unit having at least two imaging sensors disposed within the mount unit, wherein a first imaging and a second imaging sensor each has a focal axis passing through an aperture in the mount unit, wherein the first imaging sensor generates a first image area comprising a first data array of pixels and the second imaging sensor generates a second image area comprising a second data array of pixels, wherein the first and second imaging sensors are offset to have a first image overlap area in the target area, wherein the first sensors image data bisects the second sensors image data in the first image overlap area.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2016Publication date: October 27, 2016Applicant: Visual Intelligence LPInventor: Chester L. Smitherman
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Patent number: 9389298Abstract: An imaging sensor system, adaptably mountable to a vehicle having a view of a target area comprising: a rigid mount unit having at least two imaging sensors disposed within the mount unit, wherein a first imaging and a second imaging sensor each has a focal axis passing through an aperture in the mount unit, wherein the first imaging sensor generates a first image area comprising a first data array of pixels and the second imaging sensor generates a second image area comprising a second data array of pixels, wherein the first and second imaging sensors are offset to have a first image overlap area in the target area, wherein the first sensors image data bisects the second sensors image data in the first image overlap area.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Visual Intelligence LPInventor: Chester L. Smitherman
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Patent number: 8994822Abstract: An imaging sensor system comprising: a mount unit affixed to a vehicle or a platform and having at least three imaging sensors disposed within the mount unit, wherein a first, second and third imaging sensor each has a focal axis passing through an aperture in the mount unit, wherein the first image sensor generates a first image area of the target area comprising a first array of pixels, wherein the second image sensor generates a second image area of the target area comprising a first array of pixels, wherein the first and second imaging sensors are offset to have a first image overlap area in the target area, wherein the first sensors image data bisects the second sensors image data in the first image overlap area.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Visual Intelligence LPInventors: Chester L. Smitherman, Joseph McCoy, James Tilley, Mohan Baro
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Patent number: 8896695Abstract: The present invention provides a camera system having a compound array of imaging sensors disposed in a retinal configuration. The system preferably comprises a concave housing. A first imaging sensor is centrally disposed along the housing. At least one secondary imaging sensor is disposed along the housing, adjacent to the first imaging sensor. The focal axis of the second imaging sensor, in the preferred embodiment, intersects with the focal axis of the first imaging sensor within an intersection area.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2009Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Visual Intelligence LPInventors: Leo J. Peters, III, Chester L. Smitherman
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Patent number: 8483960Abstract: An imaging sensor system comprising: a rigid mount plate affixed to a vehicle; a first rigid mount unit affixed to the mount plate and having at least two imaging sensors disposed within the first mount unit, wherein a first imaging and a second imaging sensor each has a focal axis passing through an aperture in the first mount unit and the mount plate, wherein the first and second imaging sensor each generates a first array of pixels, wherein each array of pixels is at least two dimensional, wherein the first and second imaging sensors are offset to have a first image overlap area in the target area, wherein the first sensors image data bisects the second sensors image data in the first image overlap area.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Visual Intelligence, LPInventor: Chester L. Smitherman
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Publication number: 20130169811Abstract: An imaging sensor system, adaptably mountable to a vehicle having a view of a target area comprising: a rigid mount unit having at least two imaging sensors disposed within the mount unit, wherein a first imaging and a second imaging sensor each has a focal axis passing through an aperture in the mount unit, wherein the first imaging sensor generates a first image area comprising a first data array of pixels and the second imaging sensor generates a second image area comprising a second data array of pixels, wherein the first and second imaging sensors are offset to have a first image overlap area in the target area, wherein the first sensors image data bisects the second sensors image data in the first image overlap area.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2013Publication date: July 4, 2013Inventor: Chester L. Smitherman
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Patent number: 8471907Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a remote imaging array. A first imaging sensor, having a focal axis, is coupled to a housing, having a curvilinear array axis, along the curvilinear array axis. A second imaging sensor, having a focal axis, is coupled to the housing along the curvilinear array axis adjacent to the first imaging sensor, such that the focal axes of the first and second imaging sensors intersect one another at an intersection area. A third imaging sensor, having a focal axis, is coupled to the housing along a curvilinear array axis adjacent to the first imaging sensor, opposite the second imaging sensor, such that the focal axes of the first and third imaging sensors intersect one another at the intersection area. The second and third imaging sensors' fields of view are aligned with target areas opposite their respective positions in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Visual Intelligence, LPInventors: Leo J. Peters, III, Chester L. Smitherman
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Publication number: 20130013185Abstract: An imaging sensor system comprising: a mount unit affixed to a vehicle or a platform and having at least three imaging sensors disposed within the mount unit, wherein a first, second and third imaging sensor each has a focal axis passing through an aperture in the mount unit, wherein the first image sensor generates a first image area of the target area comprising a first array of pixels, wherein the second image sensor generates a second image area of the target area comprising a first array of pixels, wherein the first and second imaging sensors are offset to have a first image overlap area in the target area, wherein the first sensors image data bisects the second sensors image data in the first image overlap area.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: Visual Intelligence, LPInventors: Chester L. Smitherman, Joseph McCoy, James Tilley, Mohan Baro
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Patent number: 8334903Abstract: The present invention provides a camera system having a compound array of imaging sensors disposed in a retinal configuration. The system comprises a concave housing. A first imaging sensor is centrally disposed along the housing. A second imaging sensor is disposed along the housing, adjacent to the first imaging sensor. The focal axis of the second imaging sensor intersects with the focal axis of the first imaging sensor within an intersection area. A third imaging sensor is disposed along the housing, adjacent to the first imaging sensor opposite the second imaging sensor. The third imaging sensor has a focal axis that intersects with the focal axis of the first imaging sensor within the intersection area.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Visual Intelligence, L.P.Inventors: Leo J. Peters, III, Chester L. Smitherman
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Patent number: 7925114Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for mosaicing multiple input images, captured by one or more remote sensors, into a seamless mosaic of an area of interest. Each set of input images captured by the remote sensors within a capture interval are ortho-rectified and mosaiced together into a composite image. Successive composite images, along a given flight path, are then mosaiced together to form a strip. Adjacent strips are then mosaiced together to form a final image of the area of interest.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2009Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Visual Intelligence, LPInventors: Tuy Vu Mai, Chester L. Smitherman
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Patent number: 7893957Abstract: The present invention provides a camera system having a compound array of imaging sensors disposed in a retinal configuration. The system preferably comprises a concave housing. A first imaging sensor is centrally disposed along the housing. At least one secondary imaging sensor is disposed along the housing, adjacent to the first imaging sensor. The focal axis of the second imaging sensor, in the preferred embodiment, intersects with the focal axis of the first imaging sensor within an intersection area.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2002Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Visual Intelligence, LPInventors: Leo J. Peters, III, Chester L. Smitherman
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Publication number: 20100235095Abstract: An imaging sensor system comprising: a rigid mount plate affixed to a vehicle; a first rigid mount unit affixed to the mount plate and having at least two imaging sensors disposed within the first mount unit, wherein a first imaging and a second imaging sensor each has a focal axis passing through an aperture in the first mount unit and the mount plate, wherein the first and second imaging sensor each generates a first array of pixels, wherein each array of pixels is at least two dimensional, wherein the first and second imaging sensors are offset to have a first image overlap area in the target area, wherein the first sensors image data bisects the second sensors image data in the first image overlap area.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Inventor: Chester L. Smitherman
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Patent number: 7725258Abstract: A vehicle based data collection and processing system which may be used to collect various types of data from an aircraft in flight or from other moving vehicles, such as an automobile, a satellite, a train, etc. In various embodiments the system may include: computer console units for controlling vehicle and system operations, global positioning systems communicatively connected to the one or more computer consoles, camera array assemblies for producing an image of a target viewed through an aperture communicatively connected to the one or more computer consoles, attitude measurement units communicatively connected to the one or more computer consoles and the one or more camera array assemblies, and a mosaicing module housed within the one or more computer consoles for gathering raw data from the global positioning system, the attitude measurement unit, and the retinal camera array assembly, and processing the raw data into orthorectified images.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: M7 Visual Intelligence, L.P.Inventor: Chester L. Smitherman
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Publication number: 20100020097Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for mosaicing multiple input images, captured by one or more remote sensors, into a seamless mosaic of an area of interest. Each set of input images captured by the remote sensors within a capture interval are ortho-rectified and mosaiced together into a composite image. Successive composite images, along a given flight path, are then mosaiced together to form a strip. Adjacent strips are then mosaiced together to form a final image of the area of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2009Publication date: January 28, 2010Inventors: Tuy Vu Mai, Chester L Smitherman
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Publication number: 20090322883Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a remote imaging array. A first imaging sensor, having a focal axis, is coupled to a housing, having a curvilinear array axis, along the curvilinear array axis. A second imaging sensor, having a focal axis, is coupled to the housing along the curvilinear array axis adjacent to the first imaging sensor, such that the focal axes of the first and second imaging sensors intersect one another at an intersection area. A third imaging sensor, having a focal axis, is coupled to the housing along a curvilinear array axis adjacent to the first imaging sensor, opposite the second imaging sensor, such that the focal axes of the first and third imaging sensors intersect one another at the intersection area. The second and third imaging sensors' fields of view are aligned with target areas opposite their respective positions in the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Inventors: Leo J. Peters, III, Chester L. Smitherman
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Patent number: 7630579Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for mosaicing multiple input images, captured by one or more remote sensors, into a seamless mosaic of an area of interest. Each set of input images captured by the remote sensors within a capture interval are ortho-rectified and mosaiced together into a composite image. Successive composite images, along a given flight path, are then mosaiced together to form a strip. Adjacent strips are then mosaiced together to form a final image of the area of interest.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2005Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: M7 Visual Intelligence, L.P.Inventors: Tuy Vu Mai, Chester L. Smitherman
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Publication number: 20090295924Abstract: The present invention provides a camera system having a compound array of imaging sensors disposed in a retinal configuration. The system preferably comprises a concave housing. A first imaging sensor is centrally disposed along the housing. At least one secondary imaging sensor is disposed along the housing, adjacent to the first imaging sensor. The focal axis of the second imaging sensor, in the preferred embodiment, intersects with the focal axis of the first imaging sensor within an intersection area.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Inventors: Leo J. Peters, III, Chester L. Smitherman
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Publication number: 20080291280Abstract: The present invention provides a camera system having a compound array of imaging sensors disposed in a retinal configuration. The system comprises a concave housing. A first imaging sensor is centrally disposed along the housing. A second imaging sensor is disposed along the housing, adjacent to the first imaging sensor. The focal axis of the second imaging sensor intersects with the focal axis of the first imaging sensor within an intersection area. A third imaging sensor is disposed along the housing, adjacent to the first imaging sensor opposite the second imaging sensor. The third imaging sensor has a focal axis that intersects with the focal axis of the first imaging sensor within the intersection area.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2007Publication date: November 27, 2008Inventors: Leo J. Peters, III, Chester L. Smitherman
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Patent number: RE49105Abstract: An imaging sensor system, having a view of a target area comprising: a rigid mount unit having at least two imaging sensors disposed within the mount unit, wherein a first imaging and a second imaging sensor each has a focal axis passing through an aperture in the mount unit, wherein the first imaging sensor generates a first image area comprising a first data array of pixels and the second imaging sensor generates a second image area comprising a second data array of pixels, wherein the first and second imaging sensors are offset to have a first image overlap area in the target area, wherein the first sensors image data bisects the second sensors image data in the first image overlap area.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: VI TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Chester L. Smitherman