Abstract: A method and apparatus enhance visible contrast within an acquired image for display. The contrast enhancement utilizes all N bands of an original N-band spectral image to produce an M-dimensional enhanced image for display. The method creates an enhanced image from an original image in which the visible contrast in the original image is improved. The original image includes pixels, each pixel having N spectral intensities. The display or printer device which must display the relevant information may be limited to a number of bands M which is smaller than N. Maximum contrast of objects is obtained by emphasizing differences in the N-dimensional pixels by as large differences as possible within the dynamic range of the M-band display space. When M=N=3, this means moving pixels in the display space to utilize the full color palette available on a color monitor or printer. When N>M, a mapping from N space to M space must also be accomplished.

Abstract: A method exploits the spectral signature of cloud bases in microwave moisture sounder data to determine cloud base heights. This signature requires the accurate specification of cloud top height, which in a preferred embodiment, comes from the analysis of data provided by an electro-optical sensor (EO) such as the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instrument flown on operational NOAA satellites. The method includes a receiving step in which satellite EO (visible through infrared) and microwave radiance data of a view of the earth's atmosphere is received. The view has both location and time information. In a determining step, cloud top height is determined based on the EO and infrared radiance data. Moisture profiles of the view are retrieved in a retrieving step based on the microwave radiance data. Subsequently, in a determining step, cloud base heights of clouds in the view are determined using cloud top heights as a constraint in the retrieval of moisture profiles with tile microwave data.

Abstract: Stabilization of pointing and stabilization mirror systems is provided by using the inherent moment of inertia of the mirrors. Inertially stabilized mirror systems have mirror orientations and rotation axes such that the mirrors reflect incident radiation parallel to the rotation axes. One mirror is provided for each axis of stabilization. In order to maintain stabilization in space for incident radiation to the mirror, any prior mirrors are provided with rotation axes parallel to the stabilization axis.

Abstract: A flat panel display incorporates an array of color separation microlenses. Each color separation microlens in the array is a single, micro-optical element which disperses color by orders to distinct color spots and focuses these color spots to related liquid crystal sub-pixels located in a common plane. Substantially all of the areas of the color spots fall directly and only on the liquid crystal sub-pixels. Little, if any, light energy is lost by falling outside areas occupied by the individual liquid crystal sub-pixels. Because the color separation microlenses provide the color separation, no color filter is required in the flat panel display. Eliminating the color filters eliminates light losses which are incurred when transmitting light through a color filter. The flat panel display makes more efficient use of light transmitted through the components of the display than was possible with prior art flat panel displays.