Abstract: A portable image enhancement device comprising an optical image sensor, a rangefinder, a parametric control, a central processing unit (CPU), and a user interface. The sensor receives image data for a target object in a tactical scene. The rangefinder continually measures distance from the device to the target object, which may be in motion relative to each other. The parametric control tunes a parametric variable (e.g., spatial frequency, filter shape, orientation) that the CPU uses, along with the potentially-changing target distance, to create custom spatial filters and apply them to create a filtered scene from the tactical scene. Each spatial filter is of a two-dimensional (2D) Fourier-domain type (e.g., high-pass, low-pass, band-pass, band-stop, orientation). A spatial filter, target distance, and parametric variable combination may be stored as a preset filter for subsequent retrieval and application to a newly-input tactical scene. The user interface displays dynamically-tunable filtered scene(s).

Abstract: A mobile three-dimensional sensor configuration is provided with a first sensor of a second type mounted proximate to the first sensor of a first type. A second sensor of the second type is mounted proximate to a second sensor of the first type. The first and second sensors are coupled to a first platform operable to vary the azimuth and elevation of the first and second sensors of the first and second types. The first and second platforms are mounted on a translational drive configured to independently translate the first and second platforms with respect to one another. A controller is configured to receive images sensors of and further configured to create a pair fused images of the first sensors of the first and second type and the second sensors of the first and second type. The controller is still further configured to display the pair of fused images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically assessing a resolution of an optical sensor. An image is obtained from the sensor. The obtained image is thresholded to generate a binary image of black and white pixels using a first threshold value. A target area is selected from the binary image. The first threshold value is increased to generate a second threshold value. The target is thresholded using the second threshold value. At least one pixel is tagged at a center of the target area. Pixels surrounding a tagged pixel are processed, tagging white pixels. If a tagged pixel is at an edge of the target area, an orientation of an object in the target area is determined based on that edge. And, if no pixel is tagged at the edge of the target area, the second threshold value is decreased and the thresholding, tagging, and processing steps are repeated.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for assessing a resolution of an optical sensor. An image is obtained from the optical sensor. A target area is selected from the image. The selected area is subjected to a thresholding process to generate a binary image. Pixels at a center of the binary image are tagged. The remaining pixels of the binary image are looped through, where pixels that are not already tagged, are touching a tagged pixel, and are of the same color of previously tagged pixels are tagged. A plurality of distances associated with each corner of the binary image is calculated from the corner to the nearest tagged pixel in a row or column of pixels. At least two shortest distances of the calculated plurality of distances are selected to determine an orientation of an object defined by the tagged pixels in the generated binary image.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for assessing a resolution of an optical sensor. An image is obtained from the optical sensor. A target area is selected from the image. The selected area is subjected to a thresholding process to generate a binary image. Pixels at a center of the binary image are tagged. The remaining pixels of the binary image are looped through, where pixels that are not already tagged, are touching a tagged pixel, and are of the same color of previously tagged pixels are tagged. A plurality of distances associated with each corner of the binary image is calculated from the corner to the nearest tagged pixel in a row or column of pixels. At least two shortest distances of the calculated plurality of distances are selected to determine an orientation of an object defined by the tagged pixels in the generated binary image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically assessing a resolution of an optical sensor. An image is obtained from the sensor. The obtained image is thresholded to generate a binary image of black and white pixels using a first threshold value. A target area is selected from the binary image. The first threshold value is increased to generate a second threshold value. The target is thresholded using the second threshold value. At least one pixel is tagged at a center of the target area. Pixels surrounding a tagged pixel are processed, tagging white pixels. If a tagged pixel is at an edge of the target area, an orientation of an object in the target area is determined based on that edge. And, if no pixel is tagged at the edge of the target area, the second threshold value is decreased and the thresholding, tagging, and processing steps are repeated.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to assess a resolution of an optical sensor. The method includes placing a target at a distance from a focal plane of the optical sensor. The target is oriented in a first orientation and includes a grid and a plurality of test objects having different sizes and orientations. An image of the target is acquired from the optical sensor. The target grid in the acquired image is identified. Each test object of the plurality of test objects is identified using the identified grid and an orientation of the identified test object is determined. The determined orientations of the identified test objects of the plurality of test objects are compared to a ground truth and presented.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to assess a resolution of an optical sensor. The method includes placing a target at a distance from a focal plane of the optical sensor. The target is oriented in a first orientation and includes a grid and a plurality of test objects having different sizes and orientations. An image of the target is acquired from the optical sensor. The target grid in the acquired image is identified. Each test object of the plurality of test objects is identified using the identified grid and an orientation of the identified test object is determined. The determined orientations of the identified test objects of the plurality of test objects are compared to a ground truth and presented.

Abstract: A new optical imaging process for how to best fuse information from multiple target images into a single target image is described. The process has two primary components. First, rotating, translating and scaling each target image to register or calibrate them against a reference image and, second, determining weighing factors for each thus registered target image to select those images which add value to a final target image. The first component determines optimal rotational and translation matrices by a least squares measure using singular value decomposition. The second component determines weighing factors using correlations and statistical signal analysis techniques.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product are presented for detecting an image. Ring contour images are created by blurring the image, posterizing the blurred image at a plurality of levels and creating the ring contour images from each of the posterized images. Convex hull images are created by creating a plurality of corner images from corners within the image located by at least two different corner algorithms, finding a bounding rectangle that encompasses the ring contour images, cropping the corner images using the bounding rectangle, applying a threshold to the cropped corner images, and creating the convex hull images by generating a convex hull from the corners in each of the cropped corner images. A plurality of triangles is created by fitting a triangle with an orientation to the ring contour images and the convex hull images. Finally the orientation of the triangle is determined from the plurality of triangles.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product are presented for determining an orientation of a Landold C in an image containing a plurality of pixels. A center of the Landolt C is determined. A plurality of rays is extended from the center of the Landolt C radially outward. A plurality of distances is determined, where each distance of the plurality of distances represents a distance from the center of the Landolt C to a darkest pixel along each ray of the plurality of rays. A peak in the plurality of distances is identified. And the orientation of the Landolt C is determined based on the peak in the plurality of distances.

Abstract: A method for registering and fusing time-varying image sources to provide highest possible information rendering to an operator comprising the steps of aligning a plurality of image sources by matching target image to a reference image and minimizing visual registration error in a static sense and selecting target images which are best fused with a reference image using a dynamic, time-varying optimality maximum likelihood decision theory. The maximum likelihood decision theory is modified to account for time-varying using an orthogonal projection technique charactering changing density functions.

Abstract: A quad-emissive display apparatus to provide suitable emissive energy in four spectral bands to provide simultaneous evaluation of sensors having different spectral sensitivities. The apparatus can simultaneously provide four spectral bands of visible (0.4 to 0.7 microns), near infrared (0.7 to 1.0 microns), short wave infrared (1.0 to 3.0 microns) and the long wave infrared (8.0 to 14.0 microns) radiation.

Abstract: A method of distinguishing an object in an image. The method including the steps of detecting an image with an optical device where the image includes at least one object. Identifying at least one object using a central processing unit (CPU) that includes a central processing algorithm (CPA) and uses a majority voting analysis of multiple inputs to analyze at lest one object with the CPA. The image selected by the CPU is then displayed on the optical device.

Abstract: The identification of a specific object in a visual image compromised by the addition of noise, too little or too much light, cluttered with other objects that confuse the user, or having other image defects and using novel techniques that make the image appear more salient to a human operator. Novel techniques include representing both the object to be identified and an appropriate sample of the given data image that has been selected as matrices and comparing the two.

Abstract: A device is described in which a visual image can be enhanced to better recognize different objects that appear in a picture. Means are provided for an operator to manipulate a visual image by adjusting darkness levels within each primary color to embellish the recognition of distinct objects which may appear in the visual rendering. The device may be implemented as a ground-based system where the operator can adjust the algorithm to manipulate the darkness levels of a certain number, N, of pixels. A second implementation can be achieved in a helmet mounted display or glasses donned by an operator.

Abstract: An electromagnetic emissions free optical signal based helicopter landing assistance arrangement wherein helicopter rotor wash dust cloud-caused obfuscation of the intended landing site and other landing threats are overcome. Real time optical sourced data is collected early and used during helicopter approach to the intended landing site. Upgrading of this data for use during dust cloud presence is accomplished with image processing techniques applied in response to such inputs as helicopter flight data. Military use of the invention especially in current theatre conflict environments is contemplated. Dust cloud related landing hazards are disclosed as a significant difficulty in such environments and generate need for the invention.

Abstract: Method for enhancing visual images. An operator manipulates a visual image by adjusting darkness levels within each primary color to embellish the recognition of distinct objects which may appear in the visual rendering. The overall system can be implemented as a ground-based system where the operator can adjust the algorithm to manipulate the darkness levels of a certain number, N, of pixels. A second implementation can be achieved in a helmet mounted display or glasses donned by an operator.