Abstract: The method herein images an object repeatedly moving about an axis. The mod uses signals to track the object's position with respect to the axis while a camera views the object. A reflection is cast from the object toward the camera in such a way that the camera scans both the reflection and the object. The camera outputs representations of video lines, which depict parts of the object and the reflection. These video lines have known positions relative to a reference plane, which passes through the image plane of the camera. Certain of the video lines are selected. The selected lines come from a chosen position relative to the reference plane and occur within a chosen time of the position signals. The selected video lines are arrayed according to their particular position signals and are used to compile a planar composite image representing the object's outer periphery. The composite image is conformed to a shape resembling the periphery, thereby creating a three dimensional representation of the object.

Abstract: A new imaging technique increases the effective frame rate of a video cam to a rate as high as one million Hz. In this technique, raw video signals are taken from the camera's sensors before the camera's logic does any signal processing. These signals are sent to an interface unit which selects signal segments for creating a composite image, the segments' size being as small as one or two pixels. Portions of the video signal that are not selected are given a zero value by the interface unit. The video signals are thereafter sent to the camera's signal processing logic, which converts the video signals into signals representing frames comprised of raster scan lines. The selected video signal segments become discrete portions of frames which are collected by a frame grabber. The frame grabber counts the times it has collected each discrete frame portion, determines an average value for each discrete portion, and builds the composite image from the averaged frame portions.

Abstract: The invention is synchronization hardware for assisting the processing of video signals in a high speed imaging system, the hardware having logic circuitry for selecting acceptable pictoral units from within frames of a video signal. The synchronization hardware also has circuits for electronically coordinating a camera, a frame grabber, a host computer for the frame grabber and a flagging signal generator.