Patents by Inventor Joe V. Petty

Joe V. Petty 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).

  • Patent number: 6943724
    Abstract: A method of tracking a moving object in an image created by use of a synthetic aperture includes identifying a plurality of receive phase centers for an image collector, obtaining a synthetic aperture image using the plurality of receive phase centers, and reading a signature of the moving object based on the synthetic aperture image, where the reading of the signature includes identifying, in the synthetic aperture image, as a function of image collection time, a presence of the moving object. The reading of the signature may also include identifying a changing position of the moving object, and may include associating a plurality of range difference values with respective ones of the plurality of phase centers. A signature of a scatterer may be formed using only its associated ?R-versus-time profile. The presence of a mover in the image may be determined by filtering the image to detect all or part of a signature, or by using one or more signatures to train a neural network to observe the mover directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Fred C. Brace, Joe V. Petty
  • Patent number: 6377206
    Abstract: A method for filtering clutter from a first digital input image is disclosed. Generally, the method includes the steps of applying at least first and second transforms to first digital image data corresponding to the first digital input image, performing an appropriate filtering operation to retain, in first and second transform domains, at least a portion of the transform indications corresponding or at least correlatable to a structure or target in the first digital input image, applying to the remaining transform indications inverse first and second transforms, and processing the filtered first digital input data to produce a single filtered image and/or image data, whereby the target or structure in the first digital input image formerly obscured by the clutter is detectable/recognizable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Joe V. Petty
  • Patent number: 6333986
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting and/or classifying an obscured discrete cultural object and/or an obscured replicated object using image data from an optical, infrared or synthetic aperture radar imaging system is disclosed. Generally, the method and system of the present invention are directed to performing a cepstral analysis on the image data to attentuate the corruption signal in the image data and/or to enhance the discrete cultural object signal and/or the replicated object signature, and displaying an output of the cepstral analysis in the pixel and/or the spatial quefrency domain to detect and/or classify the discrete cultural object and/or the replicated object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Joe V. Petty
  • Patent number: 5959566
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting moving objects using azimuth streaks in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image data are disclosed. The method and system of the present invention are directed to processing amplitude data relating to a SAR image, the first amplitude data having at least first and second indications corresponding to at least a first object moving at a substantially constant linear velocity and clutter, respectively, to separate or filter at least the first indication from the second indication, reducing/altering a spatial frequency power of the clutter corresponding to the second indication relative to a first azimuth streak power of a first azimuth streak corresponding to the first indication, and thresholding a first amplitude of the first azimuth streak to detect the first azimuth streak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Joe V. Petty