Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward circuits for driving one or more laser diodes with a series of current pulses, where the energy required for each current pulse is generated and stored on a pulse-by-pulse basis. Laser-driver circuits in accordance with the present disclosure include a charge-storage inductor that is electrically coupled with a power supply and a charge-storage capacitor that is electrically coupled with a laser-diode string. The electrical coupling between the inductor and capacitor is controlled by one or more switches having on- and off-states that determine whether the inductor is charged by the power supply, charges the capacitor, or whether the charged capacitor generates a current pulse in the laser-diode string. By controlling the states of the switches, the energy provided to the laser-diode string can be controlled on a pulse-by-pulse basis.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward circuits for driving one or more laser diodes with a series of current pulses, where the energy required for each current pulse is generated and stored on a pulse-by-pulse basis. Laser-driver circuits in accordance with the present disclosure include a charge-storage inductor that is electrically coupled with a power supply and a charge-storage capacitor that is electrically coupled with a laser-diode string. The electrical coupling between the inductor and capacitor is controlled by one or more switches having on- and off-states that determine whether the inductor is charged by the power supply, charges the capacitor, or whether the charged capacitor generates a current pulse in the laser-diode string. By controlling the states of the switches, the energy provided to the laser-diode string can be controlled on a pulse-by-pulse basis.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for enhancing images are provided. An input image generated by an imaging device, such as a short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) camera, sensor, or any other imaging device, is processed to produce an input histogram representing the distribution of pixel intensities in the input image. Histogram start and end points are determined, and a variable plateau profile is calculated depending upon the type of enhancement desired. The plateau profile could take on any desired shape or size, and two or more plateau regions could be included in the profile. The input histogram is clipped along the variable plateau profile. A cumulative histogram is constructed from the clipped histogram, and is normalized. The input image is then transformed into an enhanced output image using the normalized cumulative histogram as a look-up table.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for enhancing images are provided. An input image generated by an imaging device, such as a short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) camera, sensor, or any other imaging device, is processed to produce an input histogram representing the distribution of pixel intensities in the input image. Histogram start and end points are determined, and a variable plateau profile is calculated depending upon the type of enhancement desired. The plateau profile could take on any desired shape or size, and two or more plateau regions could be included in the profile. The input histogram is clipped along the variable plateau profile. A cumulative histogram is constructed from the clipped histogram, and is normalized. The input image is then transformed into an enhanced output image using the normalized cumulative histogram as a look-up table.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for enhancing images are provided. An input image generated by an imaging device, such as a short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) camera, sensor, or any other imaging device, is processed to produce an input histogram representing the distribution of pixel intensities in the input image. Histogram start and end points are determined, and a variable plateau profile is calculated depending upon the type of enhancement desired. The plateau profile could take on any desired shape or size, and two or more plateau regions could be included in the profile. The input histogram is clipped along the variable plateau profile. A cumulative histogram is constructed from the clipped histogram, and is normalized. The input image is then transformed into an enhanced output image using the normalized cumulative histogram as a look-up table.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for sensing, sampling and performing calculations on a parameter of a physical quantity at a plurality of remote locations comprising a plurality of remote sensing units and at least one processing unit linked to said plurality of remote sensing units via a two way communication link. Parameters of a physical quantity are sensed and sampled, calculations are performed and accumulated and transmitted, on demand, provided to the processing unit using a plurality of frequency bands one of which is identified as having valid data.