Patents by Inventor Stuart Martin Winn

Stuart Martin Winn 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: 9143709
    Abstract: A system of non-uniformity correction (NUC) for a pixel in an imaging array includes: a storage module for storing (a) a first gain coefficient for correcting a gain error of the pixel and (b) multiple damping factors, including a first damping factor, for adjusting the first gain coefficient, in response to multiple respective light levels that the pixel senses during operation. Also included is a NUC corrector module for receiving a first intensity value from the pixel in response to a first light level. The NUC corrector module extracts the first gain coefficient and a first damping factor from the storage module, and then corrects the first intensity value of the pixel using the (a) first gain coefficient and (b) first damping factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart Martin Winn
  • Patent number: 8824828
    Abstract: A method of fusing two images includes adjusting contrast of (a) a visual image and (b) a thermal image. Also included is modifying the adjusted contrast of the thermal image to form output brightness levels, by using a transformation curve, and then displaying both (a) the brightness levels of the thermal image and (b) the adjusted contrast of the visual image. Modifying the adjusted contrast of the thermal image includes using a V-curve as the transformation curve, in which the V-curve includes similar maximum output brightness levels at the coldest and hottest relative temperatures, respectively. The V-curve also includes a minimum output brightness level at a midpoint between the coldest and hottest relative temperatures. Furthermore, the method assigns different hues to the intensity values of the thermal image, ranging from coldest to hottest relative temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart Martin Winn
  • Patent number: 8774553
    Abstract: A method of enhancing an image includes: dividing the input image into multiple tiles; and constructing a respective histogram for each respective multiple tile. The method further includes: dividing each respective histogram into multiple portions, in which each portion represents a count of pixels spanning across pixel intensity value bands. The method also includes: constructing a respective cumulative distribution function (CDF) for each of the multiple portions; and transforming each of the multiple portions using the respective CDF. Each histogram may be divided, as an example, into two portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart Martin Winn
  • Patent number: 8774554
    Abstract: A method of enhancing an image. This includes the steps of: dividing the image into multiple tiles and constructing a histogram for each tile, wherein the histogram represents a distribution of pixel intensity values in each tile. In addition, the method applies a bias value to the histogram and a plateau value to the histogram. A cumulative histogram is constructed after applying the bias value and the plateau value to the histogram. The method transforms each pixel in the image, by weighing four cumulative histograms, respectively, in four adjacent and closest tiles to the pixel under consideration. The pixel under consideration is modified based on a weighted cumulative histogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart Martin Winn