Abstract: A system (14') for processing pixel video data having a selectable number of bits is provided. The system (14') comprises first, second and third video processors (20), (22) and (24). The first video processor (20) receives and processes pixel data of a luminance video signal. The second video processor (22) may receive and process pixel data of a chrominance video signal and may generate one of first, second and third video signal outputs. The third video processor (24) may process the chrominance video signal and may also generate at least two of the output video signals.

Abstract: A multi-format display system including hardware and algorithms for digital and High Definition Television. The system includes a light source (120), a tuner/preprocessor unit (114), a processor unit (116), a spatial light modulator (118), and a display surface (128). The processor unit can scale and format the data for a number of standardized-format video broadcast signals, and can perform additional interpolation to eliminate artifacts.

Abstract: An image processor (10) is provided in which imaging data obtained by an image sensor (12) is processed for purposes of detecting motion. An optical flow field generator (16) processes the image data to provide condition number-based smoothed optical flow vectors, and stores those smoothed vectors in memory (18). The optical flow field stored in memory (18) is accessed and further processed by analyzer (20) for purposes of providing users with information on the motion of objects in the image plane of image sensor (12). Such user information may be displayed on a monitor (22).

Abstract: An SLM-based video receiver (10) receives a video input on a field-by-field basis at a signal interface unit (11) and passes the input to a processor (12). The processor (12) performs analog-to-digital conversion if the pixel data is analog and also performs other enhancements to prepare the pixel data for loading into a video memory (14). Pixel data from the processor (12), representing a field of pixel data, is stored into the memory (14) for loading into rows of pixel elements of a spatial light modulator (16). The spatial light modulator (16) receives the pixel data in rows. The addressing functions of the spatial light modulator (16) are used to generate additional display rows of pixel data per field. Thus, the SLM-based video receiver (10) displays a video frame having more lines than the field of pixel data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing optical flow obtains a first image of a first spectral region of a field of view, obtains a second image of a second spectral region of the field of view, and processes the images to obtain the optical flow of the field of view. The first and second spectral regions are non-identical, as, for example, the visible and infrared bandwidths.

Abstract: A method for using a computer-based imaging system, which may be in motion, to observe a moving object and determine its motion. The imaging system is used to obtain at least two images separated by a known time interval. The apparent motion of the observed object is expressed in terms of its true optical flow parameters with coefficients that represent the camera motion, projection geometry, and time interval. The result is a system of equations that may be solved for the true optical flow parameters.

Abstract: A method and system for range detection using a passive infrared sensing device (10) is disclosed. The method includes determining a region (35,38) on a moving object, such as an automobile (13, 36, 37), the region (35, 38) having a size characteristic of the object and emitting energy (14) characteristic of the object. The next step is to characterize the region by a plurality of feature points (31, 32, 33, 34) and sense the energy emitting from the feature points. The next step is to calculate the distance between the sensing device (10) and the moving object as a function of the feature points. The method has application in adaptive cruise control for automobiles (13, 36, 37). The method includes the use of perspective projection formulae to determine the distance between the sensing device (10) and the moving object 13, 36, 37). To smooth measurements to each other, one embodiment of the method includes the use of an Euler predictor to integrate measurements across measurement firmness.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for generating characteristics of a surface using an analysis of the infrared image of the surface. A heat balance equation is generated and a technique is presented for solving the equation to generate the absorptivity and conductivity indices of the surface. These indices are matched against a data base of indices of various surfaces to achieve material identification. An embodiment is disclosed in which the indices are used to predict surface appearance in the infrared image for different points in time.