Loral Vought Systems Corporation

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lockheed Martin Vought Systems Corp.

Gary Kim Jenkins

Bruno J Evans

Mark A Dodd

Arthur Steven Bornowski

David Collis Williams, Jr

Bruno Jack Evans

David S DuBois

Donald W Nimblett

A sensor assembly for imaging passive infrared (IR) scenes and active laser radar (LADAR) scenes and for generating multi-dimension image data sets, and a method for same. A two-dimensional semiconductor imager sensitive to both passive IR radiation and active LADAR radiation when used in conjunction with subsequent signal processing creates a two-dimension passive image data set and a three-dimension active image data set with common x and y coordinates. The passive image data set is collected substantially proximate in time with the active image data set. The two image data sets are combined to form a multi-dimension image data set with the surface of three-dimensional objects indicating heat emission. The sensor assembly applies to burst illumination LADARs operating at a variety of wavelengths and passive IR detection in the middle wavelength IR (MWIR) or long wavelength IR (LWIR).

Sensor assembly for imaging passive infrared and active LADAR and method for same

A method and apparatus for generating a range image and an intensity image of a target field is disclosed. The range image and the intensity image are fused into a single image that contains range and intensity information. In one embodiment, only a single range band is illuminated with colors in the fused image. This range band can be scrolled throughout the fused image to detect three dimensional features more clearly.

Fused lasar range/intensity image display for a human interpretation of

A method and apparatus for generating sharper and more accurate LADAR intensity images is disclosed. The LADAR system includes an optical transmitter and receiver that generates and scans a laser beam in a target field. A backscatter detector senses the magnitude of the generated laser beam. A signal processing unit uses the magnitude of the transmitted laser beam to adjust the magnitude of received reflections to produce a sharper intensity image.

Ladar intensity image correction for laser output variations

A visual recognition system is disclosed for detecting a target within a scene. A LADAR system and method is employed for scanning laser light signals across a scene having a target to be characterized. Laser light reflected from the target is detected and processed into a three-dimensional image. The three-dimensional image is segmented to separate the target from the overall scene. Substantially, only the segmented target data is either displayed locally or transmitted via a narrow bandwidth transmission medium to a remote site for display. The invention finds particular application in military situations where enemy armor is detected and the segmented version of the armor is transmitted via SINCGARS.

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Arlington, TX, United States of America

Gary Kim Jenkins