Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.

Eastman-kodak Company

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

Infimed, Inc.

Exelis Inc.

Hooshmand Mahmood Kalayeh

John P Spoonhower

Gustavo R Paz-Pujalt

Joseph Lawrence Lippert

Norman A Lopez

Matthew C Severski

Raymond Todd Lines

Michael Stoogenke

Darryl Guy Murdock

Dawn Lenz

A method to stitch images includes the steps of: determining a template window in the first digital image and a target window in the second digital image and extracting selected features from the selected windows and a template in the template window; extracting selected features from within the template at a first resolution; matching the selected features in the target window; extracting selected features from within the template and target window at a second resolution higher than the first resolution; matching the selected features in the target window; performing a first evaluation of the second estimate of the stitching location; blending the second estimate of the stitching location; performing an evaluation of the stitching location; stitching the first digital image and a second digital image using the stitching location to create a stitched image; and saving the stitched image to memory. A system to perform the method is also described.

Image stitching and related method therefor

A method to identify a Region Of Interest (ROI) within an image includes the steps of: reading a digital image; finding predetermined brightness values; analyzing lines near a plurality of outer edges of the digital image; identifying an entire area of the digital image as the ROI if the found brightness values are also found in lines near the plurality of outer edges of the digital image; computing Radon transforms to generate one dimensional (1D) projections of the digital image if the found brightness values are not found in the lines; detecting a set of edges within the 1D projections; selecting edges from the set of edges; validating the selected edges to identify a set of validated edges; computing the ROI from the set of validated edges of the 1D projections; and saving the computed ROI to memory. A system to perform the method is also described.

Imaging auto shutter ROI

Methods and systems for obtaining a target fluid map of a survey area using a differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL) system are provided. Pulse bursts are transmitted toward the survey area, where each pulse burst includes an off-line pulse and at least one on-line pulse. Pulse bursts, each being associated with a measurement point, are received from the survey area. A concentration path length (CPL) corresponding to a respective on-line pulse, a spatial location associated with the CPL, and an error associated with the CPL are determined for each measurement point. The CPL for each measurement point is arranged within the survey area to form the target fluid map.

System and method for multi-target fluid concentration detection and mapping

A multi-line tunable laser system, which uses lasers as light sources to illuminate, identify and or quantify one or more targets based on multi-dimensional spectral characteristics of each target. The system includes a plurality of laser sources, each tunable to emit an electromagnetic wave, and at least one tuning controller for tuning and locking each beam of light to a wavelength of required spectral line-width. The system also includes a transmitter for transmitting each beam of light to illuminate one or more targets, and a receiver for receiving light returning from the targets and converting the returned light to electrical signals for identifying and or quantifying the targets. The system further includes N tunable lasers where, M of the N lasers are each tuned to a wavelength that is partially absorbed by the targets, and L of the N (one or more) of the lasers are each tuned to a wavelength that is absorption-free of the targets.

Multi-line tunable laser system

A method of acquiring data uses multiple sensors in an aircraft. The method includes the steps of: (a) turning ON a DIAL sensor to detect a target of interest during a first flight pass over a region of interest (ROI), wherein the target of interest is a gas or oil pipeline leak; (b) detecting the target of interest using the DIAL sensor; and (c) storing location of the detected target in a look up table (LUT). The method also includes the steps of: (d) during a second flight pass over the ROI, triggering another sensor to turn ON at or about the location stored in the LUT; and (e) confirming presence of the target of interest using both ON-sensors. If necessary, a third flight pass over the ROI is conducted and yet another sensor is triggered to turn ON at or about the location stored in the LUT. Presence of the target of interest is confirmed using all three ON-sensors.

Multi-sensors and differential absorption LIDAR data fusion

A method for improving the accuracy of estimating concentration path length of a target molecule using a differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL) system. In particular, this method allows improved detection of plumes containing the target molecule against inhomogeneous background, such as uncovered ground or ground with various types of cover. In an embodiment of the present invention, spectral surface reflectivity variations are systematically corrected based on interpolation of surface reflectivity measurements of multiple offline beams of different wavelengths, which are relatively close to the online wavelength. In another embodiment, the signal to noise ratio of the received online pulse energy is improved by using multiple laser beams having the online wavelength and the signal to noise ratio of the received pulse energies at an offline wavelength is improved by using multiple laser beams having that offline wavelength.

Ground surface cover type reflectivity variation correction in a differential absorption LIDAR system

An improved method for determining whether a measurement point, measured using a differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL) system, represents a plume point or a non-plume point. Concentration path lengths (CPL's) for a plurality of measurement points are determined. An average non-plume CPL,, is provided. For each measurement point, a standard deviation, CPL, is calculated based on first order error propagation and it is determined that the measurement point represents a non-plume point when the Hooshmand decision rule (HDR) is met. The HDR is given by, where cpl is the corresponding CPL of the measurement point being tested and T is a threshold standard deviation level.

Method for improving the performance accuracy in differential absorption lidar for oil and gas pipeline leak detection and quantification

A method is disclosed of generating multi-resolution images using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) phase history data. A high resolution SAR image may be formed from the phase history data, or a lower resolution SAR image may be formed from a sub-aperture of the phase history data. The multi-resolution images may also be compressed. Compressed multi-resolution images are progressively transmitted to a client until the client receives an image with adequate image quality and/or resolution. Compressed multi-resolution images may also be used for iterative target detection, where images are analyzed by a target detection processor, starting with a lowest resolution image, going to a highest resolution image, until an adequate image of the target or scene is obtained. If a target is not found in the multi-resolution images, a new sub-aperture is chosen on the phase history data, and the target detection process repeats for the new sub-aperture.

Synthetic aperture radar image compression

A system for remote quantitative detection of fluid leaks from a natural gas or oil pipeline by use of an airborne platform; including at least one laser light source for nearly simultaneous illuminating two or more target fluids and a background, wherein the two or more target fluids are characterized by two or more absorption wavelengths, and wherein the background has a different wavelength than either of the two or more target fluids. The illumination source is pointed based on a positioning system while in a geometric area along a path two or more target fluids are scanned for using the illumination sources. A signal detector detects the two or more target fluids using quantitative signal processing. Also included are a controller, a path planning and path finding tool for the positioning of the airborne platform, and a communicator for communicating the presence of the detected leak.

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Pittsford, NY, United States of America

Hooshmand Mahmood Kalayeh