Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

Mark R Mallalieu

Michael J Choiniere

Francis Michael Feda

Brian Frank O'Donnell

Egor V Degtiarev

Derek T Robison

Kari M Karwedsky

Brendan P Cirillo

John H Koltookian

Haijun H Hu

Steven David Beck

Michael S Chan

Christopher M Houle

Robert W Constantino

A system for two color image fusion blending co-registered low light level images in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum with thermal infrared images maximizes the information content of the scene by detecting in which of the two image types, IR and visible, there is more structural information and increasing the weight of the pixels in the image type having the most structural information. Additionally, situational awareness is increased by categorizing image information as 'scene' or 'target' and colorizing the target images to highlight target features when raw IR values are above a predetermined threshold. The system utilizes Red, Green and Blue (RGB) planes to convey different information such that for targets the Red plane is used to colorize regions when raw IR exceeds the predetermined threshold. For scene images, the Green plane provides improved situational awareness due to the above weighted blend of the two image types.

Contrast based image fusion

This invention describes a method for operating a weapon targeting system comprising the steps of using a laser to fire a single pulse at a target to obtain a reflected laser pulse; detecting the reflected laser pulse as a signal by a SWIR focal plane; detecting background illumination by using the SWIR focal plane; scene clutter filter and using optical filtering if it is necessary to suppress background illumination.

Laser detection and image fusion system and method

Growing community of inventors

Westford, MA, United States of America

Mark R Mallalieu