Bryan J Coon

US Patent:

6373522, Apr 16, 2002

Filed:

Feb 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/773733

Inventors:

Bruce Albert Mathews - Kings Park NY
Bryan Huntington Coon - Hicksville NY

Assignee:

BAE SYSTEMS Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. - Syosset NY

International Classification:

H04N 718

US Classification:

348144, 348208, 348295, 396130, 396236

Abstract:

An electro-optical framing camera forward motion compensation (FMC) system comprising a moving shutter and a full frame focal plane array detector is disclosed. The reconnaissance system is designed to minimize the variation of image motion from a target scene across the focal plane array. The full frame focal plane array, such as a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), is designed to transfer and add the image from pixel to pixel at a predetermined rate of image motion corresponding to the region exposed by the focal plane shutter. The focal plane shutter aperture and velocity are set to predetermined values coordinated with the available illumination. The CCD image transfer rate is set to minimize the smear effects due to image motion in the region of the scene exposed by the focal plane shutter. This rate is variable with line of sight depression angle, aircraft altitude, and aircraft velocity/altitude ratio. Further, a method of FMC utilizes a comparison of a measured light level to a standard value in order to determine the appropriate exposure time and shutter motion rate.

US Patent:

20020149674, Oct 17, 2002

Filed:

Apr 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/121609

Inventors:

Bruce Mathews - Kings Park NY, US
Bryan Coon - Hicksville NY, US

International Classification:

H04N007/18
H04N005/235

US Classification:

348/144000, 348/362000

Abstract:

An electro-optical framing camera forward motion compensation (FMC) system comprising a moving shutter and a full frame focal plane array detector is disclosed. The reconnaissance system is designed to minimize the variation of image motion from a target scene across the focal plane array. The full frame focal plane array, such as a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), is designed to transfer and add the image from pixel to pixel at a predetermined rate of image motion corresponding to the region exposed by the focal plane shutter. The focal plane shutter aperture and velocity are set to predetermined values coordinated with the available illumination. The CCD image transfer rate is set to minimize the smear effects due to image motion in the region of the scene exposed by the focal plane shutter. This rate is variable with line of sight depression angle, aircraft altitude, and aircraft velocity/altitude ratio. Further, a method of FMC utilizes a comparison of a measured light level to a standard value in order to determine the appropriate exposure time and shutter motion rate. An optimal FMC clocking signal is calculated based on image motion equations incorporated in the processing unit of the reconnaissance system.

US Patent:

62560573, Jul 3, 2001

Filed:

May 19, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/080452

Inventors:

Bruce Albert Mathews - Kings Park NY
Bryan Huntington Coon - Hicksville NY

Assignee:

Lockhead Martin Corporation - Syosset NY

International Classification:

H04N 718

US Classification:

348144

Abstract:

An electro-optical framing camera forward motion compensation (FMC) reconnaissance system comprising a moving shutter and a full frame focal plane array detector is designed to minimize the variation of image motion from a target scene across the focal plane array. The full frame focal plane array, such as a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), is designed to transfer and add the image from pixel to pixel at a predetermined rate of image motion corresponding to the region exposed by the focal plane shutter. The focal plane shutter aperture and velocity are set to predetermined values coordinated with the available illumination. The CCD image transfer rate is set to minimize the smear effects due to image motion in the region of the scene exposed by the focal plane shutter. This rate is variable with line of sight depression angle, aircraft altitude, and aircraft velocity/altitude ratio. Further, a method of FMC utilizes a comparison of a measured light level to a standard value in order to determine the appropriate exposure time and shutter motion rate.

US Patent:

57813361, Jul 14, 1998

Filed:

Nov 28, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/563656

Inventors:

Bryan Coon - Hicksville NY
John F. McGee - Allen TX
Neil Sherman - Huntington Bay NY
Lou Montulli - West Babylon NY

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Syosset NY

International Classification:

G02B 1314
G02B 904
G02B 900
G02B 934

US Classification:

359355

Abstract:

Multi-spectral images are detected using a refractive objective lens system. Magnesium oxide (MgO) and calcium fluoride (CaF. sub. 2) lenses are used to image scenes in both the visible and infra-red (IR) spectrums. The inventors have discovered that the combination of magnesium oxide, only recently made available in a pure crystal form, and calcium fluoride can be used to fabricate an objective lens for imaging objects in both the visible and infra-red spectrums. Moreover, the combination of magnesium oxide and calcium fluoride results in a super-achromatic condition across visible and infra-red spectrums. This chromatically-corrected spectral range includes wavelengths between 0. 4 and 5. 9 microns which covers medium-wave IR (MWIR), short-wave IR (SWIR), and the near-IR/visible windows. Combinations of MgO and CaF. sub.

US Patent:

62084593, Mar 27, 2001

Filed:

Jul 8, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/111479

Inventors:

Bryan Coon - Hicksville NY
John F. McGee - Allen TX
Neil Sherman - Huntington Bay NY
Lou Montulli - West Babylon NY

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Syosset NY

International Classification:

G02B13/14;13/18

US Classification:

359355

Abstract:

Multi-spectral images are detected using a refractive objective lens system. Magnesium oxide (MgO) and calcium fluoride (CaF. sub. 2) lenses are used to image scenes in both the visible and infra-red (IR) spectrums. The inventors have discovered that the combination of magnesium oxide, only recently made available in a pure crystal form, and calcium fluoride can be used to fabricate an objective lens for imaging objects in both the visible and infra-red spectrums. Moreover, the combination of magnesium oxide and calcium fluoride results in a super-achromatic condition across visible and infra-red spectrums. This chromatically-corrected spectral range includes wavelengths between 0. 4 and 5. 9 microns which covers medium-wave IR (MWIR), short-wave IR (SWIR), and the near-IR/visible windows. Combinations of MgO and CaF. sub.