Lawrence T Wolff

US Patent:

6781127, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

Jun 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/876152

Inventors:

Lawrence B. Wolff - New York NY
Marvin Hutt - Oakland NJ

Assignee:

Equinox Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

H01L 2500

US Classification:

250332, 250330

Abstract:

A sensor fusion system simultaneously acquires at least two images in a subspectrum of the visible/NIR/SWIR (0. 4-2. 0 micron) reflective spectrum and in a subspectrum of the thermal infrared (3. 0-15 micron) spectral regions using respective sensing arrays viewing a common aperture. Although sensed by separate focal plane arrays, radiation enters at the front-end of a commonly shared focusing optical system so that all sensed radiation originates along exactly the same optical path and then is directed to each sensing plane. This provides precise co-registration of reflective and thermal infrared imagery regardless of the depth-of-field range of the scene being imaged, and enables the precise integration of image fusion processing and algorithms to fully exploit the complementary properties of reflected and thermally emitted radiation from a scene.

US Patent:

7406184, Jul 29, 2008

Filed:

Jul 3, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/611859

Inventors:

Lawrence B. Wolff - New York NY, US
Diego A. Socolinsky - Baltimore MD, US
Christopher K. Eveland - Baltimore MD, US
Andrea Selinger - Princeton NJ, US
Joshua D. Neuheisel - Hampstead MD, US

Assignee:

Equinox Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382118, 382128, 382115

Abstract:

A methodology and apparatus is described that incorporates the use of thermal infrared imaging into a complete end-to-end face recognition system. Since thermal infrared primarily images emissive phenomenology there are advantages over video imaging in the reflective domain (e. g. , visible, near-infrared) for face recognition, particularly with respect to image invariance in the presence of varying illumination incident on the subject. On the other hand video cameras in the reflective domain provide important image detail not apparent in thermal infrared imagery. Fusion of thermal infrared imagery with reflective domain (e. g. , visible, near-infrared) imagery provides even further advantages. Embodiments of such systems that incorporate thermal infrared imaging for automatic face recognition are important for access control, verification, identification, and surveillance and monitoring.

US Patent:

7620265, Nov 17, 2009

Filed:

Apr 12, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/103640

Inventors:

Lawrence B. Wolff - New York NY, US
Diego A. Socolinsky - Baltimore MD, US
Christopher K. Eveland - Baltimore MD, US

Assignee:

Equinox Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

G06K 9/40
G06K 9/36

US Classification:

382276, 382254, 382284

Abstract:

A methodology for forming a composite color image fusion from a set of N gray level images takes advantage of the natural decomposition of color spaces into 2-D chromaticity planes and 1-D intensity. This is applied to the color fusion of thermal infrared and reflective domain (e. g. , visible) images whereby chromaticity representation of this fusion is invariant to changes in reflective illumination.

US Patent:

50281380, Jul 2, 1991

Filed:

May 23, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/355657

Inventors:

Lawrence B. Wolff - New York NY

International Classification:

G01J 400

US Classification:

356369

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for determining object characteristics such as shape and relative electrical conductivity and for resolving specular and diffuse components of reflection are disclosed. These object characteristics are determined by measuring the following polarization parameters of reflected light from the object surface: (i) the magnitude of the minimum polarization component, (ii) the magnitude of the maximum polarization component, and (ii) the directional orientation of the minimum polarization component. These parameters are used to ascertain at an object point the specular plane and the ratio of the Fresnel reflection coefficients, perpendicular to parallel, with respect to the specular plane. Both of these are used for the determination of the surface normal at object points. The numerical value of the Fresnel reflection coefficient is used to discriminate between surfaces of varying electrical conductivity, lower values indicating highly conductive metals, higher values indicating poorly conducting dielectrics.

US Patent:

60468114, Apr 4, 2000

Filed:

Jan 11, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/583865

Inventors:

Lawrence B. Wolff - New York NY
Hua Chen - Baltimore MD

Assignee:

The Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore MD

International Classification:

G01J 400

US Classification:

356369

Abstract:

An apparatus for determining electrical conductivity of a surface of an object. The apparatus comprises a first polarizer for polarizing light incident upon the surface of the object. The apparatus also comprises a camera mechanism for receiving the polarized light reflected from the surface of the object and identifying the electrical conductivity of the surface of the object from phase retardance of polarization of the polarized light upon reflection from the surface of the object. The present invention pertains to a method for determining electrical conductivity of a surface of an object. The method comprises the steps of polarizing light. Next there is the step of reflecting the polarized light off the surface of the object. Then there is the step of receiving the reflected polarized light at a camera mechanism. Next there is the step of converting the received polarized light into a corresponding electrical signal with the camera mechanism.