Robert C Krohn

US Patent:

6782334, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

Apr 1, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/404690

Inventors:

Peggi J. Eller - Endicott NY
Robert M. Krohn - Ithaca NY
Douglas N. McMartin - Apalachin NY
Steven J. Pratt - Endwell NY

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G01D 1800

US Classification:

702104, 702 85, 702150, 702153, 358474, 250557

Abstract:

Methods and systems for calibrating and aligning Time Delay Integration (TDI) Charge Coupled Device (CCD) sensors. A TDI sensor for linear imaging (line sensor) is calibrated by generating a two dimensional image from the line sensor, analyzing the two dimensional image, and calibrating the line sensor based on the analysis. An alignment correction can then be generated, the correction applied to the line sensor placement and the line sensor re-tested. A calibration system includes means for generating a two dimensional image from the TDI line sensor, means for analyzing the two dimensional image, and means for calibrating the line sensor based on the analysis of the two dimensional image.

US Patent:

6809330, Oct 26, 2004

Filed:

Dec 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/321608

Inventors:

Robert M. Krohn - Ithaca NY
James S. Howard - Endicott NY
Glenn L. Kehley - Endicott NY
Steven J. Pratt - Endwell NY

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G01N 2186

US Classification:

25055936, 348187, 702 94

Abstract:

A new and improved line scan camera achieves the proper framing of the image field of view by using a first test card to calibrate the true bottom and leading edge portions of the test card which simulate the true bottom and leading portions of an article being scanned or photographed. Still further, the architecture of the electronic chip incorporated within the charge coupled device (CCD) of the camera effectively divides the linear array of pixels into a plurality of channels, and amplifier gain and black offset adjustments are made with respect to exposure levels, characteristic of the pixels disposed at the channel boundaries, under different degrees of input whiteness signals applied to a test card of a predetermined color shade, so as to achieve channel-to-channel seam matching. Subsequently, correction factors are effectively superimposed upon substantially all of the exposure levels characteristic of substantially all of the pixels comprising the line scan of the line scan camera such that true uniform exposure levels are in fact achieved.

US Patent:

7138970, Nov 21, 2006

Filed:

Dec 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/314225

Inventors:

Robert M. Krohn - Ithaca NY, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G09G 3/32
G09G 3/30

US Classification:

345 82, 345 76, 345 77

Abstract:

A method or technique of operating the LED illumination system within a line scan camera comprises the operation of the LED illumination sources at a relatively high gain control level, less than the one hundred percent maximum or acceptable gain level, and a correspondingly reduced duty cycle level, which is less than one hundred percent (100%), so as to effectively reduce the aging of the LEDs and thereby achieve extended service lives for the LEDs. As the LEDs age with usage, whereby their luminosity levels degrade, the duty cycle percentage level is progressively increased until a maximum output or one hundred percent duty cycle percentage level is reached at which time the gain control percentage is progressively increased up until the maximum acceptable gain percentage level. An end-of-life prediction technique or routine is also capable of being derived from the progressively increased gain control percentages so as to enable the replacement of the LED illumination sources at appropriate times.

US Patent:

7391451, Jun 24, 2008

Filed:

Jan 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/339283

Inventors:

Robert M. Krohn - Ithaca NY, US
Steven J. Pratt - Endwell NY, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

H04N 5/202

US Classification:

348254

Abstract:

An apparatus processes a video image. The apparatus includes an imaging device, a frame grabber device, and a host computer. The imaging device () produces a gray level image representing the video image. The frame grabber device conducts preprocessing functions on the gray level image and produces a plurality of image types from the gray level image. The host computer has a memory for storing the plurality of image types. The plurality of image types are transferred directly from the frame grabber device to the memory of the host computer.