Apparatus and method for simultaneous plural-view image sequences from a single image sensor

摘要

Simultaneous movies of plural portions of a scene are acquired and shown, using one imager with electrooptical directing device to acquire, stepwise, an interleaved (e. g. alternating) sequence of subscene images. Apparatus is ideally in a vehicle: airborne or unmanned, or both. The invention records and transmits (via one data link, with no needed parallel path) the sequence as one image series; best sorts the received sequence into noninterleaved sequences, a separate sequence for each subscene; and shows these as movies. Alternatively, scene portions form a mosaic. Including gyro operation and pointing, the device best gets a new image roughly each 5 to 40 msec or less; or excluding gyros and pointing, 5 to 40 msec by FSM, 1 to 5 by MEMS, 1 to 5 (or 10) by LC, 1 by 2-axis nongimbal scanner and 0.1 to 0.2 by digigimbal. Subscene direction and focal changes best synchronize with frame reception. FSMs best have refractory bearings and electromagnetic pointing.

主权项

1. A method for acquiring and displaying substantially simultaneous motion-picture images of plural portions of a scene, using substantially only a single imaging sensor and a fast electrooptical directing device; said method comprising the steps of:
automatically operating the fast electrooptical directing device, stepwise, to acquire an interleaved sequence of plural subscene images, thereby subdividing the scene into the plural subscene images; recording the interleaved sequence, as a single series of images, for subsequent use; transmitting the interleaved sequence, as a single series of images, via only a single data link with no required parallel path, for subsequent use; automatically sorting the recorded single interleaved image sequence into corresponding plural noninterleaved separate sequences of images, including substantially a separate sequence for each subscene; and separately displaying each of the plural separate sequences respective motion-picture images of the subscenes.