| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080204570 | Event Multiplexer For Managing The Capture of Images - An image capture system for capturing images of an object, such as the Earth. The image capture system includes a moving platform, at least two image capture devices, a position system, an event multiplexer and a computer system. The image capture devices are mounted to the moving platform. Each image capture device has a sensor for capturing an image and an event channel providing an event signal indicating the capturing of an image by the sensor. The position system records data indicative of a position as a function of time related to the moving platform. The event multiplexer has at least two image capture inputs and at least one output port. Each image capture input receives event signals from the event channel of one of the image capture devices. The event multiplexer outputs information indicative of an order of events indicated by the event signals, and identification of image capture devices providing the event signals. The computer system receives and stores the information indicative of the order of events indicated by the event signals, and identification of image capture devices providing the event signals. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080231700 | Computer System for Continuous Oblique Panning - A computer system for continuously panningoblique images. More particularly, the computer system uses a methodology whereby separate oblique images are presented in a manner that allows a user to maintain an understanding of the relationship of specific features between different oblique images when panning. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080273753 | System for Detecting Image Abnormalities - An image capture system for capturing images of an object, the image capture system comprising a moving platform such as an airplane, one or more image capture devices mounted to the moving platform, and a detection computer. The image capture device has a sensor for capturing an image. The detection computer executes an abnormality detection algorithm for detecting an abnormality in an image immediately after the image is captured and then automatically and immediately causing a re-shoot of the image. Alternatively, the detection computer sends a signal to the flight management software executed on a computer system to automatically schedule a re-shoot of the image. When the moving platform is an airplane, the detection computer schedules a re-shoot of the image such that the image is retaken before landing the airplane. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090097744 | System and Process for Color-Balancing a Series of Oblique Images - An automated process for color-balancing a series of oblique images captured from one or more positions and from one or more orientations. The automated process includes the step of selecting a series of color-balanced images to use as reference images. Then, on an oblique image by image basis (1) a portion(s) of a reference image(s) that overlaps the oblique image is located, (2) multiple color-balancing transformations are created that approximately matches the color distribution of the oblique image to the color distribution of the overlapping portion(s) of the reference image(s), (3) pixels in the oblique image are transformed according to the multiple color-balancing transformations created for that oblique image; and (4) the transformed pixel value is transformed in the oblique image or a copy of the oblique image. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20100034483 | Cut-line steering methods for forming a mosaic image of a geographical area - A method for automatically steering mosaic cut lines along preferred routes to form an output mosaic image includes the step of creating an assignment map corresponding to the output mosaic image where each pixel has an initial designation of unassigned. Then, each pixel of the assignment map that intersects the preferred routes is marked as being a Preferred Cut Line pixel to divide the Assignment Map into one or more regions. For each region, a search is conducted to locate one or more source images that completely cover that region. If multiple source images completely covering the region are located, the method uses a Selection Heuristic to determine quality of coverage, and then designates each pixel in that region as being assigned to the source image determined to be best by the Selection Heuristic. For any remaining unassigned regions, the method searches for two or more source images whose combined footprint completely covers the region, and for each set of two or more combined images, a Pairing Heuristic is used for determining quality of coverage. Each pixel in the region is designated as being assigned to the two or more combined images determined best by the Pairing Heuristic. Then, the Preferred Cut Line pixels are redesignated to match the image assignments of their bounded regions, and the output mosaic image is formed by contributing pixel values from the source images based upon the designations set forth in the assignment map. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20110102461 | Mosaic oblique images and methods of making and using same - A system, including a computer system running image processing software, receives an identification of a desired area to be imaged and collected into an oblique-mosaic image. The computer system creates a mathematical model of a virtual camera having a sensor higher in elevation from which the source oblique images were captured and looking down at an oblique angle, the mathematical model having an oblique-mosaic pixel map for the sensor of the desired area encompassing multiple source images. The computer system assigns a surface location to each pixel included in the oblique-mosaic pixel map and selects source oblique images of the geographic coordinates captured at an oblique angle and compass direction similar to the oblique angle and compass direction of the virtual camera. The computer system reprojects at least one source oblique image pixel of the area to be imaged for each pixel included in the oblique-mosaic pixel map to create the oblique-mosaic image. | 05-05-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090096884 | Method and Apparatus for Capturing, Geolocating and Measuring Oblique Images - A computerized system for displaying, geolocating, and taking measurements from captured oblique images includes a data file accessible by the computer system. The data file includes a plurality of image files corresponding to a plurality of captured oblique images, and positional data corresponding to the images. Image display and analysis software is executed by the system for reading the data file and displaying at least a portion of the captured oblique images. The software retrieves the positional data for one or more user-selected points on the displayed image, and calculates a separation distance between any two or more selected points. The separation distance calculation is user-selectable to determine various parameters including linear distance between, area encompassed within, relative elevation of, and height difference between selected points. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20110091075 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAPTURING, GEOLOCATING AND MEASURING OBLIQUE IMAGES - A computerized system for displaying and making measurements based upon captured oblique images. The system includes a computer system executing image display and analysis software. The software reads a plurality of captured oblique images having corresponding geo-location data and a data table storing ground plane data that approximates at least a portion of the terrain depicted within the captured oblique images. The executed software causes the computer system to receive a starting point selected by a user, receive an end point selected by the user and calculate a desired measurement between the starting and end points dependent upon the geo-location data and ground plane data. The desired measurement is selected from a group consisting of a distance measuring mode, a height measuring mode, and a relative elevation measuring mode. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110091076 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAPTURING, GEOLOCATING AND MEASURING OBLIQUE IMAGES - A computerized system having a computer system storing a database of captured oblique images having corresponding geo-location data. The computerized system also has a data table storing ground plane data that approximates at least a portion of the terrain depicted within the captured oblique images. The computer system further has computer executable logic that when executed by a processor causes the computer system to receive a selection of a geographic point from a user, search the database to find images that contain the selected point, and make the images available to the user. | 04-21-2011 |
