Patent ID: 6335526
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: F41G,G02B

Abstract:
An infrared sensor system technique for fusing sensor outputs for display to a user, including sensor outputs from an internetted system, comprising the steps of:providing at least two focal plane array sensors each sensitive to separate bands of radiation with at least one sensor being sensitive to shortwave radiation falling within 1.0-2.0 micron bandwidth; collimating radiation input of a viewed scene onto at least two focal plane arrays; sensing at least two infrared radiation bands wherein at least one of said two infrared radiation bands is shortwave (SW) infrared radiation as sensed radiation; converting said sensed radiation to electrical signals; processing said electrical signals to fuse all bandwidths as electrical signals, provide contrast and edge enhancement, and spatial filtering which is then output as first output signals; receiving sensed location data; processing said sensed location data as second output signals; providing for the receipt of additional inputs from an internetted system to supply location data; processing said received sensor input as third output signals; fusing said first, second and third output signals as a fused output signal to a display; displaying said fused output signal whereby there is produced a viewable scene capable of being observed through covered starlight, fog, and haze, being able to distinguish reflected light, distinguish camouflage from a terrestrial background, detect laser emission at 1.06 and 1.54 micron wavelength, and detect both surface and buried land mines.