Patent ID: 6813380
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A method of determining hyperspectral line pairs which will indicate a target of interest in a target area, wherein images are taken of a known target in a target area through two different wavelength filters, constituting a hyperspectral line pair, and the obtained images are subtracted yielding a resultant image, comprising the steps of:obtaining values of pixels of said resultant image along vertical and horizontal lines which pass through said target to obtain Y and X profiles of pixel values; analyzing a first of said profiles to extract peak signal, peak noise and mean noise values within said profile; determining if a predetermined relationship exists between said peak signal, peak noise and mean noise values, and if not, selecting a new hyperspectral line pair to obtain a new resultant image for analysis, and if said relationship exists, creating first and second user defined metrics relating to the difference in predetermined ones of said peak signal, peak noise and mean noise values; testing said first and second user defined metrics to see if both exceed predetermined respective first and second thresholds, and if not, selecting a new hyperspectral line pair to obtain a new resultant image for analysis, and if both said thresholds are exceeded, creating a third metric which is a ratio of said first and second metrics; testing said third metric to see if it exceeds a predetermined third threshold, and if not, selecting a new hyperspectral line pair to obtain a new resultant image for analysis, and if said third threshold is exceeded, performing the above steps on the second of said profiles; and recording said hyperspectral line pairs which result in said third threshold being exceeded for both the Y and X profile analysis, as candidates for future use in target identification.