Patent ID: 6741740
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: G01N,G06K,G06T

Abstract:
A process for determining at least one candidate spectral endmember that represents a group of N spectra comprising:unmixing the group of N spectra to determine what portion, if any, of each of N spectra comprising the group of N spectra match at least one of at least a first and second spectrum, with the first and second spectrum representing at least a first and a second characteristic expected to be in the group of N spectra; calculating a first metric value for each of the N spectra, wherein the first metric value accounts for a remaining portion of each of the N spectra not matching the at least first and second spectrum; defining a metric value range, wherein the spectra having first metric values within the metric value range are defined as M spectra; comparing each of the M spectra to each of the N spectra to determine the frequency with which each of the M spectra occurs within the N spectra; and calculating a second metric value for each of the M spectra, wherein the second metric value combines the frequency of occurrence of each of the M spectra within the N spectra with a first metric value for each of the M spectra, wherein the M spectra having the largest second metric value is the at least one candidate endmember.