Image pickup system capable of producing correct image signals of an object zone

Abstract: In an image pickup system for use in a craft (11) flying over an object zone which moves independently relative to the craft, first and second electric signals represent first and second partial zones when the craft is at first and second locations at a first time instant and at a second time instant which is later than the first time instant. The first and the second partial zones are a forward partial zone Pf viewed by a first camera unit (13) and a backward partial zone Pb viewed by a second camera unit (14). Due to movement of the object zone, the first and the second partial zones are different by a different zone. Supplied with first and second location signals, produced by a location signal producing unit (15), which represent the first and the second locations, a correcting signal producing unit (16) produces an overall correcting signal representative of the difference zone. By the overall correcting signal, a processing unit (17) processes the first and the second electric signals into first and second image signals for use in producing a stereo image of the object zone. An equivalent of the location signal producing unit may be located in a terrestrial station (20).

Description: This invention relates to an image pickup system for use in combination with a craft, such as a spacecraft and an aircraft, flying over an object zone which is typically on the Earth's surface. Such an image pickup system is particularly useful in a remote sensing system for the Earth. An image pickup system of the type described is used to remotely sense an object zone on board a craft flying over the object zone along a flying direction at a predetermined flight altitude. In a remote sensing system, it is often necessary to pick up a stereo image, such as a stereo topographic image, from the object zone by the use of the image pickup system. In order to provide the stereo image, the object zone should be picked up, along the flying direction at two locations spaced apart from each other, so as to form two optical images of the object zone. A conventional image pickup system such as that described in EP-A-0 135 345 comprises a first signal producing system and a second signal producing system. The first signal producing system produces a first electric signal representative of a first partial zone of the object zone when the craft flies at a first time instant at a first location at which the first partial zone is viewed. The second signal producing system produces a second electric signal representative of a second partial zone viewed in the object zone when the craft flies at a second location at a second time instant which is later than the first time instant. The object zone is typically on the Earth. The craft moves relative to the Earth. In addition, the Earth rotates while the craft moves from the first location to the second location. It is therefore possible to say that the object zone moves independently relative to the craft. As a result, the first and the second partial zones are different by a difference zone. Consequently, the image pickup system is incapable of producing correct image signals for use in producing the stereo image of the object zone. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an image pickup system which is capable of producing correct image signals for use in producing a stereo image of an object zone. This object is achieved by the system as defined by the independent claim 1. Other objects of this invention will become clear as the description proceeds. The invention is further described in connection with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a partially perspective pictorial view of an object zone and a craft for use in describing an image pickup system according to an embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2 is a pictorial side view of the object zone and the craft at two locations for use in describing the image pickup system illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top view of a first partial zone and a second partial zone of the object zone for use in describing the image pickup system illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an another top view of the first partial zone and the second partial zone of the object zone for use in describing the image pickup system illustrated in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the image pickup system illustrated in Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 1, an image pickup system according to a preferred embodiment of this invention is for use in a craft 11 flying over an object zone 12 which is typically on the Earth. Inasmuch as the Earth rotates, the object zone 12 moves with a zone velocity V1 relative to the center of the Earth. The craft 11 is typically a space craft. Alternatively, the craft 11 may be an aircraft. In any event, the craft 11 moves with a craft velocity V2 relative to the center of the Earth. It is therefore possible to say that the object zone 12 moves independently relative to the craft 11. The image pickup system comprises in the craft 11 a first camera unit 13, a second camera unit 14, a location signal producing unit 15, a correcting signal producing unit 16, and a processing unit 17, all of which will become clear as the description proceeds. In addition, a timing controller 18 and a transmitter 19 are installed in the craft 11. The image pickup system may be used in combination with a terrestrial station 20. In this event, an equivalent of the location signal producing unit 15 may be installed in the terrestrial station 20. The first camera unit 13 produces a forward electric signal representative of a forward partial zone Pf of the object zone 12. At the same time, the second camera unit 14 produces a backward electric signal representative of a backward partial zone Pb of the object zone 12. Referring to Fig. 2 in addition to Fig. 1, the craft 11 is depicted at first and second locations L1 and L2. When the craft 11 is at the first location L1 at a first time instant, the forward partial zone Pf is viewed as a first partial zone P1. When the craft 11 is at the second location L2 at a second time instant which is a predetermined time interval later than the first time instant, the backward partial zone Pb is viewed as a second partial zone P2. The first and the second partial zones P1 and P2 will be discussed more in detail in the following. In Figs. 1 and 2, the first camera unit 13 produces the forward electric signal as a first electric signal representative of the first partial zone P1. The first camera unit 13 comprises a first lens system 131 for producing a first image of the first partial zone P1 and a first image processor 132 for processing the first image into the first electric signal. The first lens system 131 includes a lens 1311 having a first focal length for forming the first image. The second camera unit 14 produces the backward electric signal as a second electric signal representative of the second partial zone P2. The second camera unit 14 comprises a second lens system 141 for producing a second image of the second partial zone P2 and a second image processor 142 for processing the second image into the second electric signal. The second lens system 141 includes a lens 1411 having a second focal length for forming the second image. The first and the second focal lengths are equal to each other. The first or the second focal length may therefore be referred to as a common focal length. The object zone 12 moves while the craft 11 moves from the first location L1 to the second location L2. The first and the second partial zones P1 and P2 are therefore different by a difference zone DZ (Fig. 3). Referring to Fig. 4, the first and the second partial zones P1 and P2 partially overlap on each other to leave a first nonoverlapped zone NZ1 in the first partial zone P1 and a second nonoverlapped zone NZ2 in the second partial zone P2. The first and the second nonoverlapped zones NZ1 and NZ2 collectively provide the difference zone DZ described in conjunction with Fig. 3. The first nonoverlapped zone NZ1 has a first area. The second nonoverlapped zone NZ2 has a second area. The difference zone DZ has a collective area. The collective area is equal to a sum of the first area and the second area. Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, the craft 11 views the first partial zone P1 in a first direction from the first location L1 and the second partial zone P2 in a second direction from the second location L2. Being considerably remote from the Earth, the craft 11 has a common space distance from each of the first and the second partial zones P1 and P2. Referring to Fig. 5, the location signal producing unit 15 comprises a first location signal producing circuit 151 and a second location signal producing circuit 152. The first location signal producing circuit 151 produces the first location signal representative of the first location L1 by using the first direction and the common space distance. The second location signal producing circuit 152 produces the second location signal representative of the second location L2 by using the second direction and the common space distance. The correcting signal producing unit 16 is connected to the location signal producing unit 15 and produces an overall correcting signal by calculating a distance quotient of the common focal length by the common space distance and a three-term product of the distance quotient, the zone velocity V1, and the predetermined time interval and by making the overall correcting signal represent the three-term product. It therefore follows that the overall correcting signal specifies the difference zone DZ (Fig. 3). More specifically, the correcting signal producing unit 16 comprises a first correcting signal producing circuit 161 connected to the first location signal producing circuit 151 and a second correcting signal producing circuit 162 connected to the second location signal producing circuit 152. The first correcting signal producing circuit 161 is connected to the first location signal producing circuit 151 and produces the first correcting signal by calculating a distance quotient of the common focal length by the common space distance, a first quotient of the first area by the collective area, and a first four-term product of the distance quotient, the zone velocity V1, the predetermined time interval, and the first quotient and by making the first correcting signal represent the first four-term product. As a result, the first correcting signal specifies the first nonoverlapped zone NZ1 (Fig. 4). The second correcting signal producing circuit 162 is connected to the second location signal producing circuit 152 and produces the second correcting signal by calculating the distance quotient, a second quotient of the second area by the collective area, and a second four-term product of the distance quotient, the zone velocity V1, the predetermined time interval, and the second quotient and by making the second correcting signal represent the second four-term product. As a consequence, the second correcting signal specifies the second nonoverlapped zone NZ2 (Fig. 4). The processing unit 17 is connected to the first and the second cameras 13 and 14 and the correcting signal producing unit 16 and processes by the overall correcting signal the first and the second electric signals into first and second image signals for use in producing a stereo image of the object zone 12. The processing unit 17 comprises a first corrector 171 and a second corrector 172. The first corrector 171 comprises a first RAM 173 connected to the first image processor 132 and a first processing circuit 174 connected to the first correcting signal producing circuit 161 and the first RAM 173. The first processing circuit 174 comprises a first read and write timing controller 1741 connected to the first image processor 132, the first RAM 173, and the timing controller 18 and a first correcting circuit 1742 connected to the first correcting signal producing circuit 161, the first read and write timing controller 1741, and the first RAM 173. The first image processor 132 produces a first write timing signal while producing the first electric signal. The timing controller 18 produces a read timing signal. The first read and write timing controller 1741 is supplied with the first write timing signal and supplies a first write signal to the first RAM 173. Supplied with the first electric signal from the first image processor 132 and with the first write signal, the first RAM 173 memorizes the first electric signal as a first memorized signal. The first memorized signal comprises a first partial portion and a first remaining partial portion which indicate the first nonoverlapped zone NZ1 and a remaining zone of the first partial zone PZ1, respectively. The first read and write timing controller 1741 is supplied with the read timing signal from the timing controller 18 and delivers a first read command signal to the first correcting circuit 1742. Supplied with the first correcting signal from the first correcting signal producing circuit 161 and with the first read command signal, the first correcting circuit 1742 produces a first read control signal which comprises a first inhibit signal and a first read signal. The first inhibit signal is produced while the first correcting circuit 1742 is supplied with the first correcting signal. Supplied with the first inhibit signal, the first RAM 173 is inhibited from producing the first partial portion indicating the first nonoverlapped zone NZ1. Supplied with the first read signal, the first RAM 173 produces the first image signal. The second corrector 172 comprises a second RAM 175 connected to the second image processor 142 and a second processing circuit 176 connected to the second correcting signal producing circuit 162 and the second RAM 176. The second processing circuit 176 comprises a second read and write timing controller 1761 connected to the second image processor 142, the second RAM 175, and the timing controller 18 and a second correcting circuit 1762 connected to the second correcting signal producing circuit 162, the second read and write timing controller 1761, and the second RAM 175. The second image processor 142 produces a second write timing signal while producing the second electric signal. The second read and write timing controller 1761 is supplied with the second write timing signal and supplies a second write signal to the second RAM 175. Supplied with the second electric signal from the second image processor 142 and with the second write signal, the second RAM 175 memorizes the second electric signal as a second memorized signal. The second memorized signal comprises a second partial portion and a second remaining partial portion which indicate the second nonoverlapped zone NZ2 and a remaining zone of the second partial zone PZ2, respectively. The second read and write timing controller 1761 is supplied with the read timing signal from the timing controller 18 and delivers a second read command signal to the second correcting circuit 1762. Supplied with the second correcting signal from the second correcting signal producing circuit 162 and with the second read command signal, the second correcting circuit 1762 produces a second read control signal which comprises a second inhibit signal and a second read signal. The second inhibit signal is produced while the second correcting circuit 1762 is supplied with the second correcting signal. Supplied with the second inhibit signal, the second RAM 175 is inhibited from producing the second partial portion indicating the second nonoverlapped zone NZ2. Supplied with the second read signal, the second RAM 175 produces the second image signal. It is now understood that the timing controller 18 should produce the read timing signal immediately after the first and the second electric signals are entirely memorized in the first and the second RAMs 173 and 175. The transmitter 19 is connected to the first RAM 173, the second RAM 175, and the timing controller 18. The timing controller 18 produces a transmission timing signal for supply to the transmitter 19 while the first and the second RAMs 173 and 175 produce the first and the second image signals. Supplied with the first image signal, the second image signal, and the transmission timing signal, the transmitter 19 transmits the first and the second image signals to the terrestrial station 20 through an antenna 191 (Fig. 1) of the craft 11. Supplied with the first and the second image signals through an antenna 201 (Fig. 1), the terrestrial station 20 produces a stereo image of the object zone 12 by using the first and the second image signals in a usual manner. Alternatively, the stereo image may be produced by a stereo image producing unit (not shown) which is installed in the craft 11. While this invention has thus far been described in conjunction with a single embodiment thereof, it will now be readily possible for those skilled in the art to put this invention into practice in various other manners. For example, the location signal producing unit 15 may be installed in the terrestrial station 20. In this event, the first and the second location signals are supplied to the correcting signal producing unit 16 through the antennas 201 and 191.

Claims: An image pickup system for use in a craft (11) flying over an object zone which is moving with a velocity (V 1 ) independently of the motion of said craft, said image pickup system comprising in said craft: first signal producing means (13) adapted for producing a first electric signal representative of a first partial zone (P f ; P 1 ) of said object zone being a forward view when said craft flies at a first time instant at a first location at which said first partial zone (P f ; P 1 ) is viewed; second signal producing means (14) adapted for producing a second electric signal representative of a second partial zone (P f ; P 2 ) being a backward view of said first partial zone (P f ; P 1 ) viewed in said object zone when said craft flies at a second location at a second time instant which is a predetermined time interval later than said first time instant; wherein said first (13) and second signal producing means (14) comprise first (131) and second optical means (141), respectively, having a common focal length; and processing means (17) for processing said first and second electric signals to produce first and second image signals for combination to produce a stereo image of said object zone ; characterized by correcting signal producing means (16) for producing in response to first and second location signals produced by a location signal producing unit (15) representative of said first and said second locations correcting signals representative of a difference zone between the first (P 1 ) and the second partial zone (P 2 ) caused by said velocity (V 1 ), by calculating a three-term product of the quotient of said common focal length and the distance of the craft from said first (P 1 ) and said second partial zone (P 2 ) respectively, said velocity (V 1 ), and said predetermined time interval ; and further characterized in that said processing means (17) is adapted to inhibit the read-out from storage of those parts of the first and second image signals which represent non-overlap zones in response to respective ones of said connecting signals representative of those parts to produce, said first and said second image signals. An image pickup system as claimed in any of Claims 1, said first and said second partial zones partially overlap each other to leave a first nonoverlapped zone in said first partial zone and a second nonoverlapped zone in said second partial zone, said first and said second nonoverlapped zones collectively providing said difference zone, wherein: said correcting signal producing means is for producing first and second correcting signals representing said first and said second nonoverlapped zones. An image pickup system as claimed in any of Claims 1 or 2, wherein each of said first and said second signal producing means includes a lens having a focal length for forming each of first and second images representative of said first and said second partial zones and image processors for processing said first and said second images into said first and said second electric signals, wherein in use said first nonoverlapped zone has a first area, said second nonoverlapped zone has a second area, said difference zone having a collective area, and wherein said correcting signal producing means comprises: a first correcting signal producing circuit for producing said first correcting signal by calculating the product of said three-term product and the quotient of said first area and said collective area ; and a second correcting signal producing circuit for producing said second correcting signal by calculating the product of said three-term product and the quotient of said second area by said collective area ; An image pickup system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said processing means comprises a first corrector and a second corrector, said first corrector comprising a first memory connected to said first signal producing means for memorizing said first electric signal as a first memorized signal and a first processing circuit connected to said correcting signal producing means and said first memory for processing said first memorized signal by said first correcting signal into said first image signal, said second corrector comprising a second memory connected to said second signal producing means for memorizing said second electric signal as a second memorized signal and a second processing circuit connected to said correcting signal producing means and said second memory for processing said second memorized signal by said second correcting signal into said second image signal. An image pickup system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, said system being adapted to view said first partial zone in a first direction from said first location and to view said second partial zone in a second direction from said second location, wherein said image pickup system further comprises in said craft: first location signal producing means connected to said correcting signal producing means for producing said first location signal in accordance with said first direction and the distance of said craft to the first partial zone; and second location signal producing means connected to said correcting signal producing means for producing said second location signal in compliance with said second direction and the distance of said craft to the second partial zone. An image pickup system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, said system being adapted to view said first partial zone in a first direction from said first location and viewing said second partial zone in a second direction from said second location, wherein said image pickup system further comprises in said terrestrial station: first location signal producing means for producing said first location signal in compliance with said first direction and the distance of said craft to said first partial zone; and second location signal producing means for producing said second location signal in compliance with said second direction and the distance of said craft to said second partial zone.

Inventors: HIRAMATSU MASARU, HIRAMATSU, MASARU, HIRAMATSU, MASARU, C/O NEC CORPORATION
Applicants: NIPPON ELECTRIC CO, NEC CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: G01C11
IPC codes: G01C11, H04N13