Real-time image enhancement for vehicle mounted and man portable display systems
Teresa L. Pace, Harry Lee, Drew Manville, D. Vogel, M. F. Walker, Gene Cloud, J. Puritz · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 2007
It is critical in surveillance applications to be able to extract features in imagery that may be of interest to the viewer at any time of the day or night. Infrared (IR) imagery is ideally suited for producing these types of images. However, even this imagery is not always optimal. Processing the imagery with a local area image operator can enhance additional features and characteristics in the image that provide the viewer with an improved understanding of the scene being observed. This paper discusses the development of two algorithms for image enhancement for infrared imagery using local area processing. The enhancement algorithm extends theory previously developed for medical applications. Algorithm differences addressed include application to IR imagery and to a panning camera rather than still imagery. It also discusses the obstacles encountered and overcome for insertion of this algorithm into a 10" gimbaled midwave infrared imaging system for a variety of real-time processing applications. This technology is directly applicable to driver's vision enhancement systems as well as other night visions systems such as night vision goggles.