Camera having distortion correction

Abstract

A lightweight camera is provided that includes a lightweight lens system that has a reduced number of lenses. Reducing the number of lenses produces a lighter camera, but produces a distorted local image. The distorted local image is captured by the lightweight camera, and is preferably transmitted to a remote station. The remote station then performs image processing on the distorted image to remove at least some of the distortion in the image. Preferably, a Massively Parallel Richardson-Lucy (MPRL) algorithm is used to identify and remove distortion from the image. Also, motion, temperature and inter-detector difference distortion is detected and corrected.

1 . A lightweight camera system comprising:
 a remote camera situated in a lightweight micro air vehicle, the remote camera having:
 an infrared detector array; 
 at least one lens having distortion disposed over said detector array that forms a distorted image on said detector array, wherein when said remote camera system has motion relative to a source of infrared radiation, the distorted image resulting from forward translation of camera blur of the image detected by the detector array; 
 a motion detector for detecting an amount of forward translation of camera blur; and 
 a transmitter connected to said detector array and said motion detector; 
   a receiving system situated on the earth, the receiving system having a receiver for receiving wireless signals from said transmitter, and an image processor configured to at least partially correct said distorted image.   
   
   
       2 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 1 , wherein the image processor reduces forward translation of camera blur of the image detected by said detector array. 
   
   
       3 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor situated on said detector array and connected to said transmitter; and   a model having temperature data for the detector array connected to said processor; and   wherein a detector array temperature from said transmitter is adjusted according to temperature data of said model.   
   
   
       4 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 3  wherein:
 said receiver receives individual detector values; and   said processor normalizes the detector values when the individual detectors output different values for the same radiation detected.   
   
   
       5 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 4 , wherein said processor reduces the effects in the image caused by lens defects. 
   
   
       6 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 5 , wherein said camera has a weight less than 15 grams. 
   
   
       7 . A lightweight camera system comprising:
 an integral vacuum package (IVP) camera system;   an accelerometer inertial system;   a transmitter;   receiver electronics;   a motion distortion correction module connected to said receiver electronics;   a processor connected to said motion distortion correction module;   a lens distortion correction module connected to said receiver electronics and said processor; and   wherein said IVP camera system, accelerometer inertial system, and transmitter are on a micro air vehicle, and said receiver electronics are on the earth.   
   
   
       8 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 7 , wherein said IVP camera system, accelerometer inertial system, and transmitter in total weigh less than 15 grams. 
   
   
       9 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 8 , further comprising a temperature compensation module connected to said receiver electronics and said processor. 
   
   
       10 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 9 , further comprising an inter-detector difference correction module connected to said receiver electronics and said processor. 
   
   
       11 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 said processor may output an image sensed by said IVP camera system; and   the image is generally free from motion, temperature, inter-detector and lens distortion.   
   
   
       12 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 7 , wherein said IVP camera system includes at least one lens having a nonplanar focal plane and a substantially planar detector array proximate to the nonplanar focal plane of the lens. 
   
   
       13 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 an image detected by said detector has some nonplanar-to-planar focal plane distortion and said detector has some motion relative to a source of the image resulting in some forward translation of camera blur of the image detected by said detector array;   said accelerometer inertial system has an output providing an indication of an amount of forward translation of camera blur; and   said processor reduces the distortion.   
   
   
       14 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 13 , wherein said processor reduces forward translation of camera blur of the image detected by said detector array. 
   
   
       15 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor situated on said detector array and connected to said transmitter; and   a model having temperature data for the detector array connected to said processor; and   wherein a detector array temperature from said transmitter is adjusted according to temperature data of said model.   
   
   
       16 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 15  wherein:
 said receiver receives individual detector values; and   said processor normalizes the detector values when the individual detectors output different values for the same radiation detected.   
   
   
       17 . The lightweight camera system of  claim 16 , wherein said processor reduces the effects in the image caused by lens defects.