Operator Terminal with Display of Zones of Picture Taking Quality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016266237-A1
Application number	US-201415033528-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 30, 2014
Priority date	Oct 30, 2013
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An operator terminal of a mission system including at least one screen for displaying environmental data of a mobile carrier of a situation analysis system including at least one image sensor and a real-time spatial position of at least one object of interest. This operator terminal includes a module for obtaining at least one piece of position information representative of the position of the carrier and at least one object of interest. A computing module providing at least two different picture taking quality zones, in a predetermined spatial perimeter centered on the position of the carrier. This operator terminal also includes a module for displaying a map of said picture taking quality zones relative to the position of the carrier. The obtaining, computing and display modules are implemented to obtain a quasi-real-time refresh of said displayed map.

First claim

1 . An operator terminal of a mission system comprising at least one screen for displaying environmental data of a mobile carrier of a situation analysis system, said analysis system including at least one image sensor and means for providing a real-time spatial position of at least one object of interest, comprising:
a module for obtaining at least one piece of position information representative of the position of the carrier and of the at least one object of interest, for at least one picture taking mode using a selected image sensor, a computing module able to provide at least two different picture taking quality zones, in a predetermined spatial perimeter centered on the position of the carrier, each picture taking quality zone having an associated quality level, and a module for displaying a map of said picture taking quality zones relative to the position of the carrier, in the predetermined spatial perimeter, said obtaining, computing and display modules being implemented to obtain a quasi-real-time refresh of said displayed map.

2 . The operator terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the image sensor(s) are able to acquire images according to a plurality of picture taking modes, and wherein the picture taking quality zone computing module is implemented for each of the picture taking modes, and wherein the display module is able to display, on the same display screen, all of the picture taking quality zones relative to each of said picture taking modes.

3 . The operator terminal according to claim 2 , comprising, for each picture taking mode, control zones for picture taking by the operator and control zones for automatic picture taking, selectable by the operator and displayed on the same display screen as said map.

4 . The operator terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the display module is further able to display a visual indication relative to the position of the carrier with respect to the relative position of the object of interest.

5 . The operator terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the computing module is able to determine at least one picture taking quality zone having a nominal quality level and at least one picture taking quality zone having a deteriorated quality level.

6 . The operator terminal according to claim 1 , wherein said map shows said object of interest at a constant distance from the carrier, and wherein the display module is able to display actual distance information between the carrier and the object of interest.

7 . The operator terminal according to claim 6 , wherein the display module is able to display a distance remaining to be traveled by the carrier to reach a nominal picture taking quality zone according to a predetermined acquisition mode.

8 . The operator terminal according to claim 6 , wherein the displayed picture taking quality zones are repositioned in the predetermined spatial perimeter substantially in real-time based on the actual distance and the relative orientations between the carrier and the object of interest.

9 . The operator terminal according to claim 8 , wherein the picture taking quality zones are displayed in the form of concentric ring portions, fitted in a circular perimeter centered on the object of interest and limited by an outer circle, and wherein the situation of the concentric rings relative to the outer circle indicates whether the carrier is situated at a sufficient distance from the object of interest to reach a corresponding quality zone.

10 . The operator terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the module for obtaining at least one piece of position information allows obtaining a distance between the carrier and the object of interest and a relative rotation angle between the object of interest and the carrier.

11 . The operator terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the computing module takes outside environment conditions of the carrier or of the object of interest into account to determine the picture taking quality zones.

12 . A mission system including at least one screen for displaying environmental data of a mobile carrier of a situation analysis system, said analysis system including at least one image sensor and means for providing a real-time spatial position of at least one object of interest, comprising an operator terminal according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Thales Sa

Inventors

• Laborde Pierre
• Le Pors Eric

Classifications

• G01S13/865

  Combination of radar systems with lidar systems · CPC title

• G01S7/24 Primary

  the display being orientated or displaced in accordance with movement of object carrying the transmitting and receiving apparatus, e.g. true-motion radar · CPC title

• G01C23/00

  Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration · CPC title

• G01S13/867

  Combination of radar systems with cameras · CPC title

• G01S13/89

  for mapping or imaging · CPC title