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A filter for real-time video and still imagery that improves visibility through adverse conditions such as thick fog, smoke, and darkness.

The U.S. Navy seeks to commercialize U.S. Patent Applications 11/952,041 (Low visibility enhancement of visible and thermal imagery for real time video), and 12/336,300 (Low visibility adaptive linear contrast method),

Background

Current vision systems allow users to see up to three times farther in some sub-visibility conditions (smog, dust, smoke, snow, and darkness), providing enhanced real-time views of the surrounding terrain. Such systems are based on  video technology and are primarily used for security and surveillance applications on land, sea, and aerial vehicles. While helpful, these systems cannot penetrate  thick fog and smoke, brown-out conditions caused by dust, and other adverse conditions that compromise user safety and security.

The Technology

SSC Pacific has developed the Adaptive Linear Filter (ALF), an image processing algorithm that uses adaptive image adjustment techniques to filter real-time video and still imagery. By breaking the image into sub-images and analyzing and enhancing each sub-image, ALF produces greater overall image contrast and detail, enhancing images with contrast levels below 2% to levels above 60%. ALF has been extensively tested in various conditions including thick fog, low light (nighttime), and brown-out conditions, resulting in superior images over current market solutions. ALF is suitable for a variety of applications in both professional and consumer imaging and camera markets.

Key Benefits

Development Status

For more information on technology transfer, please contact us at (619) 553–5118 or email ssc_pac_t2@navy.mil  

SD 972, July 2011. SSC Pacific, San Diego, CA 92152–5001. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.