High Speed Image Filtering for Arament Research

The dynamic range of modern image sensors can exceed the range of a video monitor by an order of magnitude or more. This means that fast arid intelligent range compression and image enhancement must be interposed between the sensor and display for effective surveillance, target acquisition, and intelligence gathering. Digital hardware can enhance an image in real time, but the common method for range compression on digital hardware, linear filtering, can severely distort the image. We propose to evaluate designs for high-speed image range compression chips. At Tanner Research, image processors are under development that carry out nonlinear filtering for range compression and image enhancement at video rates. The nonlinear filtering intelligently compresses the range without distortion. We will prepare a design that increases processing speed by an order of magnitude, to 500-1000 frames per second, in the Phase I effort. We will measure the performance limits of the existing processor; results will guide in the design task. In Phase lI, we will fabricate and test the high-speed processor technology.