<title>Electron beam image processing recorder</title>

Abstract

Computer-intensive image processing for film recording can be significantly reduced by using the flexibility of a digitally controlled electron beam recorder (EBR) to accomplish radiometric and spatial changes during exposure. While recording, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, radiometric changes can be introduced with a digital gamma exposure control for sensor radiance uniformity corrections, image enhancement techniques which meet the processing application, the exposure media used and final display requirements. All spatial changes can also be accomplished during recording for time displacement errors of the sensor, Dlatform movement and final image display by digital geometric correction control commands. For wide field of view images (20,000 pixels x 20,000 lines) an EBR can eliminate extensive radiometric computer preprocessing for recording hard copy. The image exposure, determined by the processing work station algorithms selected by the operator using the small field of view, workstation softcopy display may be used to digitally control the EBR exposure for recording the very wide field of view. Digital control enables full use of the inherent flexibility of an EBR to record multiple types of sensors thereby maximizing the enhancement needed for the individual sensors.