THE (Sanitized) IMAGE ENHANCEMENT DEVICE (CONTRACT(Sanitized), TASK ORDER #1)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04747A000100070004-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 20, 2000
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: August 29, 1963
• Content Type: MF

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29 August 1963
MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant for Plans and Development
THROUGH Chief, Development Branch
Image Enha,ncemertt ]7evice (Contrast
25X1A ~~ 5X1A Task rder #1)
REFERENCE ~Proposal "Laser Optical Printer Program" dated
12 April 1963
25X1A
1. This memorandum discusses the subject Image Enhancement Device .and
a proposal to study the chasacte~'istics of the device
.with a. projectdd plan for improving the Enhancers output by replacing its
slow scan CRT display with a. Laser output.
2. Image Enhancer - The original concept of the enhancer was to produce
an item of equipment capable of performing a. limited (three-level) power
spectrum analysis of photographic imagery and ctf reconstituting the images
in an enhanced form. The primary objective was to render small, low contrast
targets more perceivable than in original transparencies. This was to be
accomplished electronically by inc~'ea,sing the amplitude modulation of high
frequencies and suppression of low frequencies contained in low contrast
imagery.
3, E_nha.ncer qutput - It was initially planned to include two outputs?
One wa.s to be a TV Kinescope display for real-time viewing and to facilitate
selective adjustment of the degree of enhancement. The second was to provide
an exposed film output as a permanent record of considerably higher resolution.
and readability than the Kinescope display.
The plan to provide a T~' Kinescope display was abandoned eaxly in the
program because the- extremely slow input scan rate rendered this plan entirely
infeasible, even for electrostatic storage tube applications. Several other
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concepts far accomplishment of the original objectives were tried ar a.t least
studied. All failed to meet the requirements for orie or more reasons and
were abaxsdoned.
~-. ~`ina.l Enhancer ~3esign - In the final enhancer design a. single output
is produced a.s an extremely slaw scan on a. C~tT. (Horizontal - 5 scans per
second -- vertiea.l - ~. scan per 12 minutes). This image sears is photographed
with a, Balaroid camera, and requires twelve minutes to produce a. complete
photographic exposure. The system may be described a.s follows:
a.. The optical system employe two light sources to provide two
separate scanning spots. One is a lOC~ watt mercury vapr~ s~us~ce, while
the other is a. ~5d watt projection source. Their respective condes~i.er
optics image the light upon s~pt masks and through color filters to
produce a? small blue-green spot a.nd a somewhat larger yellow spot. Both
are required fc~r scaxsrsing the image. EaBh of the spats is collimated.
These two collimated and colored beams a.re mixed by a diehroic mirror.
The single two-color beam is again collimated and then reflected from
a rocking mirror which provides for deflection. of the spot for scanning
of the negative. The mirror oscillates about two perpendicular axes to
provide .the respective harizonta.l and vertical scans. The horizontal.
oscillation rate is 5 scans per second, The vertical oscillation rate
is 1 scan iri l~ minutes. After the two-color beam passes through the
film i-t is collected by a. lens axsd directed to a. second dichroic .mirror.
This mirror re separates the two respective coi.ored beams and transmits
one and deflects the other. The two respective colored beams are a.ga,in
filtered a.nd impinge an separate photomultiplier tubes.
b. At this point the light signals a.re converted to electrical
signals. These signals a.re modulated in correspondence with the densities
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slaw-scars raster designed to produce an enhanced putput picture.
5. Two-S~iat Cance~t - As previously described, the image is scarsned
by two spots of differing wavelength. One is of high frequency, blue-green
in color, a.nd ha,s a. spot size of 25u. The second spot is of low frequency,.
yellow in c~alor, with a. spot size of 2500u.
a.. According to the concept described by the contractor, the. small
spot looks at a. picture element of particular interest, while the large
spot hooks at surrounding picture elements. By electronic manipulation,
the difference between the fine detail and its surroundings a,re made to
constitute the enhanced electrical signals at the output. The signals
obtained from the PM2" s a.re split into three basic components; low,
medium and high.-frequency elements that can be sepa.r4tely massipulated.
These a.re selectively varied in amplitude modulation by the operator,
to achieve the degree of enhancement desired. The electronic circuit
is designed to automatically increase the gain of high frequency signals
and to reduce the gain. of the low frequencies. Following separate
amplification and indiviclua.Yly controYable amplification channels,
the three components a.re reconstituted to provide the final enhanced
signal output. By these means it is said that high-frequency Fine
deta.il~ information can be displayed at a. higher contrast against its
background, than. in the original image.
6. discussion:- The instrument. dic~cussed herein ha.s proved to be an
operational failure. This fact is generally agreed upon by a.ll concerned,
including the contractor and the design. engineers. It can be said however,
that a. very great effort wa.s made by the cantra,ctor, axsd even though this
effort wa.s not successful, the information gained should be quite useful in
future related efforts,.
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a. Final images produced by Pala.roid photography were badly degraded,
of poor contrast a.nd poor resolution. The reasons far the failure s.re
too numerous to discuss fully. However, the mare important. rea.sans a.re
enumerated below:
(l~ No immediate access display wa,s provided. Hence the operator
ha.d no way of knowing when the desired degree of enhancement ha.d been.
achieved. This wa.s unquestionably the most serious deficiency of a11.
(2) The scan rate wa,s too low. The-time from start of scan to
output display in print farm was 13 minutes, even by pola.raid.photography.
The harizonta,l scan rate wa,s 5 per sec. The vertical rate tiaas one scan
per l2 minutes. This time 1a.g is prohibitive in a. device of this type..
The contractor wa,s unable to devise a mechanisca.l-optical scanning system
capable of scanning a,t ors acceptable rate.
(3) The instrument employed fifteen functiana.l stages from the light
sources to the output. Each contributed some loss in quality of the
final output.
(~+). The light sources were of insufficient intensity. Tt is known
that image noise varies inversely by the square root of intensity. Since
only small paints of light were utilized it cars be assumed that the
deficiency of light intensity a.t the source substantially contributed
to the output degradation.
(5). At the conception of the program very little was knowrs about
the parameters of image enhancement.
(6) The s,~t sizes were fa.r too large far transfer of high frequency
images. The small spat was 25 axsd the large spot 2500u at the film.
stage. A 25u spot could achieve a.theoretica.l transfer of only ~+0 lpmm.
This is assuming that na other losses occurred in the system. Such wa,s
far from true.
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Proposal - The referenced
25X1A 7.
- proposal wa,s submitted on the presumption that the proprietary 1
system of laser beam modulation and scanning could be adapted to the
Enhancer a.s a successful, output stage.
a.. Their proposal is excellent and describes features of laser
laser beam would produce a
These two surfaces when reflecting, ~
frequency modulation and scanning that appear quite feasible anal well
worth exploiting.
b. ~,e_ proposed. frequency modulation method. makes use of two
Piezoelectric transduceiSS. Each consists of two crystals. bonded together
and used a.s a. mirror mount. 'T`hey passers a. property whereby an impressed
voltage across the cgysta.l will. cause it to expand or contract g~epending
upon the polarity of the signal impressed upon it. When driven by
madula.ted electrical signals from suitable inputs these produce motion
of their respective mirror surfaces. By this means, modulated electrical
signals from two transducers a.re canve~ ed to madula.ted light beams.
modulation of that beam corresponding to density variations in the original
negative, provided the original scanner performed- a. faithful scanning
function.
c, ~e_propased method for final scanning makes rise of a. Bimorph
Piezoelectric crystal that possesses the unique capability of deflecting
light beams in X and Y directions when driven by electrical signals Exam
a, suitable source.
25X1A
d. ~~ Proposal. was based on an assumption that the
25X1A -Enhancer produces a. high quality modulated eleetriea,l input.
Tt wa.s further assumed that the enhancer (input signal) could be used to
drive the Pie~olectric crystals, which would in turn modulate the output
light beam for producing a.fina.l photographic print. Such is not exactly
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the case however.
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e . The pr me unc oz~ o the n
c~Q4-~at merely
an output print but an output print that Yia,s been enhanced. 'T'hat is,
a. print that had its information characteristics changed to render it
more readable than in a normal form. Far this reason. the input of the
enhancer should be considered as those signals produced by the enhancer
after they have been electronically manipulated (enha.nced~. Since the
signals described above a.re near the output stage they contain several
generations raf degra.da.tion discussed earlier herein. Therefore, s:ny
high quality laser output stage making use of these signals would only
reconstitute axx image with all the degradations of the pa,xent system.
f. The input Pram the enhancer could be taken directly from the
two photomultiplier tubes. If this were the case, the signals would be
prohibitively degraded far reasons previously stated and would carry
the added disadvantage of requiring to provide the enhancement stage.
In other , it a,ppea.rs conclusive that there is nv point in the
present enhancer from which high quality input. signals could be taken.
g. per baps the mast important drawback in the program is brought
about by the prhibitively slow scan rate of the
The scan rate of the output laser can be na faster than the input of the
enhancer. In fact it must be precisely synchronized with it. For this
reason, even if-t~e signals from~n~er ~uffored zero loss the system
would. be of little or no value without also providing an i~rmiediate
readout. gtherwise, the operator would have no way of selecting the
proper degree of enhancement and would see the result only after a, 13
minute wait, dust a.s in the present enhancer.
h. In view of the limitations of the - Enhancer
which '~-
proposal is a, bit too
presumptuous. This of course was brought about by th lack of information
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concerning its characteristics. Furthermore; the title "Laser Optical.
printer Pr"ogram" may lead one to believe it is in competition with the
r~
"Coherent Light Enlarger Program , even though such is not
the case. 25X1A
8. The foregoing notwithstanding; does
have superigr capabilities in laser applicatiarss and ha.s proposed unique
modulationa:nd scanning principles of marked potential. These should be
exploited to the fullest. However, to avoid possible future disappointments,
any program that involves possible additional development of the -. Enhancer
sht~uld be undertaken on a realistic basis and not an the illusion that a
usable instrument would result by mere replacement. of its output stage.
a.. Therefgre, th proposal should be reoriented
to moxe nearly reflect its research nature. The initial phase of the program
should be strgngly directed toward ways in which lasers can: be applied to
image enhancement, a.nd should give .due recognition to the risks invglved as
well as possible alteratives. 25X1A
b. There is na doubt that the enhancer developed by the_
ould be of value in the proposed-program and shoo 25X1A
be made available to them. In addition,. the on-call. servic3es of a.
esign engineer show-d be made available during the initial stages
of the program.
~. Conclusions: It is concluded that: 25X1A
a.. The successful coupling of a. laser output stage to th
Enhancer is very questionable.
b. The enhancer device a.nd the knowledge gained in its development
would be very helpful tc- in their proposed program a.nd should be made
available to-them a,lang with the limited services of a, design engineer.
25X1A
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c. The title of the proposed prograan should be changed to more
a,ecurately describe the program.
d. A Ia,ser enhancement research. program similar to that proposed
by. would be in consonance with present and future photographic exploi-
tation objectiy~s and should be pursued.
1Q. RECOI~lENDATI4NS - It is recommended that: 25X1A
a.. A laser enhancement research px?ogram be awarded to th
but that their
proposal of l~ Apri1 1963 be reoriented to mare accuxa,te~~escribe the objectives.
b. The existing Enhancer be shipped to the -
25X1A
plant for any use that can be made of it. 25X1A
c. A simultaneous contract be awa,r.~to the
for the on-call services of a designersgineer during the initia,i stage of the
prcagram.
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