Flat-field, panel flattening, and panel connecting methods

Abstract

A plurality of panels are assembled into a single image. Each of the panels may have different intensities throughout the panel, as well as non-uniformities between panels. The panels are modified using flat-field calibration, panel flattening, and panel connecting techniques. These techniques correct for non-uniformities and provide a cleaner, single image.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of flat-field calibrating an image comprising: 
 obtaining a plurality of images    performing linear regression on the plurality of images to obtain a gain and an offset; and    determining the desired image using the gain and the offset.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising obtaining a plurality of images ranging from dark current to full-well.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising performing linear regression on each pixel of the plurality of images.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising calculating the desired image using the equation:  
       Desired_image=(Measured_image−offset_map)/gain_map.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising moving a calibration slide while obtaining the plurality of images.  
     
     
         6 . A method of reducing offset map noise comprising: 
 obtaining a plurality of images    obtaining the average dark current of the plurality of images; and    determining the desired image using the gain and the average dark current.    
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 6   , further comprising obtaining a plurality of images ranging from dark current to full-well.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 6   , further comprising calculating the desired image using the equation:  
       Desired_image=(Measured_image−verage dark current)/gain_map.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 6   , further comprising averaging multiple frames to determine the desired image.  
     
     
         10 . A method of reducing filed curvature in an image comprising: 
 obtaining an average curvature map of a plurality of image panels;    dividing each panel by the curvature map.    
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 10   , further comprising normalizing the curvature map by the average intensity of the curvature map.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 10   , further comprising smoothing the curvature map.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 10   , further comprising using only pixels above a background intensity to obtain the average curvature map.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 10   , further comprising reducing noise in the image by curve-fitting the image pixels.  
     
     
         15 . A method of reducing discontinuities between adjacent panels in an image comprising: 
 comparing a border of each panel on all sides to generate border intensity scaling values; and    scaling a boundary of each panel to a point approximately midway between a current panel and an adjacent panel.    
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 15   , further comprising scaling the boundary of each panel using an inverse square weighting.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 15   , further comprising scaling the boundary of each panel using an inverse weighting.