Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide for some embodiments infrared camera systems for maritime applications. For example in one embodiment, a watercraft includes a plurality of image capture components coupled to the watercraft to capture infrared images around at least a substantial portion of a perimeter of the watercraft; a memory component adapted to store the captured infrared images; a processing component adapted to process the captured infrared images according to a man overboard mode of operation to provide processed infrared images and determine if a person falls from the watercraft; and a display component adapted to display the processed infrared images.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for performing non-uniformity correction (NUC) for infrared imaging devices. Intentionally blurred image frames may be obtained and processed to correct for FPN (e.g., random spatially uncorrelated FPN in one embodiment) associated with infrared sensors of the infrared imaging device. Intentionally blurred image frames may be used to distinguish between FPN associated with the infrared sensors and desired scene information. Advantageously, such techniques may be implemented without requiring the use of a shutter to perform flat field correction for the infrared imaging device.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for providing an infrared imaging module that exhibits a small form factor and may be used with one or more portable devices. Such an infrared imaging module may be implemented with a housing that includes electrical connections that may be used to electrically connect various components of the infrared imaging module. In addition, various techniques are disclosed for providing system architectures for processing modules of infrared imaging modules. In one example, a processing module of an infrared imaging module includes a first interface adapted to receive captured infrared images from an infrared image sensor of the infrared imaging module. The processing module may also include a processor adapted to perform digital infrared image processing on the captured infrared images to provide processed infrared images. The processing module may also include a second interface adapted to pass the processed infrared images to a host device.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for implementing an infrared imaging system, especially for low power and small form factor applications. In one example, a system includes a focal plane array (FPA). The FPA includes an array of infrared sensors adapted to image a scene. A low-dropout regulator (LDO) is integrated with the FPA and adapted to provide a regulated voltage in response to an external supply voltage. The FPA also includes a bias circuit adapted to provide a bias voltage to the infrared sensors in response to the regulated voltage. The FPA also includes a read out integrated circuit (ROIC) adapted to provide signals from the infrared sensors corresponding to captured image frames. Other implementations are also provided.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for measurement devices and methods to obtain various physical and/or electrical parameters in an integrated manner. For example, a measurement device may include a housing, an optical emitter, a sensor, a distance measurement circuit, a length measurement circuit, an electrical meter circuit, a display, an infrared imaging module, and/or a non-thermal imaging module. The device may be conveniently carried and utilized by users to perform a series of distance measurements, wire length measurements, electrical parameter measurements, and/or fault inspections, in an integrated manner without using multiple different devices. In one example, electricians may utilize the device to perform installation of electrical wires and/or other tasks at various locations (e.g., electrical work sites). In another example, electricians may utilize the device to view a thermal image of one or more scenes at such locations for locating potential electrical faults.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for implementing an infrared imaging system. In one example, a system includes a focal plane array (FPA). The FPA includes an array of infrared sensors adapted to image a scene. The FPA also includes a bias circuit adapted to provide a bias voltage to the infrared sensors. The bias voltage is selected from a range of approximately 0.2 volts to approximately 0.7 volts. The FPA also includes a read out integrated circuit (ROIC) adapted to provide signals from the infrared sensors corresponding to captured image frames. Other implementations are also provided.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for an infrared sensor assembly having a hybrid infrared sensor array. In one example, such a hybrid infrared sensor array may include a plurality of microbolometers and a non-bolometric infrared sensor. The non-bolometric infrared sensor may be a thermopile or other type of infrared sensor different from a bolometer-based sensor. The non-bolometric infrared sensor may be utilized to provide a more accurate and stable temperature reading of an object or area of a scene captured by the array. In some embodiments, the non-bolometric infrared sensor may also be utilized to perform a shutter-less radiometric calibration of the microbolometers of the array. An infrared sensor assembly may include, for example, the hybrid infrared sensor array, as well as a substrate including bond pads and/or appropriate circuits to obtain and/or transmit output signals from the non-bolometric infrared sensor.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided to monitor electrical equipment. In some implementations, a monitoring system for a cabinet may include an infrared camera configured to capture thermal images of at least a portion of electrical equipment positioned in an interior cavity of the cabinet. In some implementations, the monitoring system also includes a communication interface configured to transmit the thermal images from the infrared camera for external viewing by a user. In some implementations, the thermal images may be provided through various wired and wireless communication techniques. In some implementations, the infrared camera may receive electrical power through a physical coupling to an electrical connector within the cabinet and/or through electromagnetic energy harvesting techniques. Other implementations are also provided.

Abstract: Aircraft imaging system, including apparatus and methods, with compensation for changes to an attitude of an aircraft. In some embodiments, the system may include an array of image detectors having fields of view that partially overlap to create a wider field of view collectively. The system also may include a processor programmed to (a) splice video images collected by the array of image detectors while the array remains mounted in a fixed relation to an aircraft having a varying attitude, to create a series of spliced frames representing the wider field of view over a time interval, and (b) select a frame portion of each spliced frame based at least in part on one or more signals from an attitude sensor carried by the aircraft such that the selected frame portions each represent a same angle of view with respect to horizontal.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for a system and method to dynamically co-register images captured by two or more separate imaging modules. For example, in one embodiment, a method includes: capturing a thermal image of an object; capturing a visible light (VL) image of the object; determining a plurality of thermal image reference points from the thermal image; determining a plurality of VL image reference points from the VL image; determining a geometric transform based on the plurality of thermal image reference points and the plurality of VL image reference points; and applying the geometric transform to the thermal image or the VL image to align the thermal image and the VL image. In another embodiment, an imaging system comprises two or more separate imaging modules and one or more processors configured to perform the method above to dynamically co-register images.

Abstract: A gimbal system, including components and methods of use, configured to track moving targets. More specifically, the disclosed system may be configured to orient and maintain the line of sight (“los”) of the gimbal system toward a target, as the target and, in some cases, the platform supporting the gimbal system are moving. The system also may be configured to calculate an estimated target velocity based on user input, and to compute subsequent target positions from previous positions by integrating the estimated target velocity over time. A variety of filters and other mechanisms may be used to enable a user to input information regarding a target velocity into a gimbal controller.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide stabilized directional control for a vehicle. A directional control system for an embodiment may include a logic device adapted to receive directional data about a vehicle and determine nominal vehicle feedback from the directional data. The nominal vehicle feedback may be used to adjust a directional control signal provided to an actuator of a vehicle. The directional control signal may be limited to a value below an actuator rate limit before a directional control signal is adjusted by the nominal vehicle feedback. A directional control system may include a logic device, a memory, one or more sensors, one or more actuators/controllers, and modules to interface with users, sensors, actuators, and/or other modules of a vehicle.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for smart surveillance camera systems and methods using thermal imaging to intelligently control illumination and monitoring of a surveillance scene. For example, a smart camera system may include a thermal imager, an IR illuminator, a visible light illuminator, a visible/near IR (NIR) light camera, and a processor. The camera system may capture thermal images of the scene using the thermal imager, and analyze the thermal images to detect a presence and an attribute of an object in the scene. In response to the detection, various light sources may be selectively operated to illuminate the object only when needed or desired, with a suitable type of light source, with a suitable beam angle and width, or in otherwise desirable manner. The visible/NIR light camera may also be selectively operated based on the detection to capture or record surveillance images containing objects of interest.

Abstract: An imaging system may include a movable component that travels along a rail, the movable component being coupled to the rail by a carriage that includes a bearing and a magnetic portion configured to bias the bearing toward the rail. The imaging system may be suitable for use in a gimbal assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to contacts for an infrared detector. For example, an infrared imaging device includes a substrate having a first metal layer and an infrared detector array coupled to the substrate via a plurality of contacts. Each contact includes for an embodiment a plurality of metal studs each having a first end and a second end and each disposed between the first metal layer and a second metal layer, wherein the first end of each metal stud is disposed on a portion of the first metal layer that is at least partially on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An infrared camera system is provided to detect absorption of infrared radiation in a selected spectral bandwidth. In one example, an infrared camera system includes a lens adapted to receive infrared radiation from a survey scene comprising one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes a focal plane array comprising a plurality of quantum well infrared photo detectors (QWIPs). The QWIPs are tuned to detect a limited spectral bandwidth of the infrared radiation corresponding to at least a portion of an infrared absorption band of the one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes an optical band pass filter positioned substantially between the lens and the focal plane array. The optical band pass filter is adapted to filter the infrared radiation to a wavelength range substantially corresponding to the limited spectral bandwidth of the QWIPs before the infrared radiation is received by the focal plane array.

Abstract: A referencing method for an optical biosensor system using a single sensing region is provided. The method involves limiting the ligand immobilized in a single sensing region to only a portion thereof. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by selectively deactivating a portion of the sensing surface to prevent immobilization of ligand to that portion. As a result, a reference response can be recorded in the same sensing region as a molecular interaction response. Thus, the bulk refractive index can be accurately accounted for in measuring the kinetics of a molecular interaction.

Abstract: Techniques using small form factor infrared imaging modules are disclosed. An imaging system may include visible spectrum imaging modules, infrared imaging modules, and other modules to interface with a user and/or a monitoring system. Visible spectrum imaging modules and infrared imaging modules may be positioned in proximity to a scene that will be monitored while visible spectrum-only images of the scene are either not available or less desirable than infrared images of the scene. Imaging modules may be configured to capture images of the scene at different times. Image analytics and processing may be used to generate combined images with infrared imaging features and increased detail and contrast. Triple fusion processing, including selectable aspects of non-uniformity correction processing, true color processing, and high contrast processing, may be performed on the captured images. Control signals based on the combined images may be presented to a user and/or a monitoring system.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed to effectively suppress noise in images (e.g., video or still images). For example, noise in images may be more accurately modeled as having a structured random noise component and a structured fixed pattern noise (FPN) component. Various parameters of noise may be estimated robustly and efficiently in real time and in offline processing. Noise in images may be filtered adaptively, based on various noise parameters and motion parameters. Such filtering techniques may effectively suppress noise even in images that have a prominent FPN component, and may also improve effectiveness of other operations that may be affected by noise.