Abstract: An infrared imaging system is provided with a shutter assembly having an integrated thermistor. In one example, a device includes a shutter assembly. The shutter assembly includes a paddle configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The paddle is configured to block external infrared radiation from reaching a focal plane array (FPA) in a closed position, and pass the external infrared radiation to the FPA in an open position. The shutter assembly also includes an embedded thermistor configured to sense a temperature of the paddle when the paddle is in the open position. In another example, an infrared sensor assembly includes a first set of mechanically engageable electrical contacts for engaging with a second set of mechanically engageable electrical contacts of a shutter assembly electrically coupled with a thermistor through a conductive path. Additional devices and related methods are also provided.

Abstract: A system for capturing a thermal video stream includes a thermal image capture component, such as an IR camera, configured to capture and digitize the thermal video stream having n-bits of data per pixel, a memory configured to store the captured thermal images, and a processor. The processor is configured to select captured thermal images as frames for a video stream and subdivide each captured thermal image into separate m-bit and k-bit image streams. The processor is further configured to compress the m-bit thermal image stream in a video compression format that includes frame and metadata, compress the k-bit image stream using a lossless or substantially lossless compression format, and incorporate the compressed k-bit image stream into the coded m-bit video stream as metadata.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided to perform flat field correction (FFC) for infrared cameras. In one example, a system includes a focal plane array (FPA) of an infrared camera configured to capture thermal image data in response to infrared radiation received by the FPA via an optical path of the infrared camera. The system further includes a memory configured to store a set of supplemental FFC values. The system further includes a processor configured to determine a scale factor based at least on a temperature and/or a rate of temperature change of an internal component of the infrared camera; generate a scaled set of supplemental FFC values based on the scale factor and set of supplemental FFC values; and apply the scaled set of supplemental FFC values to the thermal image data to adjust for non-uniformities associated with at least a portion of the first optical path.

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: Systems and methods may be provided for coupling together semiconductor devices. One or more of the semiconductor devices may be provided with an array of bump contacts formed in an etch back process. The bump contacts may be indium bumps. The indium bumps may be formed by depositing a sheet of indium onto a surface of a device substrate, depositing and patterning a layer of photoresist over the indium layer, and selectively etching the indium layer to the surface of the substrate using the patterned photoresist layer to form the indium bumps. The substrate may be an infrared detector substrate. The infrared detector substrate may be coupled to a readout integrated circuit substrate using the bumps.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for facilitating pulse detection and imaging. In one example, a device includes a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation and generate a detection signal based on the detected electromagnetic radiation. The device further includes an input circuit configured to provide, based on the detection signal, a first signal and a second signal. The device further includes an imaging integration circuit configured to generate an image of at least a portion of a scene based at least in part on the first signal. The device further includes a pulse detection circuit configured to perform pulse detection to generate an indication of whether a pulse is detected in the portion of the scene based at least in part on the second signal. Related methods and systems are also provided.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided to process captured thermal images to determine whether the thermal images exhibit degradation associated with environmental effects and/or security conditions. In one example, a method includes capturing a plurality of thermal images of a scene. The thermal images are processed to generate first and second background images associated with first and second time periods to filter out changes in the scene occurring within the associated time periods. The first and second background images are edge filtered to generate first and second edge images. The first and second edge images are compared to determine a change in edges associated with the scene. A device is selectively operated in a fail-safe mode in response to the comparing. Additional methods and related systems are also provided.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods using microelectromechanical systems MEMS techniques to provide cryogenic and/or general cooling of a device or sensor system. In one embodiment, a system includes a compressor assembly and MEMS expander assembly in fluid communication with the compressor assembly via a gas transfer line configured to physically separate and thermally decouple the MEMS expander assembly from the compressor assembly. The MEMS expander assembly includes a plurality of expander cells each including a MEMS displacer, a cell regenerator, and an expansion volume disposed between the MEMS displacer and the cell regenerator, and the plurality of cell regenerators are configured to combine to form a contiguous shared regenerator for the MEMS expander assembly.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure may include one or more object detection devices. The object detection devices may include at least one distance sensor such as a radar, lidar, or other distance sensor and at least one thermal sensor such as a thermal imaging device. One or more object detection devices may be mounted to vehicles to provide enhanced representations of an area around the vehicles.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for reducing noise and enhancing sharpness of an input image. For example, a method includes performing an initial collaborative filtering and sharpening on the input image to generate a pilot image, using the pilot image to derive coefficients that are used to perform a second collaborative filtering on the input image to generate a filtered image. In some embodiments, the collaborative filtering and sharpening is performed using parameters that boost or enhance the differences in pixel values for the same spatial locations of the matched image blocks extracted during the collaborative filtering and sharpening process. Accordingly, the method according to various embodiments performs especially well for images that have weak spatial correlations among mutually similar blocks.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure may include an imaging system that includes a plurality of uncooled cameras configured to detect the presence of gas within a scene imaged. The plurality of cameras may include at least one broadband camera and at least one narrowband camera. The narrowband camera may include a filter or image data from the narrowband camera may be filtered to the band desired. The images captured by the broadband and narrowband cameras may be processed and/or analyzed to determine the presence of gas within the scene. An image may be generated incorporating the image data of the broadband and narrowband cameras and the presence of gas may be indicated within the image.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided to monitor electrical equipment. In some implementations, a monitoring system for a cabinet may include an infrared camera and a non-thermal camera. The infrared camera may be configured to capture one or more thermal images of at least a portion of electrical equipment positioned in an interior cavity of the cabinet. The non-thermal camera may be configured to capture one or more non-thermal images such as visible light images of the portion of electrical equipment. In some implementations, combined images may be generated that include characteristics of the thermal images and the non-thermal images for viewing by a user. In some implementations, the cameras 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: Techniques are disclosed for conjoint beam shaping for optimizing radar and sonar performance. A method may include determining a system pattern of an antenna system based at least on a first antenna pattern and a second antenna pattern. The first antenna pattern may be based on first antenna parameters. The second antenna pattern may be based on second antenna parameters. The method may further include determining a score based at least on the determined system pattern and reference information. The method may further include adjusting the first antenna parameters and second antenna parameters based at least on the score. Related systems and devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of singulating includes scribing a first scribe line on a first side of a substrate, scribing a second scribe line on a second side of the substrate, the first and second sides facing away from each other, the second scribe line being substantially parallel to the first scribe line, and simultaneously separating the substrate at the first scribe line and the second scribe line.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide image resolution enhancement. For example, a method includes: receiving a reference image (e.g., a visible light image) of a scene comprising image pixels identified by pixel coordinates; receiving a lower-resolution target image (e.g., an infrared image) of the scene; resizing the target image to a larger size; determining an adaptive-shape neighborhood for each pixel coordinate, wherein the adaptive-shape neighborhood extends from the each pixel coordinate such that those reference image pixels that are within the shape-adaptive neighborhood meet a regularity condition; determining, for each adaptive-shape neighborhood, a local estimate based on those target image pixels that are within the adaptive-shape neighborhood; and aggregating the local estimates associated with the adaptive-shape neighborhoods to provide a global estimate that corresponds to the target image with an improved resolution.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for detection-based wakeup of detection devices. A method may include generating a mapping that includes entries. Each entry may associate a respective detection result of a first detection device with a respective detection result of a second detection device. The method may further include transitioning the second detection device to a first power mode upon completing the generating. The method may further include determining, by the first detection device, that a first object of a first object type is detected based on the mapping. The method may further include transitioning the second detection device out of the first power mode when the first object of the first object type is determined to be detected. The method may further include performing, by the second detection device, at least one action based on the first object. Related systems and devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for providing a device attachment configured to releasably attach to and provide infrared imaging functionality to mobile phones or other portable electronic devices. The device attachment may include an infrared imagining module and a non-thermal imaging module that cooperate with one or more of a non-thermal imaging module in an attached device and a light source in the attached device for capturing and processing images.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide intuitive user interfaces for sonar systems attached to mobile structures. A sonar user interface system includes a logic device configured to communicate with one or more sonar controllers and/or sonar transducer assemblies and associated processing and control electronics and optionally orientation and/or position sensors disposed substantially within the sonar transducer assemblies. Each sonar controller and/or transducer assembly includes channels that can be operated together or independently. Configurations for each channel, transducer assembly, controller, and/or for the entire sonar system are rendered and displayed using a combination of graphical and textual indicators to allow intuitive selection and/or arrangement of system, controller, assembly, and/or channel configurations and to store configurations for recall.

Abstract: Autopilot systems and related techniques are provided to improve the ability of mobile structures to maintain a desired reference path (e.g., to keep a desired track and/or to follow a desired contour). In various embodiments, a high quality turn rate signal and GPS based signals are used to generate high bandwidth cross track/contour errors and other associated signals. An adaptive controller uses the generated cross track/contour signals to provide robust track keeping and/or contour following in the directional control of a mobile structure. Techniques are also provided for systems and methods to provide directional control for mobile structures.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for mounting optical elements in optical systems. A system may include a mirror assembly. The mirror assembly may include a mounting stem and a mirror. The system may further include a mounting ring. The system may further include a metering structure. The metering structure may include a receiving interface having an inner surface defining an aperture. The metering structure may be configured to receive the mounting stem within the aperture and receive the mounting ring within a gap between the mounting stem and the inner surface. The system may further include a bonding layer disposed between the mounting stem and the mounting ring. Additional apparatus and related methods are provided.