Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide for detecting gas by: illuminating, with a controllable illuminator system, a scene with light including radiation within the infrared (IR) wavelength range; controlling the illuminator system to emit light at a first wavelength corresponding to a first absorption level of a gas and at a second wavelength corresponding to a second absorption level of a gas, such that an equal amount of radiant energy over a time period is emitted onto the scene for each of said first and second wavelengths; and capturing a first IR image of the scene being illuminated with light at said first wavelength and a second IR image of the scene illuminated with light at said second wavelength, and comparing said first and second IR images to determine whether a characteristic for at least one specific gas is represented in said first and/or second IR images.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for using one or more thermal infrared (IR) imaging modules to enhance the dynamic range of images. In one example, devices and methods provide a first IR imaging module that captures a first image, a second IR imaging module optimized for higher IR irradiance that captures a second image, and a processing system that detects saturated pixels of the first image, determines pixels of the second image corresponding to the saturated pixels of the first image, and generates a combined image based on non-saturated pixels of the first image and the pixels of the second image. The IR imaging modules may be a microbolometer focal plane array (FPA) configured for high-gain, and a microbolometer FPA configured for low-gain. The IR imaging modules may be a photon detector FPA and a microbolometer FPA.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide for detecting gas by: illuminating, with a controllable illuminator system, a scene with light including radiation within the infrared (IR) wavelength range; controlling the illuminator system to emit light at a first wavelength corresponding to a first absorption level of a gas and at a second wavelength corresponding to a second absorption level of a gas, such that an equal amount of radiant energy over a time period is emitted onto the scene for each of said first and second wavelengths; and capturing a first IR image of the scene being illuminated with light at said first wavelength and a second IR image of the scene illuminated with light at said second wavelength, and comparing said first and second IR images to determine whether a characteristic for at least one specific gas is represented in said first and/or second IR images.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for using one or more thermal infrared (IR) imaging modules to enhance the dynamic range of images. In one example, devices and methods provide a first IR imaging module that captures a first image, a second IR imaging module optimized for higher IR irradiance that captures a second image, and a processing system that detects saturated pixels of the first image, determines pixels of the second image corresponding to the saturated pixels of the first image, and generates a combined image based on non-saturated pixels of the first image and the pixels of the second image. The IR imaging modules may be a microbolometer focal plane array (FPA) configured for high-gain, and a microbolometer FPA configured for low-gain. The IR imaging modules may be a photon detector FPA and a microbolometer FPA.

Abstract: A method for storing or streaming images, wherein the images can be further processed after the storing or during the streaming includes the steps of choosing a span of the initially captured data, this span being adapted to be shown as an image to a user storing or streaming this chosen span of the data as an image in a file format or onto a stream to which additional information can be attached and which file format or steam could be processed by at least one standard application storing or streaming all or a part of the initially captured data as additional information to this file format or stream, and storing or streaming parameters needed for the processing of the image as further additional information to the file or stream.

Abstract: A handheld infrared camera having a lens assembly, an electric energy source and a handling elements for recording and handling information received via the lens assembly has an essentially elongate housing. The lens assembly is mounted at one end of the housing, the other end portion of which is formed as a user handle, the longitudinal axis of which preferably is inclined relative to the optical axis of the lens assembly to form an angle (?alpha) with the optical axis. There are provided manual control elements for allowing single hand operation of the camera, and a visual control elements is intended to be viewed when holding and operating the camera away from the eye and the body of a user. The camera is advantageously provided with elements for wireless transmission of information from the camera.

Abstract: An IR camera and a DV processing unit are disclosed which enable a user to use a standard DV recorder to record an IR film sequence and be able to play it back at a later time, and edit it, without using dedicated software. At the same time, the user has access to calibration data, enabling him the selection of data and processing of the film using dedicated software. This is achieved by including additional data related to the image processing in the signal, preferably in the part of the signal normally reserved for audio information.

Abstract: A thermal camera includes an antenna for providing wireless communication and elements for storing data received through the wireless communication elements in connection with an image recorded by the camera. The camera may also include a signal conversion unit for converting commands received through the antenna to a command format recognized by the camera. The antenna is arranged to communicate with a wireless user communication device, such as a headset including a microphone and/or a phonespeaker. The camera may further include alarm elements for determining dangerous situations and to warn an operator through the wireless interface. The thermal camera is particularly suitable for use in dangerous environments.

Abstract: An infrared camera includes a detector sensitive to infrared radiation and optics for focusing an object to be monitored on the detector. A light source emits a narrow beam within the visible wavelength region towards the object to be imaged by the detector.

Abstract: A method for storing or streaming images, wherein the images can be further processed after the storing or during the streaming includes the steps of choosing a span of the initially captured data, this span being adapted to be shown as an image to a user storing or streaming this chosen span of the data as an image in a file format or onto a stream to which additional information can be attached and which file format or steam could be processed by at least one standard application storing or streaming all or a part of the initially captured data as additional information to this file format or stream, and storing or streaming parameters needed for the processing of the image as further additional information to the file or stream.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) camera includes a camera unit for recording IR images, a slave monitor connected to the camera unit for displaying IR images recorded by the camera unit. In this way, the camera unit can be moved independently of the operator. The slave monitor is preferably connected to the camera unit via a cable, a short-range radio connection or a Wireless LAN (WLAN) link. The connection is used for communicating image data from the camera unit to the slave monitor as they are recorded. The connection may also be used for control data from the slave monitor to the camera unit.

Abstract: A file format for storing IR images together with other types of data, such as camera settings, text information, and sound is disclosed. An apparatus and a method for bundling and analyzing data obtained via an IR camera and for determining actions to be taken based on the data are disclosed, as well as a method for gathering data.

Abstract: An IR camera and a DV processing unit are disclosed which enable a user to use a standard DV recorder to record an IR film sequence and be able to play it back at a later time, and edit it, without using dedicated software. At the same time, the user has access to calibration data, enabling him the selection of data and processing of the film using dedicated software. This is achieved by including additional data related to the image processing in the signal, preferably in the part of the signal normally reserved for audio information.

Abstract: A handheld infrared camera having a lens assembly, an electric energy source and a handling elements for recording and handling information received via the lens assembly has an essentially elongate housing. The lens assembly is mounted at one end of the housing, the other end portion of which is formed as a user handle, the longitudinal axis of which preferably is inclined relative to the optical axis of the lens assembly to form an angle (&agr;alpha) with the optical axis. There are provided manual control elements for allowing single hand operation of the camera, and a visual control elements is intended to be viewed when holding and operating the camera away from the eye and the body of a user. The camera is advantageously provided with elements for wireless transmission of information from the camera.

Abstract: The invention relates to an infrared camera comprising detector means (2) sensitive for infrared radiation and optics for focusing an object (4) to be monitored on the detector means. A light source (8; 8′; 12; 17) is emitting a narrow beam within the visible wavelength region towards the object (4) to be imaged by the detector means.

Abstract: An IR camera comprises an IR Focal Plane Array having a number of detector elements as sensor devices, an optical system focusing an object onto the Focal Plane Array, and a signal processing system connected to the Focal Plane Array. The camera also has a modular structure comprising a camera housing provided with the Focal Plane Array and the signal processing system, an absorbent/emitting shielding device connected to the camera housing, and an optical focusing system removably mounted to the shielding device.

Abstract: An IR camera comprises an IR Focal Plane Array having a number of detector elements as sensor devices, an optical system focusing an object onto the Focal Plane Array, and a signal processing system connected to the Focal Plane Array. The camera also has a modular structure comprising a camera housing provided with the Focal Plane Array and the signal processing system, an absorbent/emitting shielding device connected to the camera housing, and an optical focusing system removably mounted to the shielding device.