Infrared Patents (Class 348/164)
  • Publication number: 20140240468
    Abstract: A frame-sequential multiwavelength imaging system comprises a wavelength switching device for producing a repeated series of different wavelength profiles, a detector for detecting the dynamic scene and a signal processing unit for synthesizing a dynamic multiwavelength image of the dynamic scene. The signal processing unit may comprise at least one input device at least one logic device and at least one output device. The system can be used in a method to perform multiwavelength imaging of a dynamic scene, typically for surgical purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Publication number: 20140240513
    Abstract: A spectroscopic analysis apparatus includes a light source section having a first light source and second light source that radiate light fluxes, a wavelength tunable interference filter, an imaging section that captures light having passed through the wavelength tunable interference filter to acquire a first spectroscopic image when the object being imaged is irradiated with the light from the first light source and a second spectroscopic image when the object being imaged is irradiated with the light from the second light source, a pixel detector that detects an abnormal pixel in the first spectroscopic image, and a light amount corrector that replaces the amount of light at the abnormal pixel in the first spectroscopic image with the amount of light at a pixel in the second spectroscopic image that is located in the same position as the abnormal pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuaki FUNAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140240512
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Högasten, Dwight Dumpert, Theodore R. Hoelter, Jeffrey S. Scott, Katrin Strandemar, Mark Nussmeier, Eric A. Kurth, Pierre Boulanger, Barbara Sharp
  • Patent number: 8818035
    Abstract: A device is provided with a luminance histogram calculation unit which generates a luminance histogram showing appearance frequency of luminance values contained within the infrared image and determines a luminance value corresponding to a peak in the luminance histogram as a background luminance level of the background; a luminance shift calculation unit which sets the background luminance value as an intermediate value in luminance range width of the infrared image and generates a luminance shift image by linearly shifting other luminance values in the infrared image based on the intermediate value; a reversed image processing unit which generates a reversed shift image wherein the luminance level of the luminance shift image is reversed; and a luminance calculation processing unit which generates a calculation-processed image by performing calculation processing based on the difference in the luminance values at corresponding positions in the luminance shift image and the reversed shift image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takeo Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8817107
    Abstract: An imaging device that includes a control unit is provided. The control unit switches between a day mode and a night mode. In the day mode, image capture is performed while an infrared cut filter is placed on an optical path, and in the night mode, image capture is performed while the infrared cut filter is removed from the optical path. Immediately after shifting from the day mode to the night mode, in the night mode, as the amount of incident light decreases, the control unit increases an irradiation intensity of an infrared irradiation portion from zero while a gain is maintained at a first gain value. When the amount of the incident light further decreases after the irradiation intensity reaches a maximum, the control portion increases the gain from the first gain value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Matsumoto, Xiaobo Zhou, Yuanyuan Pan, Li Li
  • Patent number: 8817106
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide an image capture component adapted to capture an infrared image, a control component adapted to provide a plurality of selectable processing modes to a user, receive a user input corresponding to a user selected processing mode, generate a control signal indicative of the user selected processing mode and transmit the generated control signal. The user selected processing modes, for example, may be directed to maritime applications, such as night docking, man overboard, night cruising, day cruising, hazy conditions, and/or shoreline modes. The systems and methods further provide a processing component adapted to receive the generated control signal from the control component, process the captured infrared image according to the user selected processing mode, and generate a processed infrared image, and a display component adapted to display the processed infrared image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick B. Richardson, Jeffrey D. Frank, Austin A. Richards, Nicholas Högasten, James T. Woolaway
  • Publication number: 20140232875
    Abstract: Various techniques are provided for using one or more shielded (e.g., blinded, blocked, and/or obscured) infrared sensors of a thermal imaging device. In one example, a method includes capturing a signal from a shielded infrared sensor that is substantially blocked from receiving infrared radiation from a scene. The method also includes capturing a signal from an unshielded infrared sensor configured to receive the infrared radiation from the scene. The method also includes determining an average thermographic offset reference for the shielded and unshielded infrared sensors based on the captured signal of the shielded infrared sensor. The method also includes determining an absolute radiometric value for the scene based on the average thermographic offset reference and the captured signal of the unshielded infrared sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Boulanger, Per Elmfors, Nicholas Högasten, Theodore R. Hoelter, Katrin Strandemar, Barbara Sharp, Eric A. Kurth
  • Publication number: 20140231514
    Abstract: An infrared-based scope configured to obtain and display video imagery that allows a user to estimate wind speed and direction over a trajectory to a target based on observed air motion in the video imagery. In certain examples, the scope further includes electronics configured to calculate the wind speed using video image processing techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael K. Burkland, Christopher E. Thomas, Robert Rinker, Darrell R. Rogers, Byron B. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8810651
    Abstract: A digital security camera system and method for pseudo-color covert night vision is provided. The system includes one or more light sources adapted for providing selective illumination at a plurality of infrared wavelengths, such as 730 nm, 830 nm and 940 nm. A monochrome digital image capture device records multiple images of a target illuminated in the plurality of wavelengths and stored in a storage device. A processor retrieves the set of recorded images and assigns each wavelength to a specific color channel. The color channels are combined into a composite color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc
    Inventor: Cristian M. Calnegru
  • Patent number: 8810658
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for estimating color for pixels in an infrared image. In one embodiment, an infrared image is received which has been captured using a N-band infrared imaging system comprising a multi-spectral camera or a hyperspectral camera. The IR image is composed of an array of pixels with N intensity values having been collected for each pixel in the image. Then, for each pixel of interest, a search metric is used to search a database of vector samples to identify a visible-IR set which is closest to the intensity values of the IR band vector collected for the pixel. A visible vector representation is then estimated for the pixel based upon the visible portion corresponding to the closest visible-IR set. Thereafter, color coordinates for this pixel are computed from the visible vector. The method repeats for all pixels of interest in the IR image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Sandra Skaff, Raja Bala, Lalit Keshav Mestha, Beilei Xu
  • Publication number: 20140228124
    Abstract: A control device includes a housing. The control device also includes a wireless communicator interior the housing. The wireless communicator wirelessly sends commands for controlling an electronic device, such as a game console. The control device also includes a reflector positioned to reflect light directed at the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Plagge, Vijay Baiyya, Tommer Leyvand, Susan Shuchen Song
  • Patent number: 8803976
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image pickup apparatus, including: an image pickup element having a plurality of pixels; and a radiation/shielding portion configured to radiate/shield an electromagnetic wave for the image pickup element in such a way that a partial pixel selective radiation state in which the electromagnetic wave is radiated to a part of the pixels in the image pickup element and the electromagnetic wave is shielded for the pixels other than the part of the pixels is obtained in a time division manner while the part of the pixels to each of which the electromagnetic wave is radiated is successively changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kabasawa, Minoru Wakabayashi, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 8803962
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus may include an imager configured to generate a plurality of frames at a frame frequency greater than an electromagnetic energy emission pulse frequency of a medical device, wherein each frame of the plurality of frames may include a first plurality of rows. The apparatus may also include an electronic shutter module configured to offset a start time of each row of the first plurality of rows in each frame from the plurality of frames from a start time of an adjacent row in that same frame. The apparatus may further include an image processing module configured to generate a plurality of valid frames based on at least a portion of the plurality of frames, wherein the plurality of valid frames may include a frame frequency lower than the frame frequency of the plurality of frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Modell, Jason Sproul
  • Patent number: 8803977
    Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting damage to a deck of a bridge, the method allowing detection work to be achieved with less labor and being capable of reducing the time and cost needed for the detection work. From a road-surface measuring vehicle running on pavement 3 on top of a steel-plate deck 1, a thermal infrared video of the surface of the pavement 3 is acquired by a thermal infrared video camera. Based on the thermal infrared video, troughs 4 of the steel-plate deck 1 are detected to grasp the structure of the steel-plate deck 1. Residence of water inside prescribed trough members 41 and sealing diaphragms 42 is detected from low-temperature regions R2 from among regions corresponding to troughs 4 in the thermal infrared video, and from rectangular low-temperature sections L2 that surround the regions R2. Through cracks are detected in deck plates 2 that correspond to troughs 4 in which residence of water has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Pasco Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Uchima, Hideaki Kurosu, Chikakuni Maeda, Tetsuji Yamagami, Shigeaki Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20140218538
    Abstract: Provided is an image fusion apparatus using a multi-spectral filter array sensor, the image fusion apparatus including a separation unit configured to separate an input image input through the multi-spectral filter array sensor into an RGB image and a near infrared (NIR) image, a color reconstruction unit configured to extract an RGB image in a visible band by removing an NIR value incident together with R, G and B values through the multi-spectral filter array sensor from the R, G and B values, and an image fusion unit configured to fuse the RGB image in the visible band with the NIR image, in which a fusion rate of the RGB image and the NIR image is based on a size of each of the R, G and B values of the RGB image in the visible band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eun-Cheol CHOI
  • Patent number: 8797409
    Abstract: An imaging device for real-time display of image data on a local display and on a remote display is disclosed. In some embodiments, the imaging device can include an imaging engine, a memory device for storing image data, and a processor for receiving the image data from the imaging engine, storing the image data in the memory device, retrieving the image data from the memory device, and transmitting the image data to both a local display and remote display so that the image data can be viewed on both the remote display and local display simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Heinke
  • Publication number: 20140210987
    Abstract: A heads-up digital display within a firefighting or welding helmet that indicates the temperature of the observed region is disclosed. Data is provided by a thermal imaging camera mounted on or through the helmet's exterior surface. Readings of the temperature across the field of vision may be localized and calibrated to a target point such as crosshairs, printed on the face shield, or may be generalized, for example taking an average temperature or maximum temperature from across the field of vision. The temperature reading would be displayed digitally on a temperature display mounted within the helmet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Chad Adkins
  • Publication number: 20140204217
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal imaging system capable of tracing a specific portion in a thermal image and a method of tracing a specific portion using thereof. The thermal imaging system includes a thermal imaging camera; an imaging camera installed to be adjacent to the thermal imaging camera; and a position measurement apparatus installed to be adjacent to the thermal imaging camera in order to measure photographing positions of the thermal imaging camera and the imaging camera. Therefore, a specific portion of the subject that is difficult to recognize in the thermal image with naked eyes is recognized by contrasting the specific portion in the thermal image with a corresponding portion in the normal image, and thus a correct temperature can be extracted by tracing the specific portion in the thermal image in real-time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: THE INDUSTRY & ACADEMIC COOPERATION IN CHUNGNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY (IAC)
    Inventors: Jin-Hun Sohn, Jin-Sup Eom
  • Publication number: 20140204218
    Abstract: A rotatable optical device housing and mounting platform is disclosed. The optical device housing includes a bezel, front housing and rear housing. The optical device housing can include a number of lighting devices, including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, halogen lights, incandescent lights, or imaging devices, such as cameras, while utilizing the same bezel, front housing and rear housing. The depicted device can include a vertical tilt, which is adjustable either manually or electronically. A slip ring system provides continuous 360 rotation ability, with controllable and adjustable speed settings. Alternatively, a stop can be used instead of the slip ring, wherein the stop serves as a point of reversal of the unit's rotation. The unit contains an optional home position, allowing a user to select a point in the horizontal rotation to which the unit will return at the touch of a button.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Golight, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert W. Gebhard, Colton D. Hosick
  • Publication number: 20140198219
    Abstract: A multi-function control illumination device has a synchronization separator, a parameter setting device, a light emitting device, and a video processor. The synchronization separator connects with a video camera and the parameter setting device connecting with the light emitting device. The synchronization separator receives a video signal from the video camera, retrieves a synchronization signal from the video signal, and outputs the synchronization signal to the parameter setting device. The parameter setting device generates an electric signal corresponding to the synchronization signal according to at least one illumination parameter and outputs the electric signal to the light emitting device. The light emitting device emits toward a shooting direction of the video camera a light beam whose intensity periodically varies according to the electric signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: JEN-HUI CHUANG, WEN-CHIH TENG
  • Publication number: 20140198217
    Abstract: Various embodiments of shutters for thermal imaging cameras, cameras comprising such shutters, and methods for providing such shutters are disclosed. The shutter may include a substrate with various layers and components thereon, such as a temperature sensor. The shutter may resemble a printed circuit board (PCB), utilizing efficient, cost-effective materials and methods known in the art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: FLUKE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kirk R. Johnson, Justin M. Sheard
  • Publication number: 20140198218
    Abstract: A method adjusts an auto exposure target in an auto-exposure operation on a sequence of images, such as a sequence of infrared images. The method comprises: obtaining a histogram of at least one of the images; applying a weighted histogram table to the histogram to obtain weighted histogram bins wherein at least some bins in the histogram containing saturated pixels are assigned a higher weighting value and at least some bins in the histogram containing unsaturated pixels are assigned a lower weighting value, and summing the weighted histogram bins to obtain a saturation score and decreasing an auto exposure target for an auto exposure operation when the saturation score exceeds a first threshold value, and increasing the auto-exposure target when the saturation score is below the first threshold value and the image is underexposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Avigilon Corporation
    Inventors: Sina Afrooze, Guoqian Sun
  • Patent number: 8780208
    Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for processing an infrared image to receive infrared image data of a non-uniform scene, apply column noise filter correction to the infrared image data, and/or apply row noise filter correction to the infrared image data, and provide corrected infrared image data based on the column and/or row noise filter correction as infrared output image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Högasten, Malin Ingerhed
  • Patent number: 8780161
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method of modifying an image in a video that includes the step of capturing a visible light image of an area, where the visible light image captured at a first frame rate. The method in addition includes the step of capturing a corresponding infrared light image of an area, the infrared light image being captured when the area is illuminated with an infrared light source, the infrared light image captured at the substantially the same frame rate as the visible light image. Based on the infrared light image, at least a subset of the human perceptible characteristics of the captured visible light image are modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ramin Samadani, Chen Wu
  • Publication number: 20140192203
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of image processing and methodologies to passively focus an image automatically, using the electronic sensor signal. The method comprises the steps of; receiving a pixel image, generating at least two histograms of the received image using at least two different frequency components, finding widths of acquired histograms and storing them as a focus measure, finding the difference between last received frame's highest frequency component histogram width and at least one previously received frame's histogram width corresponding to the same component, is there a meaningful difference?, and using the difference to determine the focus direction signal. The system comprises; an image sensor to acquire an electronic pixel image; an image processing unit configured to receive an image and implement the method using this image and output a focus direction signal found by the method; and a memory unit configured to store image histogram widths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: ASELSAN ELEKTRONIK SANAYI VE TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI
    Inventor: Emre Turgay
  • Publication number: 20140192202
    Abstract: An imaging unit photographs an object, and obtains a visible light signal and an invisible light signal. A visible light luminance extraction unit extracts a visible light luminance signal. An invisible light luminance extraction unit extracts an invisible light luminance signal. A color signal extraction unit extracts color signals from the visible light signal and corrects the color signals. An image synthesis unit uses the visible light luminance signal and the invisible light luminance signal to synthesize a luminance signal and generates a color image using the synthesized luminance signal and the corrected color signals. In accordance with the value of the visible light luminance signal, the control unit controls a synthesis ratio between the visible and invisible light luminance signals, a gain for the color signals to be corrected in the color signal extraction unit, and color noise removal to be performed in the color signal extraction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sano, Akihito Nishizawa, Junji Shiokawa
  • Publication number: 20140184808
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes visible-light filters, infrared light filters, pixels arrayed in a row direction and a column direction, and wiring layers disposed between the pixels and visible-light filters and infrared light filters. The pixels include first pixels disposed corresponding to the visible-light filters, and second pixels disposed corresponding to the infrared light filters. The shape and size of the first pixels and second pixels is the same in planar view. The second pixels are disposed between adjacent pixels of the first pixels in the row direction, column direction, and diagonal directions. At least one wiring layer of the wiring layers defines apertures corresponding to photoelectric conversion regions at the first pixels and second pixels. Apertures corresponding to photoelectric conversion regions of first pixels and apertures corresponding to photoelectric conversion regions of second pixels are of the same shape and size in planar view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Tatsuya RYOKI, Kiyofumi SAKAGUCHI, Noriyuki KAIFU
  • Publication number: 20140184810
    Abstract: An inspection system includes a CIGS camera configured to generate a visible light image and an infrared light image of an inspection object by imaging visible light and infrared light simultaneously on the same optical axis using a CIGS image sensor, and an inspection apparatus configured to inspect the inspection object based on the visible light image and the infrared light image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi SEKIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140184809
    Abstract: An image sensor device may include an interconnect layer, an image sensor IC adjacent the interconnect layer and having an image sensing surface, and a dielectric layer adjacent the image sensor IC and having an opening therein aligned with the image sensing surface. The image sensor device may also include an IR filter adjacent and aligned with the image sensing surface, and an encapsulation material adjacent the dielectric layer and laterally surrounding the IR filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jing-En LUAN
  • Publication number: 20140184805
    Abstract: Various apparatuses and methods for compensating for ghosting effects in thermal imaging devices are disclosed. Offsets in thermal image data due to ghosting effects on thermal sensors may be modeled, predicted, and/or eliminated by various embodiments of the present invention. These models may be time-varying to compensate for dynamic offset behavior, and may be based on formulas, lookup tables, or the like. Predicted offset amounts may be compensated for in various ways in order to produce more accurate thermal image data free from accumulated offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: FLUKE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew F. Schmidt, David T. Mumaw
  • Publication number: 20140184807
    Abstract: Various techniques are provided for implementing a segmented focal plane array (FPA) of infrared sensors. In one example, a system includes a segmented FPA. The segmented FPA includes a top die having an array of infrared sensors (e.g., bolometers). The top die may also include a portion of a read-out integrated circuit (ROIC). The segmented FPA also includes a bottom die having at least a portion of the ROIC. The top and the bottom dies are electrically coupled via inter-die connections. Advantageously, the segmented FPA may be fabricated with a higher yield and a smaller footprint compared with conventional FPA architectures. Moreover, the segmented FPA may be fabricated using different semiconductor processes for each die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Simolon, Eric A. Kurth, Mark Nussmeier, Nicholas Högasten, Theodore R. Hoelter, Katrin Strandemar, Pierre Boulanger, Barbara Sharp
  • Publication number: 20140184806
    Abstract: A device and a method for use in detection of a muzzle flash event is described. The device can include a Photo Detector Array (PDA), sensitive in at least a portion of the NIR and SWIR spectrum, and a filter of electromagnetic radiation selectively passing in this portion a spectral range of low atmospheric transmission, the PDA has an integration time shorter than a duration of the muzzle flash event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: ELTA SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventor: Gil TIDHAR
  • Publication number: 20140176724
    Abstract: An apparatus for capturing an image includes a plurality of lens elements coaxially encompassed within a lens housing. A split-sub-pixel imaging chip includes an IR-pass filter coating applied on selected sub-pixels. The sub-pixels include a long exposure sub-pixel and a short-exposure sub-pixel for each of a plurality of green blue and red pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wende Zhang, Jinsong Wang, Kent S. Lybecker, Jeffrey S. Piasecki, Ryan M. Frakes, Travis S. Hester
  • Publication number: 20140176725
    Abstract: A method and computer program product for determining whether an object of interest can have its temperature measurement calculated by a thermal imaging camera. To do this, the measurement IFOV is converted into linear units. The measurement IFOV may be displayed on the display of the camera as a graphical indicator (100, 100?, 100?, 100??) or a value. An object of interest can be registered with the graphical indicator (100, 100?, 100?, 100??) or its dimension compared with the measurement IFOV and then it is determined whether the temperature measurement of the object can be acceptably calculated. Alternately, data obtained by a matrix of pixel elements may be analyzed to determine whether an accurate temperature can be calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Stuart, James T. Pickett
  • Publication number: 20140176693
    Abstract: The invention describes several embodiments of an adapter which can make use of the devices in any commercially available digital cameras to transform the digital camera into a fundus camera for inspecting the back of the eye, or into a microscope. The camera adapter is adapted to be placed between the camera device and the object. The devices in the camera being used are at least its optical source, photodetector sensor, memory, shutter and autofocus. Means in the adapter are provided to employ these devices and allow camera to operate its autofocus capability and its different color sensors. Methods of investigation of an object are also presented of using the adapter to transform the camera into an imaging instrument, where the effect of adjustments of elements inside the adapter are guided by the displaying screen of the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF KENT
    Inventor: Adrian PODOLEANU
  • Publication number: 20140168445
    Abstract: Various techniques are provided for systems and methods to process images to reduce consumption of an available output dynamic range by the sky in images. For example, according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, a region or area in images that may correspond to the sky may be identified based on the location of the horizon in the images. A distribution of irradiance levels in the identified sky region may be analyzed to determine a dynamic range attributable to the sky region. A transfer function that compresses the dynamic range attributable to the sky region may be generated and applied so that the sky in the images may be suppressed, thereby advantageously preserving more dynamic range for terrestrial objects and other objects of interest in the images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Högasten, Mark Nussmeier, Eric A. Kurth, Theodore R. Hoelter, Katrin Strandemar, Pierre Boulanger, Barbara Sharp
  • Publication number: 20140168433
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods using small form factor infrared imaging modules to monitor aspects of a power system. A system may include one or more infrared imaging modules, a processor, a memory, a display, a communication module, and modules to control components of a power system. Infrared imaging modules may be mounted on, installed in, or otherwise integrated with a power system having one or more power system components. The infrared imaging modules may be configured to capture thermal images of portions of the power system. Various thermal image analytics and profiling may be performed on the captured thermal images to determine the operating conditions and temperatures of portions of the power system. Monitoring information may be generated based on the determined conditions and temperatures and then presented to a user of the power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Frank, Shawn Jepson, Mark Nussmeier, Eric A. Kurth, Nicholas Högasten, Theodore R. Hoelter, Katrin Strandemar, Pierre Boulanger, Barbara Sharp
  • Publication number: 20140168446
    Abstract: A pixel array is provided. The pixel array comprises a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged 4*4 Bayer matrix units, in which the matrix unit comprises a plurality of pixels, any of a green filter, a red filter and a blue filter is disposed in one pixel, and one or more of the green filters are replaced by white color filters in the matrix units. A camera using the same and a color processing method based on the pixel array are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicants: BYD COMPANY LIMITED, SHENZHEN BYD AUTO R&D COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Mao PENG, Jingjun FU, Wenge HU
  • Publication number: 20140168444
    Abstract: Provided is a method of merging or fusing a visible image captured by a visible camera and an infrared (IR) image captured by an IR camera. The method includes: providing a first image of a subject captured by a first camera and a second image of the subject captured by a second camera; converting brightness of the second image based on brightness of the first image; and merging the first image and the second image having the converted brightness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicants: KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION, SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong-min BAE, Han-Seok KO, Bon-Hwa KU, Du-Bok PARK, Min-Jae KIM, Jae-Yong JU
  • Publication number: 20140160298
    Abstract: Devices and methods for generating infrared (IR) images with improved quality are disclosed. In embodiments of the invention, temporal averaging techniques are used to reduce temporal noise that may be present in thermal images. This is especially useful in low-contrast thermal scenes, where a relatively small amount of thermal noise may become exceedingly prevalent. In order to average properly, some embodiments of the invention provide methods or means for aligning multiple images that are to be averaged together to eliminate inaccuracies and misrepresentations that may result from averaging misaligned images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: FLUKE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kirk R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140160299
    Abstract: Thermal imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided with IR sensor amplification techniques that in some cases provide a gain transfer function having at least two different gain regions. One thermal imaging camera includes an IR camera module, processing circuitry, and an amplifier stage that comprises a continuous gain function including at least two gain regions having different gains. In some cases a thermal imager is provided with saturation circuitry configured to reduce the gain of the amplifier stage in order to provide one of at least two different gain regions within the continuous gain function. In some cases amplification techniques provide a continuous gain function that includes both linear and nonlinear gain regions. One or more gain regions may further be calibrated for measuring temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: FLUKE CORPORATION
    Inventor: David T. Mumaw
  • Publication number: 20140160300
    Abstract: A network camera comprising an infrared light emitting component, a night lens, an infrared light penetrable cover and a shading ring is provided. The infrared light penetrable cover covers the night lens and the infrared light emitting component, and has a through hole from which the night lens is exposed. The shading ring is disposed on the infrared light penetrable cover and surrounding the night lens to shade and prevent the light emitted by the infrared light emitting component from being outputted off the through hole. The network camera of the invention can adopt a short type infrared light emitting component to simplify the assembly of the network camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Sercomm Corporation
    Inventor: Sung-Chun Hung
  • Patent number: 8749635
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide for infrared camera systems and methods for dual sensor applications. For example, in one embodiment, an enhanced vision system comprises an image capture component having a visible light sensor to capture visible light images and an infrared sensor to capture infrared images. The system comprises a first control component adapted to provide a plurality of selectable processing modes to a user, receive a user input corresponding to a user selected processing mode, and generate a control signal indicative of the user selected processing mode, wherein the plurality of selectable processing modes includes a visible light only mode, infrared only mode, and a combined visible-infrared mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Högasten, Jeffrey S. Scott, Patrick B. Richardson, Jeffrey D. Frank, Austin A. Richards, James T. Woolaway
  • Patent number: 8749636
    Abstract: A multi-band aperture filter for optically coupling to a focal plane array (FPA) of a camera includes a substrate, and a first spectral coating on a first surface of the substrate that passes both a first longer and a second shorter wavelength band. A second spectral coating that passes the longer wavelength band and blocks the shorter wavelength band is on an outer annulus region, but not on an inner region on the first surface or a second surface of the substrate. The second spectral coating provides a larger aperture area for the longer wavelength band as compared to an aperture area for the shorter wavelength band to passively realize different F-numbers for the bands to provide substantially matched beam spot sizes on the detector array for the longer wavelength band and the shorter wavelength band, such as a long-wave infrared (LWIR) band and a mid-wave IR (MWIR) band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20140152838
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments disclose a method of processing an image. The method includes: offsetting aliasing by analyzing frequency characteristics of at least one color channel and a NIR channel, of a MSFA pattern image; generating a high resolution base image; and offsetting an artifact from the high resolution base image by weighting the high resolution base image and a blur image, based on a pixel difference value between the blur image and the high resolution base image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Jeong-Ahn LEE, Min-seok LEE, Ji-yong KWON, Moon-gi KANG
  • Publication number: 20140152841
    Abstract: A surface of an object is irradiated using an infrared light beam. The infrared light beams reflected at the object are received by an infrared camera which captures a first intensity of the reflected infrared light beams on a detector of the infrared camera. Ambient radiation reflected at the object and the characteristic radiation of the object are detected by capturing a second intensity of the reflected ambient radiation and the characteristic radiation of the object on the detector of the infrared camera. The emissivity of the object is calculated based on the first intensity and the second intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Max Rothenfusser, Michael Stockmann
  • Publication number: 20140152842
    Abstract: This invention relates to an infra red wavefront sensor device (10) including: • a plurality of tapered coherent fibre optic image conduits (12a, 12b), wherein each image conduit has an input surface (14a, 14b) and a body portion (16a, 16b) that tapers to an output surface (18a, 18b) and is configured to transmit an infra-red image incident on the input surface (14a, 14b) to the output surface (18a, 18b), in which the input surfaces (14a, 14b) are substantially coplanar thereby defining an image plane; • a plurality of detector arrays (26), wherein each detector array has a plurality of detector cells which are responsive to infra-red radiation, and in which each detector array (26) is positioned so as to detect an infra-red image appearing at the output surface (18a, 18b) of the paired image conduit (12a, 12b) by producing an output signal; and • an image processor (28) responsive to the output signals of the detector arrays (26) and configured to combine said output signals to produce a composite image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventor: Leslie Charles Laycock
  • Publication number: 20140152840
    Abstract: Systems and methods prevent friendly fire using infrared object recognition. An IR projector projects a beam of IR radiation at a first wavelength onto the object and an IR detector, having a field of view of the object, detects IR fluorescence from the object, where a wavelength of the fluorescence is a function of the first wavelength. The system includes a memory for storing software having machine readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the steps of: (a) controlling the IR projector to generate IR at the first wavelength; (b) controlling the IR detector to capture the object fluorescence; and (c) identifying the object as friendly or non-friendly based upon the object fluorescence. The system further includes an inhibitor for preventing firing of a gun or missile when the object is identified as friendly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: WABA FUN, LLC
    Inventors: David C. McCloskey, Jeffrey L. Barnett, Stanley R. James
  • Publication number: 20140152772
    Abstract: A device for generating thermal images includes a low resolution infrared (IR) sensor supported within a housing and having a field of view. The IR sensor is configured to generate thermal images of objects within the field of view having a first resolution. A spatial information sensor supported within the housing is configured to determine a position for each of the thermal images generated by the IR sensor. A processing unit supported within the housing is configured to receive the thermal images and to combine the thermal images based on the determined positions of the thermal images to produce a combined thermal image having a second resolution that is greater than the first resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ando Feyh, Sam Kavusi, Johan Vanderhaegen, Gary Yama, Fabian Purkl
  • Publication number: 20140152839
    Abstract: A multi-spectral imaging (MSI) device can include an imaging plane and a diffractive optic. The imaging plane can include at least two groups of pixels an array of pixels for sensing at least two spectral bands. The at least two spectral bands can include a first spectral band and a second spectral band. The diffractive optic can be configured for diffracting an electromagnetic wave into the at least two spectral bands and focusing each spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave onto the group of pixels for the spectral band to generate an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Rajesh Menon