Flir Systems, Incorporated

Autoliv Development Ab

Indigo Systems Corporation

Teledyne Flir, LLC

Joseph Kostrzewa

Theodore R Hoelter

Nicholas Högasten

Pierre M Boulanger

Barbara Sharp

Katrin Strandemar

Bruce A Covington

Eric A Kurth

Marcel Tremblay

Vu L Nguyen

Russell D Granneman

Tobias Höglund

Michael Kent

Naseem Y Aziz

Jan-Erik Källhammer

Richard M Goeden

Gary B Hughes

Scott McNally

Shawn Jepson

Neil Cutcliffe

Nuwan Nagahawatte

Leonard Araki

George Speake

Ted Takagi

Robert Ernst

John Graff

Neela Nalam

Stephen Lyon

Tim Martin

Ted Hoelter

Bill Terre

Dan S Walker

Chris Posch

Alan D Kathman

William J Parrish

Jeffrey Lynn Heath

Mark Nussmeier

James T Woolaway

Brian B Simolon

William A Terre

John D Schlesselmann

Peter Hall

Frank Paul Leonelli, Jr

Ognjan Hedberg

Charles W Handley

Thad Lieb

Douglas R Kraemer

Jason Gardner

Anders Cassel

George H Poe

Theodore B Hoelter

Jared A Faraudo

Wayne Patterson

Russell D Grannemann

Scott Mcnally

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods for facilitating infrared imaging in multiple imaging modes. A device may include an infrared image capture circuit and at least one processing circuit. The infrared image capture circuit may be configured to detect first infrared data and generate a first pixel value based on the first infrared data and a first imaging mode among multiple imaging modes. The at least one processing circuit may be configured to compare the first pixel value to a set of saturation threshold values associated with the first imaging mode. The at least one processing circuit may be further configured to select an imaging mode among the multiple imaging modes based on the comparison of the first pixel value. The at least one processing circuit may be further configured to set the infrared image capture circuit to generate a second pixel value based on the selected imaging mode.

Infrared imaging in multiple imaging modes systems and methods

Systems and methods are disclosed herein to detect pixels exhibiting anomalous behavior in captured image frames. In some examples, temporal anomalous behavior may be identified, such as flickering pixels exhibiting large magnitude changes in pixel values that vary rapidly from frame-to-frame. In some examples, spatial anomalous behavior may be identified, such as pixels exhibiting values that deviate from an expected linear response in comparison with other neighbor pixels.

Anomalous pixel detection

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.

Infrared imaging system shutter assembly with integrated thermister

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.

Flat field correction systems and methods for infrared cameras

Camera core

A shutter assembly may be provided for an infrared imaging module to selectively block external infrared radiation from reaching infrared sensors of the infrared imaging module. For example, the shutter assembly may comprise a paddle situated external to an optical element (e.g., lens) and adapted to be selectively moved by an actuator to substantially block external infrared radiation from entering the optical element. The shutter assembly may be stacked relative to a housing of the infrared imaging module without excessively increasing the overall profile of the infrared imaging module. A substantially reflective low emissivity interior surface may be provided on the paddle to reflect infrared radiation originating from an infrared sensor assembly of the infrared imaging module back to the infrared sensor assembly.

Infrared imaging device having a shutter

Various techniques are provided to implement a modular infrared imager assembly configured to interface with supporting electronics provided, for example, by a third party. In one example, a system includes an imager assembly comprising a focal plane array configured to capture thermal image data from a scene and output the thermal image data, a printed circuit board assembly, and processing electronics communicatively connected to the focal plane array through the printed circuit board assembly and configured to receive and process the thermal image data. The system further includes a connector communicatively connected to the imager assembly and configured to interface with supporting electronics configured to receive and additionally process the thermal image data.

Modular split-processing infrared imaging system

Various embodiments of the present disclosure may include a focal plane array configured to capture thermal image data from a scene. The embodiments may further include a sensor window displaced a first distance from the focal plane array. The embodiments may also include a protective window displaced a second distance greater than the first distance from the focal plane array, wherein the second distance causes damage or debris incident on the protective window to be out of focus in the thermal image data.

Protective window for an infrared sensor array

Various techniques are provided to compensate for and/or update ineffective (e.g., stale) calibration terms due to calibration drifts in infrared imaging devices. For example, a virtual-shutter non-uniformity correction (NUC) procedure may be initiated to generate NUC terms to correct non-uniformities when appropriate triggering events and/or conditions are detected that may indicate presence of an object or scene to act as a shutter (e.g., a virtual shutter). Scene-based non-uniformity correction (SBNUC) may be performed during image capturing operations of the infrared imaging device, for example, when a virtual-shutter scene is not available. Further, snapshots of calibration data (e.g., NUC terms) produced during the virtual-shutter NUC procedure, the SBNUC process, and/or other NUC process may be taken. Such snapshots may be utilized to provide useful NUC data when the infrared imaging device starts up or is otherwise reactivated, so that the SBNUC or other NUC methods may produce effective results soon after the start-up. Such snapshots may also be utilized to update ineffective calibration terms.

Techniques to compensate for calibration drifts in infrared imaging devices

Various techniques are provided to perform flat field correction for infrared cameras. In one example, a method of calibrating an infrared camera includes calibrating a focal plane array (FPA) of the infrared camera to an external scene to determine a set of flat field correction values associated with a first optical path from the external scene to the FPA. The method also includes estimating a temperature difference between the FPA and a component of the infrared camera that is in proximity to the first optical path. The method also includes determining supplemental flat field correction values based on, at least in part, the first set of flat field correction values, where the supplemental flat field correction values are adjusted based on the estimated temperature difference before being applied to thermal image data obtained with the infrared camera. The method also includes storing the supplemental flat field correction values.

Flat field correction for infrared cameras

A housing for an infrared camera module may be implemented with a substantially non-metal cover configured to substantially or completely enclose various components of an infrared imaging device. A metal layer may be disposed on various interior and/or exterior surfaces of the cover. Such implementations may be used to reduce the effects of various environmental conditions which may otherwise adversely affect the performance of the infrared imaging device. In addition, one or more conductive traces may be built into the housing and/or on interior surfaces of the housing to facilitate the passing of signals from components of the infrared imaging device such as infrared sensors, read out circuitry, a temperature measurement component, and/or other components. One or more fiducial markers may be provided to align various components of the infrared camera module during manufacture.

Infrared camera system housing with metalized surface

Various techniques are disclosed for providing systems for providing alignment guide information to selectively direct a visible light source to substantially align the visible light source with a desired subject and to project a visible light beam substantially on the desired subject. For example, a system may include a small form factor infrared imaging module to capture thermal images of a scene, which may be received by a processor to generate alignment guide information such as a user-viewable image of the scene, a user-viewable cue, and a framing reticle. In another example, such a system may be implemented as a camera. In yet another example, such a system may be implemented as a spotlight.

Alignment of visible light sources based on thermal images

Various techniques are disclosed to detect and mitigate the effects of burn-in events occurring in thermal imaging systems. Such events may be attributable to the sun (e.g., solar burn-in) and/or other high thermal energy sources. In one example, a method includes detecting a burn-in event that causes thermal images captured by a focal plane array (FPA) to exhibit a blemish; and mitigating the blemish in the thermal images. In another example, a thermal imaging system includes a focal plane array (FPA) adapted to capture thermal images; and a processor adapted to: detect a burn-in event that causes the thermal images to exhibit a blemish, and mitigate the blemish in the thermal images.

Detection and mitigation of burn-in for thermal imaging systems

Growing community of inventors

Buellton, CA, United States of America

Joseph Kostrzewa