Flir Systems, Incorporated

Flir Systems Ab

Malin Ingerhed

Nicholas Högasten

Katrin Strandemar

Theodore R Hoelter

Eric A Kurth

Pierre M Boulanger

Barbara Sharp

Mark Nussmeier

Stanley H Garrow

Göran Rohlin

Various techniques are provided to capture one or more thermal image frames using an infrared sensor array that is fixably positioned to substantially de-align rows and columns of infrared sensors. In one example, an infrared imaging system includes an infrared sensor array comprising a plurality of infrared sensors arranged in rows and columns and adapted to capture a thermal image frame of a scene exhibiting at least one substantially horizontal or substantially vertical feature. The infrared imaging system also includes a housing. The infrared sensor array is fixably positioned within the housing to substantially de-align the rows and columns from the feature while the thermal image frame is captured.

Thermal image frame capture using de-aligned sensor array

A method for processing information from an IR detector of an IR camera, for an embodiment, comprises receiving a series of frames of data from said IR detector being operable to detect IR radiation from a scene, said frames of IR data representing detected IR radiation; performing a compression of said frames of IR data; wherein each data value together with calibration data uniquely represents measured IR radiation from the scene.

IR camera and method for processing thermal image information

Various techniques are provided to identify anomalous pixels in images captured by imaging devices. In one example, an infrared image frame is received. The infrared image frame is captured by a plurality of infrared sensors based on infrared radiation passed through an optical element. A pixel of the infrared image frame is selected. A plurality of neighborhood pixels of the infrared image frame are selected. Values of the selected pixel and the neighborhood pixels are processed to determine whether the value of the selected pixel exhibits a disparity in relation to the neighborhood pixels that exceeds a maximum disparity associated with a configuration of the optical element and the infrared sensors. The selected pixel is selectively designated as an anomalous pixel based on the processing.

Anomalous pixel detection

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods using small form factor infrared imaging devices to image scenes in proximity to a vehicle. An imaging system may include one or more infrared imaging devices, a processor, a memory, a display, a communication module, and modules to interface with a user, sensors, and/or a vehicle. Infrared imaging devices may be positioned in proximity to, mounted on, installed in, or otherwise fixed relative to a vehicle. Infrared imaging devices may be configured to capture infrared images of scenes in proximity to a vehicle. Various infrared image analytics and processing may be performed on captured infrared images to correct and/or calibrate the infrared images. Monitoring information, notifications, and/or control signals may be generated based on the corrected infrared images and then presented to a user and/or a monitoring and notification system, and/or used to control aspects of the vehicle.

Selective image correction for infrared imaging devices

Methods and systems are provided to reduce noise in thermal images. In one example, a method includes receiving an image frame comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. The pixels comprise thermal image data associated with a scene and noise introduced by an infrared imaging device. The image frame may be processed to determine a plurality of column correction terms, each associated with a corresponding one of the columns and determined based on relative relationships between the pixels of the corresponding column and the pixels of a neighborhood of columns. In another example, the image frame may be processed to determine a plurality of non-uniformity correction terms, each associated with a corresponding one of the pixels and determined based on relative relationships between the corresponding one of the pixels and associated neighborhood pixels within a selected distance.

Row and column noise reduction in thermal images

Various techniques are provided to process infrared images. In one implementation, a method of processing infrared image data includes receiving infrared image data associated with a scene. The infrared image data comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. The method also includes selecting one of the columns. The method also includes, for each pixel of the selected column, comparing the pixel to a corresponding plurality of neighborhood pixels. The method also includes, for each comparison, adjusting a first counter if the pixel of the selected column has a value greater than the compared neighborhood pixel. The method also includes, for each comparison, adjusting a second counter if the pixel of the selected column has a value less than the compared neighborhood pixel. The method also includes selectively updating a column correction term associated with the selected column based on the first and second counters.

Systems and methods for processing infrared images

Pixel-wise noise reduction in thermal images

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.

A camera comprising a first imaging part for capturing IR image data of a first field of view, said first imaging part comprising IR optics, a second imaging part for capturing visible light data of a second field of view at least partially overlapping the first field of view, said second imaging part comprising visible light optics, a laser pointer for providing a laser dot in the second field of view, and means for adjusting the first and second field of view relative to each other in dependence of the focusing distance of the first or second imaging part. The camera is arranged to determine the distance z between the camera and an object being imaged by means of the distance d, using the stored relationship. The distance z may be used to align the IR image and the visible light image.

Camera and method for use with camera

An infrared ('IR') camera includes first and second imaging parts for capturing an IR image and a visible light image, respectively. The field of view of the second imaging part at least partially overlaps the field of view of the first imaging part. The first imaging part includes IR optics. The second imaging part includes visible light optics. The IR camera also includes a focus motor for focusing at least one of the IR optics or the visible light optics. A sensor is operable to determine the position of the focus motor. Based on the position of the focus motor, a processor determines actual displacement for aligning the IR and visual light images. The actual displacement includes displacement due to parallax error and error due to the angle between the optical axes of the first and second imaging parts.

A method of displaying together IR image data and visible light image data corresponding to the same field of view in the same image is disclosed, comprising displaying IR image data in at least a first portion of the image and visible light image data in at least a second portion of the image. The method is characterized by the step of displaying the IR image data according to a colouring scheme adapted to the temperature range relevant to the first portion of the image. The resolution in the relevant temperature range may be increased by applying the entire range of colours available in the colouring scheme to the selected temperature range.

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Linköping, Sweden

Malin Ingerhed