Camera IR Visible Light Alignment Laser Dot Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for combining IR and visible light images in cameras face challenges due to differences in field of view and resolution, requiring parallax correction and alignment, which are not effectively addressed by existing methods, especially when the optical axes of IR and visible light imaging parts are not parallel.
Innovation Solution
A camera system that uses a laser pointer to determine the distance to an object, allowing for accurate alignment and focus of IR and visible light images by establishing a relationship between the laser dot position in the image and the object distance, enabling independent alignment and focus adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If parallax correction is performed using existing methods (Hall sensor and magnet), then the focusing distance can be measured, but the actual displacement between IR and visible light images cannot be accurately determined when optical axes are not parallel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a laser pointer as an intermediary object that projects a laser dot onto the target. This laser dot serves as a visible reference point that can be captured by both IR and visible light imaging parts, enabling accurate measurement of actual displacement between the two fields of view. The laser pointer mediates between the optical systems and the target, providing a common reference that accounts for non-parallel optical axes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calibration by capturing images at multiple known distances and pre-calculating the relationship between laser dot displacement and actual image displacement. This preliminary action creates a lookup table or calibration curve that stores the correspondence between laser dot position and required image alignment correction, eliminating the need for real-time complex calculations during actual operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the optical systems for IR and visible light are placed at different positions, then the camera can capture both types of images, but parallax and field of view differences occur requiring complex alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The laser pointer serves as a common intermediary reference that both IR and visible light systems can use for alignment. By projecting a visible laser dot that appears in both fields of view, the system establishes a reference point that simplifies the alignment process between the two separately positioned optical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calibration by capturing images at multiple known distances and pre-calculating alignment parameters. This preliminary action stores the relationship between distance and displacement in a lookup table, reducing the complexity of real-time alignment operations.
3Ease of operation
If manual alignment by displacing images is performed, then image overlap can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and lacks precision for varying distances
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the laser dot position as feedback to automatically determine the required displacement for aligning IR and visible light images. The processor calculates the actual displacement based on laser dot position and retrieves pre-calculated alignment parameters, enabling automated alignment without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calibration to pre-calculate alignment parameters for various distances and stores them in a lookup table. During operation, the system simply queries this table based on the current distance, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual alignment adjustments.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise alignment and focus of IR and visible light images, improving image fusion quality by accounting for the angle between optical axes and providing accurate displacement corrections, particularly beneficial for objects difficult to focus on.
Implementation Method 1
a laser pointer for providing a laser dot in the second field of view
Implementation Method 2
the actual displacement of the images relative to each other is not simply a function of parallax, that is the displacement caused by the distance between the imaging parts for IR and visible light, respectively
Data Source
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AI summary
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.