Automatic Cyclic Integration for Infrared Thermal Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IR imaging systems face challenges in selecting optimal integration times, leading to sub-optimal results when capturing scenes with a wide range of thermal intensities, as longer integration times can cause colder objects to 'disappear' while shorter times result in over-exposure of warmer objects, and manual cyclic integration is impractical for real-time applications due to post-processing requirements.
Innovation Solution
The system automatically optimizes cyclic integration times by selecting different integration times based on the analysis of digitized values falling outside configurable thresholds, allowing for real-time imaging by continuously updating a rolling composite image with useful data from multiple images acquired with varying integration times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single integration time is selected based on overall thermal intensity, then the system is simple to operate, but some objects will be over-exposed or under-exposed causing loss of scene detail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the scene into multiple thermal intensity zones by acquiring images at different integration times. Each integration time captures a specific range of thermal intensities, and the system reconstructs the complete scene by combining these segmented images, thereby preserving scene detail across the full thermal range.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the integration time based on the detected thermal intensity distribution in the scene. Rather than using a fixed integration time, the system adaptively selects from multiple integration times to optimize the capture of both cold and hot objects, preventing over-exposure and under-exposure.
2Loss of information
If manual cyclic integration is used to capture different thermal intensities, then scene detail is preserved, but real-time imaging becomes difficult due to post-processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously acquiring multiple images at different integration times in real-time. The reconstruction process is integrated into the imaging pipeline rather than being performed as a separate post-processing step, enabling real-time composite image generation without time lag.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous acquisition of images at multiple integration times simultaneously or in rapid succession. This continuous multi-integration-time imaging allows the system to generate updated composite images in real-time, maintaining both scene detail and real-time imaging capability.
3Measurement precision
If a longer integration time is used to capture cold objects, then cold objects become visible, but warm objects become over-exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the thermal intensity measurement task into multiple acquisitions at different integration times. One acquisition uses a longer integration time to capture cold objects, while another uses a shorter integration time to capture warm objects, and the system reconstructs the complete thermal scene by combining these segmented measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the integration time parameter between acquisitions to optimize for different thermal intensity ranges. By varying this key parameter, the system can selectively capture both cold and warm objects with appropriate exposure levels, then combine the results to preserve detail across the entire thermal range.
4Measurement precision
If a shorter integration time is used to capture warm objects, then warm objects are properly exposed, but cold objects disappear
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the thermal measurement task by using a shorter integration time for capturing warm objects and a longer integration time for capturing cold objects. Each segmentation targets a specific thermal intensity range, and the final composite image combines both segments to preserve all scene detail.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts the integration time parameter to match the thermal intensity of the target objects. For warm objects, a shorter integration time prevents over-exposure, while for cold objects, a longer integration time ensures sufficient signal capture. The system dynamically changes this parameter based on scene analysis.
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
This approach enables real-time imaging without manual intervention or prior knowledge of integration times, maintaining a high refresh rate by dynamically adjusting integration times to capture a wide range of thermal intensities, ensuring accurate and complete scene representation.
Implementation Method 1
Infrared (IR) imaging facilitates viewing the relative thermal intensity of objects in a scene
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with automatically optimizing cyclic integration are described. One method embodiment includes repetitively acquiring a thermal intensity data using an infrared detector configured to operate for an integration time. The method embodiment may also include extracting a useable data from the intensity data and then updating a rolling composite image with the useable data. The method may also include selectively automatically updating the integration time based on whether the thermal intensity data included a value that fell outside the pre-determined range.