Fire Detection Imaging for Real-Reflection Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire detection systems using imaging devices struggle to distinguish between real fires and reflections, leading to false alarms, and thermal cameras, while effective, are costly and may not fully differentiate between real and reflected fires due to IR radiation reflection.
Innovation Solution
A fire detection system utilizing visible wavelength cameras and image processing techniques to capture and compare background feature locations across multiple image frames, calculating flow vectors to differentiate between real and reflected fires by analyzing air flow distortions caused by real fires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If thermal cameras are used to detect fire, then fire detection accuracy is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visible wavelength camera images as a substitute for thermal camera images. By capturing visible light images and analyzing fire characteristics in the visible spectrum, the system achieves fire detection without requiring expensive thermal imaging equipment, thus resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and device cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive visible wavelength cameras instead of costly thermal cameras. Visible wavelength cameras are significantly cheaper and more widely available, allowing the system to achieve fire detection functionality at a lower cost while maintaining practical detection capabilities
2Reliability
If thermal cameras are used to differentiate real vs. reflected fire, then detection capability is improved, but false alarms occur due to IR radiation reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from infrared radiation wavelength to visible light wavelength. By analyzing fire characteristics in the visible spectrum rather than the infrared spectrum, the system avoids the problem of IR radiation reflection that causes false alarms, while still maintaining the ability to differentiate real fires from reflections through visible light analysis
3Ease of manufacture
If visible wavelength cameras are used for fire detection, then device cost is reduced, but ability to differentiate real vs. reflected fire deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces temporal dimension by capturing multiple image frames over time and analyzing the motion characteristics of fire. By examining how fire features move and change across sequential frames, the system can differentiate real fires from reflections using visible light cameras, thus maintaining differentiation accuracy while using cost-effective visible wavelength sensors
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
Effectively distinguishes between real and reflected fires without bulky optics, reducing false alarms and maintaining cost-effectiveness by using visible wavelength cameras and image processing to analyze air flow distortions.
Implementation Method 1
A fire detection system utilizing visible wavelength cameras and image processing techniques
Implementation Method 2
analyzing air flow distortions caused by real fires
Data Source
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AI summary
Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and apparatuses for detecting fire. An apparatus may capture a first image frame from a field of view, capture a second image frame from the field of view, compare a first location of a background feature in the first image frame with a second location of the background feature in the second image frame. The apparatus may calculate a flow vector using the comparison of the first location of the background feature in the first image frame and the second location of the background feature in the second image frame and differentiate between an image of a real fire and an image of a reflected fire using the flow vector.