Image-Based Gas Detection Masking for False-Alert Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas detection systems struggle to suppress unnecessary gas detection notifications while ensuring necessary notifications are not suppressed, particularly in cases where substances like water vapor or shadows are mistakenly identified as gases, and inappropriate region settings can lead to missed gas detections.

Innovation Solution

A gas detection device that includes a mask generation unit to generate mask regions based on user-input and extracted candidate regions, allowing for suppression of unnecessary notifications and necessary notifications by using user-designated and statistical masks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If gas detection is performed in all regions of the image, then detection coverage is improved, but unnecessary notifications increase due to false detection of substances like water vapor and shadows

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection coverageVSAvoidunnecessary notifications
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The image is divided into multiple regions, with each region assigned a specific detection policy. The mask generation unit creates mask data that segments the image into masked regions (where detection is suppressed) and unmasked regions (where detection is performed), allowing different detection behaviors in different spatial locations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different detection characteristics are applied to different regions of the image. By creating mask data with specific regional attributes, the system applies local detection quality control, suppressing detection in regions prone to false positives while maintaining sensitive detection in regions requiring monitoring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-generated harmful factors

If mask regions are set to suppress unnecessary notifications, then false detection is reduced, but necessary gas detections may be suppressed inappropriately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefalse detectionVSAvoidnecessary notification
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mask generation unit dynamically creates mask data based on extracted candidate regions and user input, allowing the mask regions to be flexible and adaptive rather than fixed. This enables the system to adjust detection suppression regions based on actual conditions while maintaining necessary detection coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates user feedback through the input unit, where users can provide corrections or adjustments to automatically generated mask regions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to learn from user corrections and improve mask generation accuracy, ensuring necessary detections are not suppressed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If automatic mask generation is used based on extracted candidate regions, then ease of operation is improved, but detection precision may be reduced due to inappropriate automatic region settings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemask generationVSAvoidmask region accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mask candidate region extraction unit performs preliminary analysis to identify potential mask regions before final mask generation. This preliminary action provides a foundation for automatic mask creation, reducing the burden on users while maintaining reasonable accuracy through subsequent user confirmation or correction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary process between automatic extraction and final mask application, where extracted candidate regions are presented for user review and confirmation. This intermediary step allows automatic generation to provide ease of operation while user verification maintains detection precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The device effectively suppresses unnecessary gas detection notifications and ensures necessary notifications are given by using user-defined and statistically derived mask regions, thereby achieving balanced detection.

Implementation Method 1

an image capturing unit that captures an image of a monitoring target

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP4134649B1Gas detection device, computer implemented gas detection method, and gas detection program
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • EP4134649B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4134649B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4134649B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A gas detection device that gives a notification of a detected gas on the basis of a captured image obtained by capturing an image of a monitoring target, the gas detection device including: a gas detection unit that detects gas on the basis of the captured image and gives a notification of the detected gas; an input unit that receives input information from a user; a mask candidate region extraction unit that extracts a mask candidate region that is a candidate region of a mask region for which a notification of gas detection is suppressed; and a mask generation unit that generates mask data indicating the mask region, in which the gas detection unit gives a notification of a gas detected outside the mask region, and the mask generation unit generates, as the mask data, a region in which first mask candidate region information input from the input unit matches second mask candidate region information extracted by the mask candidate region extraction unit.