Infrared Camera Hyperframing for Wide Dynamic Range Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Infrared cameras face challenges in capturing images with a wide dynamic range of brightness due to saturation issues and inability to adapt quickly to changing temperature profiles, particularly in scenes like rocket launches, where both hot and cold objects are present, leading to incomplete data acquisition.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of electronic and mechanical superframing techniques in infrared cameras, which involve acquiring multiple subframes with different exposures and integration times to generate a single superframe with enhanced dynamic range, allowing for improved imaging of scenes with large thermal differences without sacrificing noise performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single exposure value is used to image the entire scene, then the brightest parts will be saturated and the darkest parts will appear black, but using multiple exposure values increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single image acquisition into multiple subframes with different exposure values. Each subframe captures a portion of the dynamic range, with some subframes optimized for bright regions and others for dark regions. These subframes are then combined to form a complete image with extended dynamic range, resolving the contradiction between capturing full dynamic range and avoiding saturation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic exposure control by varying the integration time of detector elements across different subframes. The exposure values are adjusted adaptively based on the scene content and temporal changes, allowing the system to optimize capture quality for different brightness levels without requiring multiple static camera configurations.
2Measurement precision
If the integration time is extended to capture dark regions, then the brightest regions will be saturated, but reducing integration time causes dark regions to appear black
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image acquisition process into multiple temporal subframes, each with optimized integration time for specific brightness ranges. This allows the system to capture dark regions with long integration times without saturating bright regions, as each subframe operates independently with appropriate exposure settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic acquisition of multiple subframes at different integration times. This periodic sampling of the scene at varying exposure levels enables the system to reconstruct the full dynamic range by combining information from all subframes, maintaining signal quality across the entire brightness spectrum.
3Measurement precision
If the camera is optimized for a particular brightness range, then imaging quality is improved for that range, but the camera cannot adapt to substantial temperature profile changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation to changing temperature profiles by continuously acquiring multiple subframes with different integration times and selecting or combining the appropriate subframes based on real-time scene analysis. This allows the camera to adapt its effective exposure settings to match changing thermal conditions while maintaining optimal imaging quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms to monitor scene brightness distribution and temperature profile changes. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts which subframes are used or how they are combined, enabling adaptive optimization for changing thermal conditions without sacrificing imaging quality for the current conditions.
4Measurement precision
If multiple subframes with different exposures are acquired, then dynamic range is extended, but the acquisition time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic acquisition of multiple subframes at different integration times. By organizing the acquisition as a periodic process with optimized timing, the system efficiently captures the full dynamic range while minimizing total acquisition time through rhythmic sampling rather than sequential scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple subframes with different exposure information into a single output image. By combining the temporal and exposure-dimensional information from multiple subframes, the system achieves extended dynamic range in a unified image product, effectively consolidating the acquisition time into a single processed output.
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 increases the dynamic range of infrared imaging systems, enabling accurate and simultaneous capture of both hot and cold objects in a scene, reducing errors and blurring associated with traditional methods, while maintaining linear response and high sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
Infrared cameras may be used to image objects and scenes by detecting radiation in the thermal infrared and/or near-infrared range
Implementation Method 2
positioning a first filter in the optical path of an infrared camera, the first filter configured to pass a narrow wavelength band including a first wavelength
Implementation Method 3
An FPA system uses an array of infrared detectors such as photodiodes or bolometers, where the output of each detector in the array is used as intensity information
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques for imaging spectroscopy using improved data acquisition for infrared and near-infrared imaging. A first filter corresponding to a first wavelength may be positioned in the optical path of an infrared camera, and subframe data may be acquired for different exposures. A second filter corresponding to a second different wavelength may be positioned in the optical path of the infrared camera, and subframe data acquired for different exposures. Image data for the first wavelength and the second wavelength may then be compared to reference spectroscopic data.