Infrared Imaging Pixel Sensitivity Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal-type infrared imaging devices face a tradeoff between temperature resolution and measurement range, requiring users to adjust sensitivity settings, which complicates operations and results in lost temperature information when the subject temperature exceeds or is narrower than the set range.
Innovation Solution
A thermal-type infrared imaging device with a two-dimensional array of pixels, each with adjustable sensitivity set by a signal processing unit, classifying pixels into types with different sensitivities to achieve high resolution and wide range without user intervention, by adjusting voltage, capacitance, and integration time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensitivity is increased to improve temperature resolution, then temperature resolution is improved, but temperature measurement range is narrowed
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel array is segmented into multiple types of pixels with different sensitivity characteristics. Each pixel type has optimized sensitivity for specific temperature ranges, allowing the system to cover both low-temperature and high-temperature regions effectively without requiring manual sensitivity adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the pixel array are assigned different sensitivity characteristics according to a predetermined pattern. This local differentiation allows each region to be optimized for its expected temperature range, with high-sensitivity pixels for low-temperature regions and low-sensitivity pixels for high-temperature regions.
2Temperature
If sensitivity is decreased to widen temperature measurement range, then temperature measurement range is widened, but temperature resolution is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel array is segmented into multiple types of pixels with different sensitivity characteristics. Each pixel type has optimized sensitivity for specific temperature ranges, allowing the system to cover both low-temperature and high-temperature regions effectively without requiring manual sensitivity adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the pixel array are assigned different sensitivity characteristics according to a predetermined pattern. This local differentiation allows each region to be optimized for its expected temperature range, with high-sensitivity pixels for low-temperature regions and low-sensitivity pixels for high-temperature regions.
3Ease of operation
If fixed sensitivity setting is used to simplify device operation, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to different temperature ranges is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging device automatically adapts to different temperature ranges by utilizing the predetermined pattern of multiple pixel types with different sensitivities. The system self-adjusts to appropriate sensitivity levels for the imaged scene without requiring manual intervention, maintaining both operational simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pixel array is designed with universal applicability across multiple temperature ranges by incorporating diverse pixel types. This multi-functional design allows the same device to effectively image both low-temperature and high-temperature subjects without requiring separate devices or manual reconfiguration.
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 simultaneous high temperature resolution and wide temperature measurement range without requiring user-set sensitivity adjustments, effectively capturing detailed temperature information across varying subject temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
A bolometer is a device that detects an infrared ray through the operation on the phenomenon that the resistance value of a resistor varies when an infrared ray enters the resistor
Implementation Method 2
The resistance change of a bolometer 21 is voltage-converted (converted to voltage) by an integration circuit
Data Source
AI summary
Thermal-type infrared imaging device comprises an infrared ray detection unit in which pixels, each of which includes a bolometer, are arranged two-dimensionally; and a signal processing unit that sequentially reads signal of each bolometer in synchronization with switching operation of a horizontal shift register and a vertical shift register, integrates the read signal using an integration circuit, and outputs the integrated signal. The signal processing unit is configured so that it can set a sensitivity (for example, voltage applied to bolometer, capacitance of a capacitor in the integration circuit, and/or period of time for integrating the signal) for each pixel according to a predetermined pattern in synchronization with switching operation for classifying a plurality of pixels into a plurality of types of pixels for which different sensitivities are set, for example, high-sensitivity pixels 15 with a narrow temperature measurement range and a high temperature resolution and low-sensitivity pixels 16 with a wider temperature measurement range and a lower temperature resolution than those of the high-sensitivity pixels 15.