Nocturnal Animal Observation System Using NIR Fusion Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermographic cameras struggle to detect nocturnal animals inside opaque plastic boxes due to weak heat radiation, leading to inaccurate assessments of the animals' status, as they can only detect temperature variations on the outer surface and lack detail in thermal images.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an observation box that allows near-infrared passage while blocking visible light, combined with a near-infrared (NIR) source unit and an imaging device featuring a dual-lens module sensitive to both far-infrared and visible/NIR ranges, which enhances image clarity by projecting and reflecting NIR to create a clearer fusion image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional thermographic cameras are used to detect nocturnal animals inside opaque plastic boxes, then safety and convenience of observation are improved, but detection accuracy and image clarity deteriorate due to weak heat radiation penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging device is segmented into two separate imaging modules: a first imaging module for capturing thermal images through the opaque box, and a second imaging module for capturing visible light images. This segmentation allows each module to optimize for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between safety (using opaque box) and detection accuracy (needing clear images of animals inside).
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges thermal imaging data from the first imaging module with visible light imaging data from the second imaging module to create a fused image. This combination allows the system to maintain the safety benefits of the opaque box while achieving accurate detection and clear visualization of nocturnal animals inside the box.
2Ease of operation
If opaque plastic boxes are used to create darkrooms for nocturnal observation, then safety and convenience are improved, but the ability to detect and visualize animal details deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging device is segmented into two separate imaging modules: a first imaging module for capturing thermal images through the opaque box, and a second imaging module for capturing visible light images. This segmentation allows each module to optimize for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between safety (using opaque box) and detection accuracy (needing clear images of animals inside).
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary fusion process that combines thermal imaging data with visible light imaging data. This intermediary step allows information about animal details to be transferred from the visible light images to enhance the thermal images, preventing loss of detail information while maintaining the benefits of the opaque box.
3Stability of the object's composition
If only thermal imaging is used to observe animals in the opaque box, then the opaque box structure is maintained, but image clarity and animal detail visualization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges thermal imaging data from the first imaging module with visible light imaging data from the second imaging module to create a fused image. This combination allows the system to maintain the safety benefits of the opaque box while achieving accurate detection and clear visualization of nocturnal animals inside the box.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of image formation by using two different imaging modalities (thermal and visible light) instead of relying on a single thermal imaging channel. This parameter change enables the system to maintain the opaque box structure while achieving high image clarity through multi-parameter image fusion.
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 accurate detection and visualization of nocturnal animals inside the observation box, providing clearer images of both temperature distribution and animal details without disturbing the animal, thus overcoming the limitations of conventional thermographic cameras.
Implementation Method 1
The first image capturing module includes a focal plane array (FPA) that is sensitive to far infrared (FIR) resulting from heat energy of objects, wherein said first image capturing module is disposed to capture a first image, which is a thermal image resulting from far infrared emitted by an outer surface of the observation box
Implementation Method 2
The NIR source unit is disposed to project near infrared that falls within the specific range of near infrared toward the observation box that covers the living target for enhancing near infrared reflected by the living target
Implementation Method 3
The second image capturing module includes a filter component that is configured to permit passage of only visible light and light components of which wavelengths fall within a specific range of near infrared
Implementation Method 4
an image sensor that is sensitive to visible light and near infrared (NIR). The second image capturing module is configured to make the image sensor to receive visible light and near infrared that enter the second image capturing module and that pass through the filter component
Data Source
AI summary
A system is proposed for observing nocturnal activities and temperature variation of a living target during daytime. The system includes an observation box, an imaging device, and a near infrared (NIR) source unit. The observation box allows passage of near infrared, blocks passage of visible light, and contains and covers the living target. The imaging device includes a first image capturing module to capture a thermal image of the observation box using far infrared, and a second image capturing module to capture an image of the observation box using visible light and of the living target using near infrared. The NIR source unit projects near infrared toward the observation box for enhancing near infrared reflected by the living target.