Rotating Camera Circular Image Stitching for Distortion-Free Thermography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Infrared cameras with fisheye lenses for thermographic monitoring of large spaces suffer from significant image distortions at the edges, leading to inaccurate fire detection and extinguishing agent deployment.
Innovation Solution
A method for generating composite circular or circular ring images using image data from a rotating camera, where the image data are processed to form circular segment or sector images, which are then aligned concentrically and displayed on a screen, minimizing distortions and enabling precise fire detection and extinguishing agent targeting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a fisheye lens with an angle of view of at least 180° is used in an infrared camera to thermographically monitor a large room from its center, then the monitoring coverage area is improved, but image distortions at the edge area increase leading to measurement errors in temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large room into multiple smaller monitoring zones by deploying multiple infrared cameras at different locations. Each camera covers a specific zone with its standard lens, and the zones are segmented and displayed together to form a complete view of the entire room, thereby maintaining temperature measurement accuracy while achieving comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image processing system as an intermediary that receives images from multiple cameras, performs geometric correction and stitching operations, and generates a composite thermographic image. This intermediary system eliminates edge distortions by processing and aligning images from multiple sources before display.
2Area of stationary object
If a rotating camera is used to capture images from multiple orientations, then the coverage area is improved, but the complexity of image processing and alignment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the rotating camera's position and orientation data are continuously fed back to the image processing system. This feedback enables automatic geometric correction and alignment of images captured at different orientations, reducing processing complexity by providing precise transformation parameters for stitching images into a coherent composite view.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for generating a composite circular image (12) or circular ring image (13) on a screen (7) using image data from a rotating camera (2) with a certain orientation to the axis of rotation (33), in which method the image data are processed at an image-processing device (10), the camera (2) supplying a rectangular image (14) which is longitudinally delimited by a start line (15) and an end line (16), and the image (14) being modified in such a way—that the start line (15) forms a circular image center point (22) and the end line (16) forms an outer radius of a circular segment image (24) when the camera (2) is oriented in such a way that the start line (15) intersects the axis of rotation (33), a plurality of circular segment images (24) being sequentially assembled to produce a circular image (12), or—that the start line (15) forms an inner radius and the end line forms an outer radius of a circular sector image (35) when the camera (2) is oriented in such a way that the start line (15) is offset by a positive angle to the axis of rotation (33), a plurality of circular sector images (35) being sequentially assembled to produce a circular ring image (13), —wherein the image-processing device (10) concentrically aligns at least one generated circular image (12) with at least one generated circular ring image (13) and displays images (14), that are captured successively by means of the camera (2), in combined fashion on the screen (7).