Rotating Camera Image Stitching for Distortion-Free Thermography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fisheye lenses used with infrared cameras for thermographic imaging in large spaces cause significant image distortions, leading to inaccurate temperature measurements and fire detection issues.
Innovation Solution
A method to generate composite circular or annular images using image data from a rotating camera, processing the data to minimize distortions by aligning and combining images with an image processing device, allowing for clear observation of large spaces without fisheye distortions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a fisheye lens with a field of view of at least 180° is used to monitor a large room thermographically, then the coverage area is improved, but image distortion increases leading to temperature measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring task into multiple segments by using several cameras positioned at different locations around the room. Each camera captures a portion of the room with reduced distortion, and the images are later combined to form a complete panoramic view. This segmentation allows maintaining wide coverage while improving temperature measurement accuracy in each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image processing system as an intermediary that corrects the distorted thermographic images captured by the fisheye lenses. The system applies distortion correction algorithms and combines multiple corrected images to produce an accurate panoramic thermographic representation, thereby mediating between the wide-angle capture need and the measurement accuracy requirement.
2Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are used to reduce image distortion, then temperature measurement accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the image processing system to perform multiple functions: distortion correction, image alignment, image combination, and temperature measurement. By making the image processing system multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy with multiple cameras.
3Area of stationary object
If a rotating camera is used to capture panoramic images, then coverage area is improved, but image distortion and alignment difficulty increase
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 real-time adjustment of image alignment and combination parameters, automatically compensating for the camera's movement and reducing the complexity of manual alignment while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Data Source
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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 centre 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 combination on the screen (7).