Selective Color Thermal Image Display Using Dual Lookup Tables
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mass-produced thermal imaging cameras face challenges in effectively displaying thermal images due to limited resources, requiring innovative approaches to provide high-quality thermal image display without the complexity and cost of high-end systems.
Innovation Solution
A thermal imaging system that uses an array of photodetectors to produce intensity values, with image and display processing components applying either a color or grey-scale lookup table based on temperature criteria, allowing for selective color display of thermal images by comparing pixel values to user-defined temperature thresholds, ranges, or targeted values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a single lookup table is used for all pixels, then the display processing is simple and fast, but the visual representation of thermal images lacks differentiation and user-defined temperature criteria cannot be effectively highlighted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the thermal image display into multiple regions based on temperature criteria. Different lookup tables are applied to different pixel regions: one lookup table for pixels meeting the temperature criteria and another for pixels not meeting the criteria. This segmentation allows differentiated visual representation of thermally significant regions while maintaining manageable processing complexity through systematic region-based processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using different display characteristics (different lookup tables) for different local regions of the thermal image based on their temperature values. Pixels that meet the user-defined temperature criteria are displayed with one lookup table to highlight them, while other pixels use a different lookup table. This ensures that locally important thermal features receive appropriate visual emphasis.
2Loss of information
If multiple lookup tables are applied to different pixels based on temperature criteria, then the visual representation of thermal images is enhanced with color differentiation, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining multiple lookup tables before processing the thermal image. These lookup tables are prepared in advance and stored for quick retrieval during image processing. When a pixel meets the temperature criteria, the corresponding pre-prepared lookup table is applied, avoiding the need to create or compute lookup tables in real-time, thus reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by switching between different lookup tables based on the temperature parameter of each pixel. The system changes the display parameter (lookup table selection) according to the temperature value relative to the user-defined criteria. This allows efficient processing by changing only the display parameter rather than reprocessing the entire thermal data.
3Adaptability or versatility
If user-defined temperature criteria are used to select lookup tables, then the display can highlight regions of interest, but the system requires additional user input and interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the display characteristics adaptable and changeable based on user-defined temperature criteria. The system dynamically selects which lookup table to apply to each pixel based on whether the pixel's temperature meets the user-specified criteria. This dynamic adaptation allows the display to flexibly highlight different thermal regions of interest while maintaining ease of operation through a user-friendly interface for setting criteria.
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 method enhances the visual representation of thermal images by highlighting regions of interest with color, improving user experience and efficiently processing pixels for display, even with limited camera resources, by using multiple lookup tables and user-input temperature criteria.
Implementation Method 1
an array of photodetectors configured to produce an array of intensity values corresponding to light intensity at the photodetectors
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system includes an array of photodetectors that produce an array of intensity values. Image and display processing components of the imaging system produce an array of display-formatted pixels for display on an imaging system display. The display-formatted pixels include a first plurality of pixels associated with a color lookup table and a second plurality of pixels associated with a grey-scale lookup table. The image and display processing components compare pixel intensity values to temperature criteria and apply the color lookup table to pixels satisfying the temperature criteria and apply the grey-scale lookup table to pixels not satisfying the temperature criteria.