Gas Flow Rate Estimation from Stabilized Infrared Image Sequences
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas flow rate estimation methods fail to accurately determine the gas flow rate when the infrared camera is moved during image capture, leading to incorrect estimates due to shifting fields of view and difficulty in specifying the gas area.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that aligns image positions across time-series images, allows for user designation of the gas flow rate area, and estimates the gas flow rate from corrected images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the infrared camera is moved during image capture to improve inspection efficiency, then the ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision of gas flow rate deteriorates due to shifting fields of view
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs image position alignment correction before gas flow rate estimation. The correction section aligns image positions of the monitoring target across time-series images, removing the effect of camera movement (panning) in advance, so that subsequent gas flow rate calculations can be performed accurately as if the camera were stationary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate correction process between image capture and gas flow rate estimation. The correction section acts as an intermediary that processes the raw images to compensate for camera movement, enabling the system to maintain measurement precision even when the camera is moved during operation.
2Measurement precision
If the infrared camera is fixed on a tripod to maintain stable image positions, then the measurement precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to reduced mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical constraint of a fixed tripod with a computational solution. Instead of physically constraining the camera to remain stationary, the system uses image processing algorithms to correct for movement, substituting mechanical stability with digital alignment correction.
3Ease of operation
If the field of view moves during panning, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of gas flow rate estimation deteriorates due to incorrect area specification
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs image position alignment correction before gas flow rate estimation. The correction section aligns image positions of the monitoring target across time-series images, removing the effect of camera movement (panning) in advance, so that subsequent gas flow rate calculations can be performed accurately as if the camera were stationary.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~2
Figure 3A
AI summary
Provided is an image processing device in which an area for performing gas flow rate estimation can be designated with respect to time-series images on which correction for aligning image positions has been performed. A gas flow rate estimation device 3 comprises: an image data input unit 9 to which time-series images taken of a subject including an object being monitored are inputted; an image stabilization unit 10 for performing correction to align image positions of the object being monitored between the time-series images; an image/warning display unit 12 for displaying a setting screen for receiving, in an area input unit 13, designation of an area for performing gas flow rate estimation, with respect to the time-series images on which the correction for aligning the image positions has been performed; and a gas flow rate estimation unit 15 for estimating a gas flow rate from the time-series images in which the area for performing gas flow rate estimation has been set.