Thermal Camera Temperature Correction for Accurate Fever Screening

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Solution Overview

Problem

The precision of body surface temperature measurements using thermal cameras is affected by outside temperature, which existing technologies like Patent Literature 1 fail to address effectively.

Innovation Solution

A correction apparatus and system that calculates a correction value based on the body temperature of a person who has stayed outdoors for a predetermined time, using a thermal camera, and applies this value to correct the body surface temperature of another person, considering attributes such as age and outdoor activity time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a thermal camera is installed near the entrance of a facility to measure body surface temperature, then non-contact temperature measurement can be performed, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to outside temperature influence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenon-contact measurement capabilityVSAvoidbody surface temperature measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a correction value as an intermediary element that mediates between the raw thermal camera measurement and the actual body surface temperature. This correction value, calculated based on outside temperature and individual attributes, compensates for the environmental influence without requiring changes to the measurement setup or contact-based methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the measurement parameters by introducing correction values that account for outside temperature and individual attributes (age, outdoor activity time). Instead of directly measuring body surface temperature with the thermal camera alone, the system calculates corrected temperature values by adjusting the raw measurements with these parameter-based corrections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If body surface temperature is measured using a thermal camera at the entrance, then fever screening can be performed quickly, but measurement accuracy decreases due to environmental factors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefever screening efficiencyVSAvoidbody surface temperature accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by collecting individual attribute information (age, outdoor activity time) and calculating correction values before final temperature determination. This preliminary data collection and correction calculation enables accurate fever screening without compromising the quick screening capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by using correction values that are calculated based on the relationship between outside temperature, individual attributes, and actual body temperature. This feedback mechanism continuously adjusts the temperature readings to compensate for environmental influences, maintaining both screening efficiency and accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Improves the precision of body surface temperature measurements by accounting for external temperature influences, allowing for accurate fever screening.

Implementation Method 1

acquire a body surface temperature of a first person who has stayed outdoors for a predetermined time or longer from a video image captured by a thermal camera

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

calculate, on the basis of a result of measurement of a body temperature of the first person, a correction value to be used for correcting a body surface temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS12546662B2Correction apparatus, correction system, correction method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 NEC CORP

AI summary

There is provided a correction apparatus comprising: a calculation unit configured to acquire a body surface temperature of a first person who has stayed outdoors for a predetermined time or longer from a video image captured by a thermal camera and calculating, on the basis of a result of measurement of a body temperature of the first person, a correction value to be used for correcting the body surface temperature of the first person; and a correction unit configured to acquire a body surface temperature of a second person different from the first person from a video image captured by the thermal camera and correct a body surface temperature of the second person on the basis of the correction value.