Thermal Imaging Color Allocation Sub-Range Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal imaging systems face challenges in providing direct and consistent color correlation to thermal image data, especially in applications where rapid temperature identification is crucial, such as firefighting, due to the limitations of histogram equalization (HE) processes that re-allocate colors based on scene temperature distributions.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves dividing the dynamic range of thermal imaging systems into sub-ranges and allocating specific colors to each sub-range, using both histogram equalization and fixed color assignments. This allows for consistent color representation of temperature ranges, with lower temperatures displayed using a muted color table and higher temperatures using a bright, high-contrast color table, ensuring direct identification of hazardous areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If histogram equalization (HE) process is used to allocate colors based on scene temperature distribution, then the color allocation adapts to different scenes, but the color correlation to absolute temperature values becomes inconsistent and indirect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the temperature range into multiple sub-ranges (e.g., low, medium, high temperature zones) and allocates specific color tables to each sub-range. This segmentation allows different color allocation strategies to be applied to different temperature regions, maintaining both adaptability within regions and consistent correlation to absolute temperatures across regions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different color allocation methods are applied to different temperature sub-ranges: HE process is used within each sub-range to maintain local adaptability, while fixed color assignments are used across sub-ranges to maintain global temperature correlation. This local quality approach allows each region to have optimized color allocation while preserving overall temperature information.
2Ease of operation
If a single color table is used for the entire temperature range, then the display is simple and consistent, but the ability to provide direct visual indication of hazardous high-temperature areas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature range is segmented into sub-ranges with different color table assignments. High-temperature sub-ranges can be assigned to distinct, high-visibility color tables (e.g., bright red, yellow) that provide immediate visual warning, while lower temperature sub-ranges use different color schemes. This maintains overall display simplicity through systematic segmentation while enhancing temperature identification accuracy for hazardous areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs different color tables for different temperature sub-ranges, with specific emphasis on using high-contrast, attention-grabbing colors for high-temperature zones. This color change strategy across sub-ranges provides direct visual indication of hazardous areas while maintaining a systematic and simple overall display structure.
3Measurement precision
If multiple color tables are allocated to different temperature sub-ranges, then direct visual identification of temperature ranges is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature range is divided into a limited number of sub-ranges (e.g., 3-5 zones), each assigned to a specific color table. This segmentation approach provides direct visual identification of temperature ranges while controlling system complexity by using a manageable number of discrete sub-ranges and color tables, rather than continuous or excessive segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
Color tables are pre-configured and pre-allocated to specific temperature sub-ranges before operation. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time color allocation decisions during thermal imaging, reducing operational complexity while maintaining high temperature identification accuracy through predetermined, optimized color assignments.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for allocating display colors to thermal image intensity data acquired by thermal band photodetectors. Intensity data from the photodetectors corresponding to scene temperature is converted to a digital value within an analog to digital conversion (ADC) range. The full ADC range may be divided into two or more sub-ranges. In one sub-range, intensity values within that sub-range are assigned display colors from a first color table utilizing one or more Histogram Equalization (HE) techniques. In another sub-range, specific display values from a color table different from the first may be are assigned to specific intensity values. Lower temperatures may be assigned colors using HE and higher temperatures are assigned specific colors corresponding to specific temperatures. Such an arrangement is particularly applicable to thermal imaging use by firefighters because the arrangement allows them to determine temperature directly from displayed color for potentially dangerous temperatures.