Thermal Image Analysis Interface with Simultaneous Cursor Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal imaging systems lack efficient methods for quickly and effectively viewing and analyzing multiple thermal images and associated data, limiting the ability to interpret thermal profiles across multiple images simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A computer software system and graphical user interface that allows users to organize, analyze, and display thermal images as thumbnails, enabling simultaneous viewing and analysis of multiple images, with features like temperature cursors and automatic analysis, and alarm settings for temperature thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users view multiple thermal images individually using known imaging software, then detailed analysis of each image is possible, but the time required to analyze multiple images increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the analysis task into two levels: a thumbnail gallery view for quick overview of multiple images, and a detailed view for in-depth analysis of selected images. This segmentation allows users to rapidly scan through multiple thermal images in the gallery to identify candidates of interest, then focus detailed analysis only on those specific images, thereby reducing overall analysis time while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to the analysis process by displaying multiple thermal images simultaneously in a gallery layout rather than sequentially. This dimensional change from single-image sequential viewing to multi-image parallel viewing enables users to compare thermal profiles across multiple images at once, significantly improving efficiency without sacrificing analytical depth.
2Loss of information
If users select and view one image at a time using known imaging software, then comprehensive details of each image can be examined, but the ability to compare multiple images simultaneously is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is segmented into a thumbnail gallery region and a detailed image display region. The thumbnail gallery provides simultaneous visual access to multiple thermal images, enabling direct visual comparison of thermal patterns across images. Users can quickly identify images requiring detailed examination by comparing thumbnails side-by-side, thus preserving thermal profile comparison capability while improving viewing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy or representation of each thermal image in the form of a thumbnail within the gallery. These thumbnail copies retain sufficient visual information for comparison purposes, allowing users to assess thermal profiles across multiple images simultaneously without needing to view full-resolution images, thereby improving operational efficiency while maintaining comparison capability.
3Measurement precision
If thermal images are displayed at full resolution individually, then detailed temperature analysis is possible, but the interface space available for viewing multiple images is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The display area is segmented into multiple functional zones: a thumbnail gallery occupying a portion of the screen for displaying multiple reduced-size images simultaneously, and a larger detailed view area for displaying full-resolution images when selected. This spatial segmentation allows the system to accommodate both multi-image overview and detailed single-image analysis within the same interface space.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the interface are assigned different quality levels appropriate to their function: thumbnails in the gallery are displayed at reduced resolution sufficient for comparison purposes, while the selected image in the detailed view area is displayed at full resolution for precise temperature measurement. This local quality differentiation optimizes space utilization while maintaining measurement precision where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A graphical user interface for analyzing multiple thermal images is provided. The interface can be used to identify the temperatures at multiple points defined on multiple images. In some embodiments, the interface can simultaneously display temperature cursors overlaid on multiple images and provide simultaneous numerical identification of the temperatures corresponding to the area under the temperature cursors.