Thermal Image Compression via Bit-Depth Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal imaging systems face challenges in processing high-resolution, high-bit-depth thermal video images due to hardware, software, and network limitations, leading to down-conversion and loss of image information, which degrades object detection and image processing performance.
Innovation Solution
The system captures thermal images and divides them into 8-bit and 6-bit components, compressing the 8-bit images using standard video compression formats like H.264 or MPEG4 and incorporating the 6-bit images as metadata within the 8-bit stream, allowing for processing of both 8-bit and 14-bit components, thereby maintaining high-bit-depth data while accommodating lower-bit-depth system limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If thermal images are down-converted from 14-bit to 8-bit to meet hardware and network limitations, then the file size and processing requirements are reduced, but image information is lost and object detection accuracy is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the 14-bit thermal image data into two separate streams: an 8-bit video stream containing the most significant bits (MSBs) and a 6-bit metadata stream containing the least significant bits (LSBs). This segmentation allows the system to process the majority of data at lower bit-depth while preserving the remaining high-bit-depth information separately, thus resolving the contradiction between processing capability and information preservation.
2Measurement precision
If high-resolution, high-bit-depth thermal video is captured and processed, then object detection accuracy is improved, but hardware, software, and network requirements become excessively demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the high-bit-depth image data into two separate video streams with different bit-depths. The 8-bit stream can be processed by conventional hardware and software, while the 6-bit stream is handled as metadata. This segmentation reduces device complexity by allowing most processing to occur at lower bit-depth while still preserving the precision needed for accurate object detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional system where the 8-bit video stream can be processed by standard hardware and software, while the combined 14-bit stream is available for applications requiring higher precision. This universality allows the same system to serve both conventional and advanced processing needs, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
3Productivity
If 14-bit thermal image data is processed through standard video compression formats, then compression efficiency is improved, but the high-bit-depth information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the 14-bit data into an 8-bit compressed video stream and a 6-bit metadata stream. The 8-bit stream benefits from standard video compression efficiency, while the 6-bit stream preserves the high-bit-depth information that would otherwise be lost, thus resolving the contradiction between compression efficiency and information preservation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for capturing a thermal video stream includes a thermal image capture component, such as an IR camera, configured to capture and digitize the thermal video stream having n-bits of data per pixel, a memory configured to store the captured thermal images, and a processor. The processor is configured to select captured thermal images as frames for a video stream and subdivide each captured thermal image into separate m-bit and k-bit image streams. The processor is further configured to compress the m-bit thermal image stream in a video compression format that includes frame and metadata, compress the k-bit image stream using a lossless or substantially lossless compression format, and incorporate the compressed k-bit image stream into the coded m-bit video stream as metadata.