Thermal Image Heatmap Segmentation for Human Heat Source Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to accurately and efficiently detect heat sources in environments, such as people, which affects human comfort and energy management, due to challenges in distinguishing heat sources amidst varying temperatures and humidity levels.
Innovation Solution
A sensor-based real-time tracking system that utilizes thermal imaging devices to capture and process thermal images into heatmap images, separating background and foreground to identify hotspots, determine contour shapes, and differentiate between human and non-human heat sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If thermal imaging devices are used to detect heat sources, then the ability to detect heat sources is improved, but the difficulty of distinguishing human heat sources from non-human heat sources increases due to varying temperatures and humidity levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heat source detection process into multiple stages: initial thermal image capture, heatmap conversion, foreground-background separation, hotspot identification, contour shape determination, and classification. This segmentation allows each stage to focus on specific aspects of detection, improving overall accuracy while managing complexity through systematic breakdown of the detection task.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate processing steps including heatmap conversion and foreground-background separation as mediators between raw thermal data and final heat source identification. These intermediaries transform complex thermal patterns into more manageable representations, facilitating accurate differentiation between human and non-human heat sources despite varying environmental conditions.
2Measurement precision
If thermal image processing is performed to separate background and foreground, then heat source identification accuracy is improved, but processing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing is segmented into distinct operational phases: thermal image acquisition, heatmap conversion, foreground-background separation, hotspot detection, and classification. Each phase performs a specific function, allowing the system to manage complexity through modular processing while maintaining high identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by converting thermal images to heatmaps and separating foreground from background before actual heat source identification. These preparatory steps organize the data in advance, making subsequent detection and classification more efficient despite the added processing steps.
3Productivity
If real-time tracking is implemented, then monitoring capability is improved, but energy consumption and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic thermal image capture and processing at optimized intervals, allowing real-time monitoring capability while reducing continuous computational load and energy consumption. This periodic action maintains monitoring effectiveness without requiring constant full-processing cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial processing by focusing computational resources on identifying and classifying only the detected hotspots rather than analyzing every pixel in the thermal image. This selective approach maintains monitoring capability while significantly reducing overall energy and computational resource requirements.
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
Enables accurate detection of heat sources, improving human comfort indices and energy management by effectively distinguishing between human and non-human heat sources, and providing insights for optimizing environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
access a thermal image captured by a thermal imaging device, the thermal image including a plurality of pixels, each pixel included in the plurality of pixels representing a geographic position at a user premises and having a value indicative of a temperature associated with the geographic position
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary system includes a memory that stores instructions and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to access a thermal image captured by a thermal imaging device, the thermal image including a plurality of pixels, convert the thermal image to a heatmap image, generate a foreground image by separating a background represented in the heatmap image from a foreground represented in the heatmap image, identify, in the foreground image, at least one hotspot representing a heat source located at the user premises, determine a contour shape of the at least one hotspot, and determine, based on the contour shape of the at least one hotspot, whether the at least one hotspot represented in the foreground image represents a target heat source located at the user premises.