Thermal Image Color Mapping for Region-of-Interest Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal imaging displays often result in low contrast when a small temperature range is present, and existing methods like dynamically adapting the color palette or histogram equalization can amplify contrast for irrelevant regions, reducing clarity in regions of interest.
Innovation Solution
Assign colors to temperature ranges based on their frequency and proximity to a region of interest, using a nonlinear approach that enhances contrast and color resolution in the region of interest while maintaining visibility of the rest of the thermal image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a limited number of colors are permanently assigned to temperature values across the overall measuring range, then the color palette is simple and easy to implement, but the contrast in the thermal image becomes very low when only a small temperature range is present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation of the color palette to the actual temperature range present in the thermal image. Instead of using a fixed linear mapping across the entire measuring range, the system dynamically determines the minimum and maximum temperatures in the image and maps the available colors to this specific range, thereby maximizing contrast for the observed temperature variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different color mapping strategies to different regions of the thermal image. By identifying regions of interest and applying localized contrast enhancement through selective color assignment, the system optimizes visualization for specific areas while maintaining overall image quality.
2Measurement precision
If histogram equalization is performed to increase contrast for frequently occurring temperature values, then contrast is improved for those regions, but contrast is reduced for regions actually of interest
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing strategies to different regions of the thermal image. By identifying regions of interest and applying localized contrast enhancement through selective color assignment, the system optimizes visualization for specific areas while maintaining overall image quality, avoiding the global contrast redistribution that causes information loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from temperature distribution analysis to adaptively adjust color assignment. By analyzing the actual temperature values and their distribution in the image, the system dynamically modifies the color mapping to preserve contrast in regions of interest while still enhancing visualization for frequently occurring temperatures.
3Measurement precision
If dynamic adaptation of the color palette is performed linearly across the temperature range present, then contrast is increased compared to fixed mapping, but the color resolution is still insufficient for detailed temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different color mapping strategies to different regions of the thermal image. By identifying regions of interest and applying localized contrast enhancement through selective color assignment, the system optimizes visualization for specific areas while maintaining overall image quality, achieving superior color resolution where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the color palette not only to the overall temperature range but also to local temperature distributions within regions of interest. This dynamic regional adaptation allows for enhanced color resolution in areas with subtle temperature variations while maintaining appropriate contrast elsewhere.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for displaying a thermal image is provided, in which one color of a color palette is assigned in each case to one temperature range of the thermal image. The colors are assigned to the temperature ranges depending on whether certain criteria of the temperature distribution occur in a geometric region of the thermal image.