Thermal Imaging Registration via Visible Light Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal imaging systems face challenges in distinguishing objects with similar shapes and temperatures due to low resolution, leading to unclear thermal imaging images and difficulties in accurate temperature measurement.
Innovation Solution
A temperature measurement processing method and device that uses a specified coordinate mapping relationship and scaling ratio to align visible light and thermal imaging images, with preconfigured and fine-tuned offsets to ensure accurate registration and measurement of target objects, even at varying object distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If thermal imaging channel is used for temperature measurement, then temperature display function can be implemented, but resolution is relatively low and objects with similar shapes and temperatures cannot be distinguished
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines visible light imaging channel and thermal imaging channel to work together. The visible light channel provides high-resolution structural information while the thermal imaging channel provides temperature information. By merging the capabilities of both channels, the system achieves both accurate temperature measurement and precise object distinction, resolving the contradiction between temperature measurement capability and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the visible light image as an intermediary to assist in identifying and selecting target objects. The high-resolution visible light image helps distinguish objects with similar thermal characteristics, and then the corresponding thermal image data is used for temperature measurement. This intermediary approach enables accurate temperature measurement while overcoming the low resolution limitation of thermal imaging alone.
2Adaptability or versatility
If visible light and thermal imaging images are captured separately, then each channel can capture its own characteristics, but image registration is difficult and measurement accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary image registration by mapping coordinates from the visible light image to the thermal imaging image before temperature measurement. This preliminary action of establishing coordinate correspondence ensures that when objects are identified in the high-resolution visible light image, the corresponding thermal data can be accurately retrieved, maintaining measurement precision while preserving multi-channel imaging capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coordinate mapping dimension that connects the two separate imaging channels. By establishing a mathematical mapping relationship between the coordinate systems of visible light and thermal images, the system bridges the spatial gap between separately captured images, enabling accurate correspondence without compromising the independent capture capabilities of each channel.
3Temperature
If thermal imaging image resolution is low, then thermal imaging can be performed, but details are lacking and objects cannot be distinguished in pseudo-color mode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the detailed structural information from the visible light image with the thermal information from the thermal imaging. By combining these two information sources, the system preserves all detail information that would otherwise be lost in thermal imaging alone, while maintaining the thermal imaging capability for temperature detection. The visible light image compensates for the information loss in the thermal channel.
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
This method enables precise temperature measurement of objects with similar shapes by improving image registration and resolution, reducing errors in identifying and measuring objects in thermal imaging images.
Implementation Method 1
an uncooled infrared focal plane detector, configured to capture a thermal imaging image
Implementation Method 2
a visible light sensor, configured to capture a visible light image
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application provides a temperature measurement processing method and apparatus, and a thermal imaging device. The temperature measurement processing method is applied to an image device and includes: mapping, according to a specified mapping relationship, a feature of interest associated with a target object in a visible light image into a thermal imaging image, to determine a position of the feature of interest mapped into the thermal imaging image, wherein the visible light image and the thermal imaging image are respectively acquired through a visible light channel and a thermal imaging channel of the image device in a scene in which the target object is placed at a specified distance in front of the image device; adjusting, according to an offset, the position of the feature of interest mapped into the thermal imaging image, such that at least a part of image segment representing the target object in the thermal imaging image is selected by the feature of interest; and measuring temperature of the target object according to the image segment selected by the feature of interest in the thermal imaging image.