Smart Surveillance Camera Thermal Detection Illumination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surveillance cameras face issues with constant active illumination attracting insects and debris, leading to degraded image quality and false motion detection due to spider webs and insects, which existing systems struggle to distinguish from real objects of interest.
Innovation Solution
A smart surveillance camera system utilizing a thermal imager, IR illuminator, visible light illuminator, and processor to selectively control illumination and capture images based on thermal image analysis, distinguishing between objects of interest and spurious objects like spider webs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If constant active illumination is used by visible or infrared light sources, then surveillance cameras can capture images in low light conditions, but insects are attracted to the light sources which degrades image quality and causes false motion detection
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic thermal imaging to detect objects and only activates visible/IR illuminators when objects of interest are detected, replacing constant illumination with intermittent illumination based on thermal detection cycles
Solution Approach 2:
A thermal imager is introduced as an intermediary device that operates without attracting insects, used to detect objects and control the activation of illuminators, thereby indirectly solving the insect attraction problem while maintaining surveillance capability
2Productivity
If conventional video motion detection systems continuously record, then all movements are captured, but meaningless recordings of spider webs swinging, moths fluttering, or spiders building webs consume storage and attention
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal imager serves as an intermediary that pre-screens the scene to distinguish between objects of interest and spurious objects, enabling selective recording that eliminates meaningless footage while maintaining comprehensive surveillance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional video motion detection with thermal-based object detection, substituting a detection mechanism that is insensitive to spurious movements like spider webs and moths with one that can identify objects of interest more reliably
3Productivity
If conventional camera systems operate continuously, then all scenes are monitored, but the system cannot effectively discern real objects of interest from spurious objects or environmental changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs periodic thermal imaging at thermal frame rates to detect objects, using the temporal periodicity of thermal detection to distinguish persistent objects of interest from transient environmental changes
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes thermal signatures (thermal 'color' or temperature characteristics) to differentiate objects of interest from spurious objects, using temperature-based identification rather than visual appearance
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
The system reduces power consumption and prevents meaningless recordings by intermittently activating illuminators only when needed, enhancing image quality and reducing false alarms by accurately differentiating between relevant and irrelevant objects.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal imager comprising a focal plane array (FPA) configured to capture thermal images of a scene
Data Source
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AI summary
Various techniques are disclosed for smart surveillance camera systems and methods using thermal imaging to intelligently control illumination and monitoring of a surveillance scene. For example, a smart camera system may include a thermal imager, an IR illuminator, a visible light illuminator, a visible/near IR (NIR) light camera, and a processor. The camera system may capture thermal images of the scene using the thermal imager, and analyze the thermal images to detect a presence and an attribute of an object in the scene. In response to the detection, various light sources may be selectively operated to illuminate the object only when needed or desired, with a suitable type of light source, with a suitable beam angle and width, or in otherwise desirable manner. The visible/NIR light camera may also be selectively operated based on the detection to capture or record surveillance images containing objects of interest.