Wildlife Camera Color Imaging with Near-Infrared Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wildlife cameras struggle to capture color images of animals at night or in low light conditions without disturbing them, resulting in grayscale images that lack realism.
Innovation Solution
A method that combines color images of the surroundings taken in natural light with grayscale images of the animal captured using near-infrared light, utilizing a processor to calculate color information for the grayscale pixels based on the color pixels from the surroundings image, generating a colored image of the animal and its environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a near-infrared light source is used to capture images of animals at night or in low light conditions, then the animal can be captured without disturbing it, but the resulting image is in grayscale and lacks color representation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image into two segments: a first image captured with natural light containing color information of the surroundings, and a second image captured with near-infrared light containing the animal. The processor then combines these segmented images by transferring color information from the first image to the second image, allowing the animal to remain undisturbed while still producing a colored output image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that includes a processor unit and memory. This intermediary system receives both the natural light image and the near-infrared image, calculates color information for the animal based on surrounding colors, and generates a final colored image. The intermediary processor acts as a mediator between the two imaging modes to resolve the contradiction.
2Illumination intensity
If a standard flashlight is used to illuminate the animal for imaging, then sufficient brightness is achieved for quality images, but the animal is disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the color information from the natural light image of the surroundings and applies it to the near-infrared image of the animal. Instead of using a flashlight that directly illuminates and disturbs the animal, the system copies color data from ambient light images and superimposes it onto the infrared capture, achieving brightness and color without direct illumination of the animal.
3Ease of manufacture
If the infrared blocking filter is positioned in the camera's beam path, then color images are created, but the image quality is insufficient in low light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the imaging process based on lighting conditions. The processor determines whether to use natural light imaging (with infrared blocking filter for color) or near-infrared imaging (without filter for better low-light performance). When both images are available, the system dynamically combines them to produce a colored output that maintains high image quality while preserving color information.
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
Produces realistic color images of animals in low light conditions by leveraging color information from surrounding pixels to enhance grayscale animal images, ensuring accurate representation and detail.
Implementation Method 1
the image of the animal is recorded using a near-infrared light source attached to the game camera, which shines the near-infrared light it generates onto the animal
Implementation Method 2
the lens projects an image of the animal onto the optical sensor unit
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method, a computer program product, and a system for generating a color image. The method comprises capturing a first image with a camera, wherein the first image has a first set of first pixels that are colored, and wherein the first image exclusively shows an environment; capturing a second image with the camera, wherein the second image has a second set of second pixels that are not colored, and wherein the second image has, on the one hand, the environment and, on the other hand, an object arranged in the environment; inputting both a subset of the set of first pixels of the first image relating to the environment and a second subset of the set of second pixels of the second image relating to the environment as input variables to the processor unit;Calculating color information for a pixel of the second subset of the set of second pixels of the second image based on a pixel of the subset of the set of first pixels of the first image; and generating the colored image comprising an object arranged in the environment based on the second image and on the calculated color information of the pixel of the second subset of the set of second pixels of the second image.