Imaging and display system combining IR and color video streams

An imaging system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a visible light video camera configured to capture a visible light video stream of a scene in a visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum;
• a long-range IR video camera configured to capture an IR video stream of the scene in an IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum;
• and
• a processing circuit for receiving the visible light video stream and the IR video stream for generating a composite video stream including at least part of the visible light video stream superimposed with at least part of the IR video stream, wherein the processing circuit dynamically adjusts a weight of transparency of at least one of the visible light and IR video streams in the superimposition,
• wherein the weight of transparency of at least one of the visible light and IR video streams in the superimposition depends on scene content being imaged, wherein the scene content includes at least one of an ambient light level, presence of glare from sunlight, fog, heavy rain, and snow.

A method of generating a composite video stream for display in a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving a visible light video stream of a scene in a visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum;
• receiving an IR video stream of the scene in an IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum;
• dynamically adjusting a weight of transparency of at least one of the visible light and IR video streams;
• and
• generating a composite video stream including at least part of the visible light video stream superimposed with at least part of the IR video stream,
• wherein the weight of transparency of at least one of the visible light and IR video streams in the superimposition depends on scene content being imaged, wherein the scene content includes at least one of an ambient light level, presence of glare from sunlight, fog, heavy rain, and snow.