US 2011/0297828 A1 · THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA

Abstract

A thermal imaging camera is provided with at least two different sensitivities for alternating reading and with has a device for linking at least two more and less sensitive images read consecutively. The recording and displaying of thermal images makes it possible to combine images with two different dynamic ranges in a common thermal image, wherein the noise and drift of the pixel signals as well as the amount of storage needed for buffering and processing are reduced at the same time. An image buffering unit is designed as a common accumulator (8) for both more sensitive and less sensitive original images (B) and makes available a common output image (A). An image weighting unit (12) is arranged upstream of the accumulator (8) for weighting the more sensitive and less sensitive original images (B) read alternatingly from the detector unit (1) pixel by pixel with a settable percentage weighting function (G) and for weighting the output image (A) being buffered in the accumulator (8) pixel by pixel with a weighting function (I−G) complementary to the settable percentage weighting function as well as for the additive superimposition of the two images (B; A) for the purpose of continuously updating the output image (A).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A thermal imaging camera comprising:

a pixel-based detector unit for a pixel-based recording of thermal radiation of a scene imaged onto same with at least two different sensitivities and alternating reading of more sensitive and less sensitive images;
a processor unit for controlling reading, preprocessing, buffering and linking of at least two more sensitive and less sensitive images read alternatingly from the detector unit into a common output image;
an image buffering unit comprising a common accumulator for both more sensitive and less sensitive original images and with a common output image available at a buffering unit output;
an image weighting unit arranged upstream of the accumulator for a pixel-by-pixel weighting of more sensitive and less sensitive original images read alternatingly from the detector unit and with a settable percentage weighting function and for the pixel-by-pixel weighting of the output image buffered in the accumulator with a weighting function complementary to the settable percentage weighting function as well as for the additive superimposition of the two images for continuous updating of the output image on the basis of original images read alternatingly from the detector unit with at least two different sensitivity settings.

1 more element

A thermal imaging camera comprising:

a pixel-based detector unit for a pixel-based recording of thermal radiation, the detector unit having at least two different sensitivities and alternating recording between more sensitive and less sensitive images;
a processor unit for controlling reading, preprocessing, buffering and linking of at least the more sensitive and the less sensitive images recorded alternatingly from the detector unit into a common output image;
an image buffering unit comprising a common accumulator receiving both the more sensitive and the less sensitive images and providing a common output image available at a buffering unit output;
an image weighting unit arranged upstream of the accumulator and with a settable percentage weighting function and for a pixel-by-pixel weighting of the recorded more sensitive and the less sensitive images prior to being buffered in the accumulator and for the additive superimposition of the weighted more sensitive and the less sensitive images and for continuous updating of the output image on the basis of the recorded more sensitive and the less sensitive images.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thermal imaging camera

Life of this patent

Thermal imaging camera

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20