Multi-sensor using a thermal camera
AssigneeAnalog Devices, Inc.
InventorsKrishnan Ramaswamy Parameswaran, Harvey Weinberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An infrared thermal camera can be installed in a vehicle, such as a car, to provide different capabilities including night vision, passenger temperature monitoring, liveness detection, and avoidance of collisions with animals. The camera may be located inside the vehicle facing outwards through the front windshield. The camera may be used in multiple modes. In a first mode, the camera may be used to provide night vision or other thermal imaging of a scene outside the vehicle using a first field of view. In a second mode, the camera may be used to provide thermal imaging of a scene at least partially inside the vehicle using a second field of view, which may be useful, for example, for scanning the skin temperatures of occupants.
Claims20
A method for operating an infrared camera in multiple modes, comprising:
- operating the infrared camera located inside a vehicle in a first mode with a first field of view to capture at least one image of outside the vehicle;
- detecting an indication;
- based on detecting the indication, operating the infrared camera in a second mode with a second field of view to capture at least one image of inside the vehicle;
- and
- based on the at least one image of inside the vehicle, detecting skin temperature of an occupant inside the vehicle.
A system for providing multiple imaging modes, the system comprising:
- an infrared camera mounted inside a vehicle to operate in two modes:
- in a first mode, to capture at least one image of outside the vehicle using a first field of view, and
- in a second mode, to capture at least one image of inside the vehicle using as second field of view and, based on the at least one image of inside the vehicle, to detect skin temperature of an occupant inside the vehicle.
A camera system, comprising:
- an infrared camera configured to be mounted inside a vehicle providing a first field of view to capture at least one image of outside the vehicle in a first mode;
- an optical system configured to be mounted inside the vehicle between the infrared camera and a front windshield providing a second field of view for the infrared camera to capture at least one image inside the vehicle in a second mode;
- and
- a control circuit to switching operating the system between the first mode and second mode based on a detected condition and to detect skin temperature of an occupant based on the at least one image inside the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.