Methods for analyzing thermal image data using a plurality of virtual devices and methods for correlating depth values to image pixels

A method for analyzing and sorting individual image frames of panoramic image data using a plurality of virtual devices, the method comprising:

• obtaining thermal imaging camera images from a thermal imaging camera that rotates through a plurality of stop positions, the thermal imaging camera taking thermal imaging camera images, at least some of the thermal imaging camera images corresponding to stop positions as the thermal imaging camera rotates through the plurality of stop positions;
• retaining thermal imaging camera images corresponding to any stop position;
• discarding any thermal imaging camera images that do not correspond to any designated stop position;
• sending retained thermal imaging camera images in a video stream to a video processor;
• separating the video stream into individual thermal imaging camera images and storing the thermal imaging camera images for a plurality of corresponding virtual camera devices, the plurality of virtual camera devices being on-site relative to the thermal imagine camera each virtual camera device corresponding to a specific stop position and each virtual camera device having a separate, corresponding video stream, each separate, corresponding video stream comprising a plurality of images corresponding to a specific stop position;
• and
• wherein the thermal imaging camera images are not stitched together into a panorama on-site so that total power requirements for an on-site system including the thermal imaging camera, an indexing mechanism for rotating the camera, and a multiplexing and analysis module for sorting images for the virtual camera devices are no more than 10 watts.

An on-site system for analyzing and sorting individual image frames of panoramic image data using a plurality of virtual devices, The on-site system comprising:

• an indexing mechanism on which a thermal imaging camera is mounted for rotating the thermal imaging camera through a plurality of stop positions;
• the thermal imaging camera, wherein the thermal imaging camera is configured to take thermal imaging camera images, at least some of the thermal imaging camera images corresponding to stop positions as the thermal imaging camera rotates through the plurality of stop positions;
• a multiplexing and analysis module configured Co discard any thermal imaging camera images that do not correspond to any of the stop positions, so that those thermal imaging camera images that correspond to any stop position are retained;
• the multiplexing and analysis module being configured to process a video stream of the retained thermal imaging camera images by separating the video stream of retained thermal imaging camera images into individual thermal imaging camera images corresponding to specific stop positions and storing the retained thermal imaging camera images for a plurality of corresponding virtual camera devices;
• the plurality of virtual camera devices being on-site relative to the thermal imaging camera, each virtual camera device of the plurality of virtual camera devices corresponding to a specific stop position and each of the virtual camera devices having a separate, corresponding video stream, wherein each separate, corresponding video stream comprises a plurality of images corresponding to a specific stop position;
• wherein the multiplexing and analysis module is configured to not stitch the retained thermal imaging camera images together into a panorama on-site, so that total power requirements for the on-site system including the thermal imaging camera, the indexing mechanism for rotating the camera, and the multiplexing and analysis module for sorting images for the virtual camera devices are no more than 10 watts;
• and
• a video processor that only receives those images which correspond to any stop position, so that the video processor can sleep during discarding of images that do not correspond to any designated stop position by the digital switch, increasing the power efficiency of the on-site system.