Infrared-based ice formation detection systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016178593-A1
Application number	US-201615059263-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 2, 2016
Priority date	Sep 3, 2013
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods using infrared imaging modules to image and detect phase transitions of water, such as ice formation, in a scene. An ice formation detection system may include one or more infrared imaging modules, a logic device, and a communication module. The infrared imaging modules may be positioned to image a scene in which ice formation is to be detected. The logic device may be adapted to process captured infrared images to detect ice formation in the scene. The logic device may also be adapted to use the communication module to report detected ice formation to an indicator, a display, a user interface, and/or an ice formation mitigation system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
an infrared imaging module; a communication module; and a logic device in communication with the infrared imaging module and the communication module, wherein the logic device is configured to: capture infrared images of a scene using the infrared imaging module; process the infrared images; and detect one or more phase transitions of water in the processed infrared images of the scene.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic device is configured to:
capture a series of infrared images having a common field of view (FOV) or different but overlapping FOVs; detect the one or more phase transitions of water by generating a list of targets from the infrared images; eliminate false-positive targets in the list having one or more non-conforming transient characteristics; and report the detection of the one or more phase transitions using the communication module.

3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a mitigation and/or notification system, wherein:
the logic device is configured to report the detection of the one or more phase transitions by generating an image overlay indicating type and/or position of the one or more phase transitions and transmitting the image overlay and a corresponding infrared image to a display; and the mitigation and/or notification system is configured to receive the reported detection of the one or more phase transitions and modulate one or more signals provided to a mitigation device and/or a notification device according to a timing and type of reported detection.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic device is configured to:
extract one or more regions of interest (ROIs) of the scene from at least one of the infrared images; register corresponding ROIs in the at least one of the infrared images; and detect the one or more phase transitions of water in the one or more ROIs.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic device is configured to detect the one or more phase transitions of water in the scene by:
generating a list of targets based on intensity changes detected within the infrared images; generating target statistics based on time evolutions of the targets in the list; determining classifier scores for the targets in the list based on the target statistics; and determining a condition status of the scene based on the classifier scores.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the logic device is configured to detect the one or more phase transitions of water in the scene by:
extracting a region of interest (ROI) of the scene from at least one of the infrared images; determining a mean intensity within the ROI; generating a list of targets by comparing pixel intensities within the ROI to the mean intensity; generating target statistics based on time evolutions of the targets in the list measured over a predetermined period of time; determining classifier scores for the targets in the list based on the target statistics; and determining a condition status of the scene based on the classifier scores.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a visible spectrum imaging module in communication with the logic device, wherein the logic device is configured to:
capture visible spectrum images of the scene using the visible spectrum imaging module; generate combined images comprising visible spectrum image data and infrared image data, wherein the combined images provide increased object detail, contrast, and/or other improved or targeted image characteristics, and wherein the reporting the detection of the one or more phase transitions comprises transmitting at least one of the combined images.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a laser module configured to communicate with the logic device, wherein:
the infrared imaging module is configured to image near-infrared radiation (NIR), short wavelength infrared radiation (SWIR), mid-wavelength infrared radiation (MWIR), long-wavelength infrared radiation (LWIR), far-infrared radiation (FIR), and/or multi-spectral infrared radiation; and the logic device is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the scene using the laser module when capturing at least one of the infrared images and/or to apply a dynamic range adjustment filter and/or a bandpass filter when capturing the infrared images and/or processing the captured infrared images.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the scene comprises a marker surface configured to provide detectable transient characteristics associated with the one or more phase transitions of water in a corresponding portion of the scene.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the scene comprises a surface, wherein at least of the detected one or more phase transitions of water is located on the surface; the method further comprises estimating a thermal conductivity, a constituent material, and/or a temperature of the surface based on the at least one of the detected one or more phase transitions of water; and the scene comprises a roadway, a walkway, an automobile surface, an aircraft surface, a propeller surface, a combustion engine intake, and/or a crop surface.

11 . A method comprising:
capturing infrared images of a scene using an infrared imaging module; processing the infrared images; and detecting one or more phase transitions of water in the processed infrared images of the scene.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
capturing a series of infrared images having a common field of view (FOV) or different but overlapping FOVs. detecting the one or more phase transitions of water by generating a list of targets from the series of infrared images; eliminating false-positive targets in the list having one or more non-conforming transient characteristics; and reporting the detection of the one or more phase transitions using a communication module.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
reporting the detection of the one or more phase transitions by generating an image overlay indicating type and/or position of the one or more phase transitions and transmitting the image overlay and a corresponding infrared image to a display; receiving, by a mitigation and/or notification system, the reported detection of the one or more phase transitions; and modulating one or more signals provided to a mitigation device and/or a notification device according to a timing and type of reported detection.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
extracting one or more regions of interest (ROIs) of the scene from at least one of the infrared images; registering corresponding ROIs in the plurality of the infrared images; and detecting the one or more phase transitions of water in the one or more ROIs.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the detecting the one or more phase transitions of water in the scene comprises:
generating a list of targets based on intensity changes detected within the infrared images; generating target statistics based on time evolutions of the targets in the list; determining classifier scores for the targets in the list based on the target statistics; and determining a condition status of the scene based on the classifier scores.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the logic device is configured to detect the one or more phase transitions of water in the scene by:
extracting a region of interest (ROI) of the scene from at least one of the infrared images; determining a mean intensity within the ROI; generating a list of targets by comparing pixel intensiti

Assignees

• Flir Systems

Inventors

• Miller John Lester
• Hansen Joel
• Jolivet Noel
• Archer Cynthia
• Paul Kateri E

Classifications

• G01N33/18 Primary

  Water · CPC title

• G06V20/56 Primary

  exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle · CPC title

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N23/11

  for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths · CPC title

• G06F18/24

  Classification techniques · CPC title