Alignment of visible light sources based on thermal images

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9058653-B1
Application number	US-201313802578-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 13, 2013
Priority date	Jun 10, 2011
Publication date	Jun 16, 2015
Grant date	Jun 16, 2015

Abstract

Various techniques are disclosed for providing systems for providing alignment guide information to selectively direct a visible light source to substantially align the visible light source with a desired subject and to project a visible light beam substantially on the desired subject. For example, a system may include a small form factor infrared imaging module to capture thermal images of a scene, which may be received by a processor to generate alignment guide information such as a user-viewable image of the scene, a user-viewable cue, and a framing reticle. In another example, such a system may be implemented as a camera. In yet another example, such a system may be implemented as a spotlight.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
an infrared imaging module comprising a focal plane array (FPA) configured to capture an unblurred thermal image of a scene and an intentionally blurred image of the scene;
a processor configured to determine a plurality of non-uniform correction (NUC) terms based on the intentionally blurred thermal image, apply the NUC terms to the unblurred thermal image to remove noise form the unblurred thermal image, and generate alignment guide information from the unblurred thermal image; and
a visible light source configured to be selectively directed based on the alignment guide information to substantially align the visible light source with a desired subject and project a visible light beam substantially on the subject.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the infrared imaging module is oriented so that an optical axis of the infrared imaging module is substantially parallel to the visible light beam.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a display configured to present the alignment guide information to a user.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the alignment guide information comprises a user-viewable image of the scene based on the unblurred thermal image.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the alignment guide information comprises a user-viewable cue indicating how the visible light source should be directed to project the visible light beam substantially on the subject.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is a camera and the visible light source is a flash of the camera.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is a spotlight.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visible light source is selectively directed by a user of the system.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visible light source is selectively directed by the system without requiring direction by a user.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is a shutterless system configured to determine the NUC terms without blocking the FPA from the scene.

11. A method of operating a system, the method comprising:
capturing an unblurred thermal image of a scene and an intentionally blurred image of the scene at a focal plane array (FPA) of an infrared imaging module;
determining a plurality of non-uniform correction (NUC) terms based on the intentionally blurred thermal image;
applying the NUC terms to the unblurred thermal image to remove noise form the unblurred thermal image;
generating, from the unblurred thermal image, alignment guide information;
receiving a force to selectively direct a visible light source to substantially align the visible light source with a desired subject based on the alignment guide information; and
projecting a visible light beam from the visible light source substantially on the subject while the visible light source is aligned based on the alignment guide information.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the infrared imaging module is oriented so that an optical axis of the infrared imaging module is substantially parallel to the visible light beam.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising displaying the alignment guide information to a user.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the alignment guide information comprises a user-viewable image of the scene based on the unblurred thermal image.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the alignment guide information comprises a user-viewable cue indicating how the visible light source should be directed to project the visible light beam substantially on the subject.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the system is a camera, the infrared imaging module is part of the camera, and the visible light source is a flash of the camera.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the system is a spotlight.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the force is provided by a user of the system.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the force is provided by the system without requiring direction by a user.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determining is performed without blocking the FPA from the scene.

Assignees

• Flir Systems

Inventors

• Kostrzewa Joseph
• Jepson Shawn
• Högasten Nicholas
• Hoelter Theodore R
• Strandemar Katrin

Classifications

• G06T5/50 Primary

  using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction · CPC title

• H04N25/671

  for non-uniformity detection or correction · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/45

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title