Manipulation of 3-D RF imagery and on-wall marking of detected structure

• US 10,254,398 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2016
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Ghazanfarpour, Mabood, Knight, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Brainard, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US15/140,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20170315227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 342193
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/888 through wall detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/20 Stereoscopic displays; Three-dimensional displays; Pseudo-three-dimensional displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/24 the display being orientated or displaced in accordance with movement of object carrying the transmitting and receiving apparatus, e.g. true-motion radar
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/005 General purpose rendering architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/04 involving 3D image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/02 Affine transformations for image registration G06T3/147; for image mosaicing G06T3/4038
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/20 Linear translation of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. panning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

A radio frequency (RF) imaging device comprising a display receives a three-dimensional (3D) image that is a superposition of two or more images having different image types including at least a 3D RF image of a space disposed behind a surface. A plurality of input control devices receive a user input for manipulating the display of the 3D image. Alternatively or additionally, the radio frequency (RF) imaging device may receive a three-dimensional (3D) image that is a weighted combination of a plurality of images including a 3D RF image of a space disposed behind a surface, an infrared (IR) image of the surface, and a visible light image of the surface. A user input may specify changes to the weighted combination. In another embodiment, the RF imaging device may include an output device that produces a physical output indicating a detected type of material of an object in the space.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) imaging device, comprising:

a display configured to;

receive a first data portion representing a first three-dimensional (3D) image that is a weighted combination of a plurality of images including a 3D RF image of a space disposed behind a surface, an infrared (IR) image of the surface and a visible light image of the surface, wherein the plurality of images are combined in accordance with a plurality of first weights respectively corresponding to the plurality of images, wherein a first weight of the plurality of first weights defines a contribution of a respective image of the plurality of images to the first 3D image;

display the first 3D image; and

display a user interface indicating the plurality of first weights;

an input control device configured to receive a user input for specifying one or more changes to the plurality of first weights and output data representing the user input; and

a processor operatively coupled to the display and the input control device and configured to;

receive the data representing the user input;

change at least one first weight of the plurality of first weights in accordance with the one or more changes to produce a plurality of second weights;

generate a second 3D image by combining the plurality of images in accordance with the plurality of second weights; and

output data representing the second 3D image for display.

2. The RF imaging device of claim 1, wherein:

the processor is further configured to output data representing the plurality of second weights; and

the display is further configured to receive the data representing the plurality of second weights and change the user interface to indicate the plurality of second weights.

3. The RF imaging device of claim 1, wherein:

displaying the user interface further includes displaying a geometrical shape having a plurality of vertices and a user selection indicator in the geometrical shape; and

a position of the user selection indicator in the geometrical shape indicates the plurality of first weights.

4. The RF imaging device of claim 3, wherein:

each vertex of the plurality of vertices respectively corresponds to an image of the plurality of images; and

a distance between the user selection indicator and a vertex of the plurality of vertices is inversely proportional to the first weight of the plurality of first weights defining the contribution of the respective image of the plurality of images to the first 3D image.

5. The RF imaging device of claim 4, wherein when the user selection indicator is positioned on the vertex of the plurality of vertices, the contribution of the respective image of the plurality of images to the first 3D image is at a maximum and a contribution of remaining images of the plurality of images is at a minimum.

6. The RF imaging device of claim 5, wherein when the user selection indicator is positioned on the vertex of the plurality of vertices, the first 3D image is solely comprised of the respective image of the plurality of images and excludes contributions of other images of the plurality of images.

7. The RF imaging device of claim 4, wherein when the user selection indicator is positioned at a center of the geometrical shape or equidistant to the plurality of vertices, the contributions of the plurality of images to the first 3D image are substantially the same.