EXECUTABLE CODE IN DIGITAL IMAGE FILES

• US 20100162206A1
• Filed: 12/24/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flir Systems AB (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Flir Systems AB (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: ROTH, Bjorn, BOMAN, Magnus
• Granted Patent: US 8,595,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/106
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0803 Arrangements for time-dependent attenuation of radiation signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/10 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/36 Software reuse
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing information in images pictured by infrared cameras comprising the steps of receiving radiation from at least one object in an area; extracting radiometric information from the radiation; transforming the radiometric information into at least one digital image file; storing the at least one digital image file and at least one digital function file comprising an executable code characterised by the steps of merging the executable code of the at least one digital function file into or with the at least one digital image file, thereby generating an executable digital image file, wherein the executable code comprises at least one instruction and is written in a programming language independent of system architecture. The invention further relates to a computer program product.

By this inventive concept is achieved a cross-platform compatibility of the executable digital images files that makes them independent of computer system architecture. New functions, like for example new alarm and measurement functions, are also easily implemented, retrieved and exchanged since the executable code, which governs the functionality, is accessible directly from within the executable digital image files themselves and exists in association with the file independent of to which system it has been transferred.

Claims

1. A method for processing information in images comprising the steps of receiving radiation from at least one object (4) in an area;

extracting radiometric information from the radiation;

transforming the radiometric information into at least one digital image file (35);

storing the at least one digital image file (35) and at least one digital function file (145) comprising an executable code (37);

characterised by the step of merging the executable code (37) of the at least one digital function file (145) into or with the at least one digital image file (35), thereby generating an executable digital image file (39), wherein the executable code (37) comprises at least one instruction (38) and is written in a programming language independent of system architecture.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of executing the at least one instruction (38) in order to use the radiometric information in the executable digital image file (39).

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of executing the at least one instruction (38) in order to implement and retrieve functionality within the executable digital image file (39).

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of performing an interactive comparing analysis of the information comprised in at least two separate executable digital images files, such that aberrations can be validated in a structured and reliable way.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of retrieving at least one digital function file (145) comprising the executable code (37).

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of linking the executable code (37) of the at least one digital function file (145) with the at least one digital image file (35).

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of generating the at least one instruction (38) comprised in the executable code (37) by a user through the means of at least one of the plurality of the control devices (120).

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of extracting the radiometric information comprises extracting radiometric information from within the infrared spectrum of light.

9. An apparatus for processing information in images comprising a lens assembly (10) arranged to receive radiation;

a detector array (30) for extracting radiometric information from the radiation;

a processing unit (40) arranged to transform and process the radiometric information into at least one digital image file (35);

a memory storage (60) providing means for storing the at least one digital image file (35) and at least one digital function file (145) comprising an executable code (37) characterised in that the processing unit (40) comprises a central processing unit (50) which is arranged to merge the executable code (37) of the at least one digital function file (145) into the at least one digital image file (35), thereby generating an executable digital image file (39), wherein the executable code comprises at least one instruction (38) and is written in a programming language independent of system architecture.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the central processing unit (50) comprises means to use the radiometric information in the executable digital image file (39) according to the at least one instruction of the executable code (37).

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the central processing unit (50) comprises means to implement and retrieve the functionality within the executable digital image file (39).

12. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the central processing unit (50) comprises means to perform an interactive comparing analysis of the information comprised in at least two separate executable digital image files, in order to validate aberrations in a structured and reliable way.

13. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processing unit (40) comprises a central processing unit (50) which is arranged to link the executable code (37) of the at least one digital function file (145) with the at least one digital image file (35).

14. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of the control devices (120) is arranged to generate the at least one instruction (38) comprised in the executable code (37).

15. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein at least one interface medium (130) is in connection with a transmitting/receiving function storage section (90), arranged to retrieve the at least one digital function file (145).

16. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detector array (30) used for extracting the radiometric information is an infrared detector array.

17. A computer program product for use in central processing unit (50) in a processing unit (40) of an apparatus (1) for processing information in images, which comprises computer readable code means, which when run in the CPU (50) causes the CPU (50) to perform the steps of:

merging an executable code (37) of at least one digital function file (145) into or with the at least one digital image file (35), thereby generating an executable digital image file (39), wherein the executable code (37) comprises at least one instruction (38) and is written in a programming language independent of system architecture.

18. A computer program product according to claim 17, comprising computer readable code means, which when run in the CPI.J (50) causes the CPU (50) to further perform the step of executing the at least one instruction in order to use the radiometric information in the executable digital image file.

19. A computer program product according claim 17, wherein said code means is stored on a readable storage medium.