THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA WITH INFRARED LENS FOCUS ADJUSTMENT
First Claim
1. A camera comprising:
- an infrared (IR) camera module that includes an IR sensor and IR optics, wherein the IR sensor is configured to capture a IR image of a scene, and the IR optics define a first optical axis extending through a center of the IR optics;
a visible light (VL) camera module that includes a VL sensor and VL optics, wherein the VL sensor is configured to capture a VL image of the scene, the VL optics define a second optical axis extending through a center of the VL optics, and the second optical axis is offset from the first optical axis so that the IR image of the scene is from a different point of view than the VL image thereby causing a parallax error;
a manually adjustable focus mechanism coupled to the IR optics and configured to move the IR optics to various focus positions so as to focus the IR optics, the various focus positions including a hyperfocal position in which the scene is in focus between a set distance and infinity, and a plurality of focus positions in which the scene is in focus between the set distance and a minimum focus distance, wherein the manually adjustable focus mechanism is configured to provide a tactile indication when the IR optics are moved to the hyperfocal position;
a display; and
a processor configured to align the IR image with the VL image so as to substantially resolve the parallax error between the IR image and VL image and control the display to display at least a portion of the IR image substantially in register with at least a portion of the VL image for scenes located between the set distance and infinity when the IR optics are moved to the hyperfocal position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal imaging camera may be used to capture a visible-light (VL) image and an infrared (IR) image. In some examples, the camera includes adjustable focus IR optics. For example, the camera may include a focus mechanism coupled to the IR optics and configured to move the IR optics to various focus positions so as to focus the IR optics. The various focus positions may include a hyperfocal position in which a scene is in focus between a set distance and infinity, and a plurality of focus positions in which the scene is in focus between the set distance and a minimum focus distance. Depending on the configuration of the camera, the IR optics of the camera may define an F-number greater than 1.0, and an axis of the IR optics may be offset from an axis of the VL optics by a distance less than 1.7 inches.
48 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A camera comprising:
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an infrared (IR) camera module that includes an IR sensor and IR optics, wherein the IR sensor is configured to capture a IR image of a scene, and the IR optics define a first optical axis extending through a center of the IR optics; a visible light (VL) camera module that includes a VL sensor and VL optics, wherein the VL sensor is configured to capture a VL image of the scene, the VL optics define a second optical axis extending through a center of the VL optics, and the second optical axis is offset from the first optical axis so that the IR image of the scene is from a different point of view than the VL image thereby causing a parallax error; a manually adjustable focus mechanism coupled to the IR optics and configured to move the IR optics to various focus positions so as to focus the IR optics, the various focus positions including a hyperfocal position in which the scene is in focus between a set distance and infinity, and a plurality of focus positions in which the scene is in focus between the set distance and a minimum focus distance, wherein the manually adjustable focus mechanism is configured to provide a tactile indication when the IR optics are moved to the hyperfocal position; a display; and a processor configured to align the IR image with the VL image so as to substantially resolve the parallax error between the IR image and VL image and control the display to display at least a portion of the IR image substantially in register with at least a portion of the VL image for scenes located between the set distance and infinity when the IR optics are moved to the hyperfocal position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A camera comprising:
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an infrared (IR) camera module that includes an IR sensor and IR optics, wherein the IR sensor is configured to capture a IR image of a scene; a manually adjustable focus mechanism coupled to the IR optics and configured to move the IR optics to various focus positions so as to focus the IR optics, the various focus positions including a hyperfocal position in which scenes located between a set distance and infinity are substantially in focus when the IR optics are moved to the hyperfocal position, and a plurality of focus positions in which the scene is in focus between the set distance and a minimum focus distance; and a display. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A camera comprising:
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an infrared (IR) camera module that includes an IR sensor and IR optics, wherein the IR sensor is configured to capture a IR image of a scene, the IR optics define a first optical axis extending through a center of the IR optics, and the IR optics define an F-number greater than 1.0; a visible light (VL) camera module that includes a VL sensor and VL optics, wherein the VL sensor is configured to capture a VL image of the scene, the VL optics define a second optical axis extending through a center of the VL optics, and the second optical axis is offset from the first optical axis so that the IR image of the scene is from a different point of view than the VL image thereby causing a parallax error, the second optical axis being offset from the first optical axis by a distance less than 1.7 inches; a focus mechanism coupled to the IR optics and configured to move the IR optics to various focus positions so as to focus the IR optics, the various focus positions including a hyperfocal position in which the scene is in focus between a set distance and infinity, and a plurality of focus positions in which the scene is in focus between the set distance and a minimum focus distance; a display; and a processor configured receive the IR image and the VL image, and control the display to display at least one of the VL image and the IR image. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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adjusting the focus of IR optics using a focus mechanism that is configured to move the IR optics to various focus positions, the various focus positions including a hyperfocal position in which a scene is in focus between a set distance and infinity, and a plurality of focus positions in which the scene is in focus between the set distance and a minimum focus distance; capturing an infrared (IR) image of the scene via an IR camera module that includes an IR sensor and the IR optics, wherein the IR optics define a first optical axis extending through a center of the IR optics, and the IR optics define an F-number greater than 1.0; capturing a visible light (VL) image of the scene via a VL camera module that includes a VL sensor and VL optics, wherein the VL optics define a second optical axis extending through a center of the VL optics, and the second optical axis is offset from the first optical axis so that the IR image of the scene is from a different point of view than the VL image thereby causing a parallax error, the second optical axis being offset from the first optical axis by a distance less than 1.7 inches; displaying at least one of the VL image and the IR image. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification