METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OUTPUT OF DUAL VIDEO STREAM VIA A SINGLE PARALLEL DIGITAL VIDEO INTERFACE

• US 20150130949A1
• Filed: 11/07/2014
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRS Network & Imaging Systems, LLC (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: DRS Network & Imaging Systems, LLC (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Christison, Gregory, Reed, Chris, Blackburn, Bracey J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,615,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/164
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/12 with one sensor only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/23 from thermal infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/88 for colour balance, e.g. white-balance circuits or colour temperature control
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/43 Conversion of monochrome picture signals to colour picture signals for colour picture display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/646 for image enhancement, e.g. vertical detail restoration, cross-colour elimination, contour correction, chrominance trapping filters

Abstract

A method of operating a video camera includes capturing a scene of imaging data using the video camera, wherein the imaging data is characterized by a first bit depth and processing the imaging data to provide display data characterized by a second bit depth less than the first bit depth. The method also includes framing the imaging data and the display data and outputting the framed imaging and display data.

Claims

1. A method of operating a video camera, the method comprising:

capturing a scene of imaging data using the video camera, wherein the imaging data is characterized by a first bit depth;

processing the imaging data to provide display data characterized by a second bit depth less than the first bit depth;

framing the imaging data and the display data; and

outputting the framed imaging and display data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the imaging data to provide display data comprises converting gray scale data to color data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein capturing the scene of imaging data comprises performing at least one of temperature compensation or non-uniformity correction.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first bit depth comprises 14 bits and the second bit depth comprises 8 bits.

5. The method of claim 1 processing the imaging data to provide display data comprises processing the imaging data using an image contrast enhancement unit.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the imaging data, the display data, and the framed imaging and display data to a multiplexer.

7. A method of operating a thermal imaging system, the method comprising:

capturing a scene of imaging data using a thermal imager, wherein the imaging data is characterized by a first bit depth;

processing the imaging data to provide display data characterized by a second bit depth less than the first bit depth;

processing the imaging data to provide radiometric data characterized by a third bit depth greater than the first bit depth;

framing the radiometric data and the display data; and

outputting the framed radiometric and display data.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein processing the imaging data to provide display data comprises converting gray scale data to color data.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the first bit depth comprises 14 bits, the second bit depth comprises 8 bits, and the third bit depth comprises 16 bits.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein processing the imaging data to provide radiometric data comprises using a lookup table.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein capturing the scene of imaging data comprises performing at least one of temperature compensation or non-uniformity correction.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising providing the imaging data, the display data, and the framed imaging and display data to a multiplexer.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein processing the imaging data to provide display data comprises processing the imaging data using an image contrast enhancement unit.

14. A thermal imaging system comprising:

one or more optical elements operable to collect infrared light;

a camera core optically coupled to the one or more optical elements, wherein the camera core includes;

an FPA module providing imaging data at a first bit depth;

a color conversion module coupled to the FPA module and operable to process the imaging data to provide display data; and

a framer coupled to the FPA module and the color conversion module and operable to form a super frame including the imaging data and the display data;

a communications module coupled to the camera core; and

an input/output module coupled to the communications module.

15. The thermal imaging system of claim 14 wherein the first bit depth is 14 bits.

16. The thermal imaging system of claim 14 wherein the display data is characterized by a second bit depth less than the first bit depth.

17. The thermal imaging system of claim 14 wherein the color conversion unit further comprises a contrast enhancement unit.

18. The thermal imaging system of claim 14 wherein the camera core comprises a multiplexer operable to select the imaging data, the display data, or the super frame.