SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE FOR THERMAL IMAGING AND THERMOGRAPHY CAMERAS

• US 20150271420A1
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRS Network & Imaging Systems, LLC (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: DRS RSTA Incorporated (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Neal, Henry W., Southerland, Richard L., Emmett, Jeff R., Blettner, Douglas A., Knapp, Mark S., Malone, James K. II
• Granted Patent: US 9,736,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/23 from thermal infrared radiation
• 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 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/911 for the suppression of noise H04N5/932 takes precedence

Abstract

A thermal imaging camera includes an infrared detector operable to capture thermal video data, a processor coupled to the infrared detector and operable to process the thermal video data, and at least one communications interface operable to communicate the processed thermal video data to a consumer mobile device coupled thereto.

Claims

1. A thermal imaging camera comprising:

an infrared detector operable to capture thermal video data;

a processor coupled to the infrared detector and operable to process the thermal video data; and

at least one communications interface operable to communicate the processed thermal video data to a consumer mobile device coupled thereto.

2. The thermal imaging camera of claim 1 further comprising:

a non-uniformity correction component;

a bad pixel replacement component; and

a temperature map component.

3. The thermal imaging camera of claim 1 further comprising:

a frame integration unit;

a noise filter; and

an automatic gain control unit.

4. The thermal imaging camera of claim 1 wherein the at least one communications interface comprises a wireless interface.

5. The thermal imaging system of claim 4 wherein the thermal imaging camera is coupled with the consumer device via a WiFi wireless network.

6. The thermal imaging camera of claim 1 wherein the at least one communications interface comprises a wired interface.

7. The thermal imaging system of claim 6 wherein the wired interface comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

8. A method of operating a thermal imaging camera, the method comprising:

capturing thermal video data using an infrared detector of the thermal imaging camera;

processing the thermal video data using a processor coupled to the infrared detector; and

providing the processed thermal data via an interface of the thermal imaging system to a consumer mobile device for display on the consumer mobile device.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising receiving, at the thermal imaging camera, control signals from the consumer mobile device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing certain components of the expandable architecture using the thermal imaging camera; and

providing remaining of the components of the expandable architecture using the consumer device or applications running thereon.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising integrating hardware and software capabilities of the consumer device with capabilities of the thermal imaging camera.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the expandable architecture is compatible with different consumer devices having different applications running thereon.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein processing the thermal video data comprises at least one of performing non-uniformity correction, performing bad pixel replacement, or generating a temperature map associated with the thermal video data.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein processing the thermal video data comprises at least one of performing frame integration, noise filtering, or automatic gain control.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the thermal imaging camera and the consumer mobile device are coupled via a wireless connection.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein the thermal imaging camera and the consumer mobile device are coupled via a wired connection.

17. A thermal imaging system comprising:

a thermal imaging camera including;

an infrared detector operable to capture thermographic data;

a processor coupled to the infrared detector and operable to process the thermographic data; and

at least one communications interface;

a consumer mobile device communicatively coupled to the thermal imaging camera.

18. The thermal imaging system of claim 17 wherein the thermal imaging camera is operable to provide a plurality of thermography functions and the consumer mobile device is operable to provide enhanced functions utilizing capabilities of the consumer mobile device.

19. The thermal imaging system of claim 17 wherein the processor includes an FPGA performing non-uniformity correction, bad pixel replacement, and temperature map generation.

20. The thermal imaging system of claim 17 wherein the thermal imaging camera is coupled with the consumer device via a wired or wireless connection.

21. The thermal imaging system of claim 20 wherein the thermal imaging camera is coupled to the consumer device via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

22. The thermal imaging system of claim 20 wherein the thermal imaging camera is coupled to the consumer device via a WiFi wireless network.