Camera and method for use with camera

• US 7,544,944 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2007
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flir Systems AB (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Flir Systems AB (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Strandemar, Katrin, Ingerhed, Malin
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Kiho
• Application Number:
  US11/772,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20090008558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 250/339.05, 348/34, 348/35, 348/36, 348/37, 348/38
• US Class Current: 250/339.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/15 Image signal generation with circuitry for avoiding or correcting image misregistration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/84 for processing colour signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/41 Extracting pixel data from a plurality of image sensors simultaneously picking up an image, e.g. for increasing the field of view by combining the outputs of a plurality of sensors

Abstract

A method of displaying together IR image data and visible light image data corresponding to the same field of view in the same image is disclosed, comprising displaying IR image data in at least a first portion of the image and visible light image data in at least a second portion of the image. The method is characterized by the step of displaying the IR image data according to a colouring scheme adapted to the temperature range relevant to the first portion of the image. The resolution in the relevant temperature range may be increased by applying the entire range of colours available in the colouring scheme to the selected temperature range.

Claims

1. A method of displaying together IR image data spanning a first temperature range and visible light image data corresponding to the same field of view in the same image, the method comprising:

(a) determining a second temperature range corresponding to the range of temperatures in the IR image data to be displayed in a first portion of the image, wherein the IR image data in the first portion of the image is a subset of the IR image data for the entire image, and the second temperature range is a subset of the first temperature range;

(b) assigning colours from a colouring scheme to temperatures in the second temperature range, wherein the colouring scheme has a first number of colours, a second number of colours are assigned to the second temperature range, and the second number of colours represents a larger proportion of the first number of colours as compared to the second temperature range'"'"'s proportion of the first temperature range; and

(c) displaying IR image data in at least the first portion of the image and visible light image data in at least a second portion of the image, wherein the temperatures in the first portion of the image are displayed according to the colour assignments in (b), thereby improving the resolution of the display of the IR image data in the first portion of the image.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least first portion of the image is selected as at least a first portion of the image having a temperature within a selected temperature range.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least first portion of the image is selected as at least a first portion of the image comprising an object, or part of an object, or interest.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the colours assigned to the temperatures from the second temperature range are assigned from the entire range of colours in the colouring scheme.

5. A camera comprising:

a first imaging part for capturing IR image data spanning a first temperature range of a first field of view;

a second imaging part for capturing visible light data of a second field of view at least partially overlapping the first field of views;

memory storing instructions for;

(a) adjusting the first and second field of view relative to each other in dependence of the focusing distance of the first or second imaging part;

(b) selecting at least a first portion of the image in which IR image data is to be displayed according to the colour assignments in (c) and at least a second portion of the image in which visible light image data is to be displayed, wherein the IR image data in the first portion of the image spans a second temperature range, the IR image data in the first portion of the image is a subset of the IR data of the entire image, and the second temperature range is a subset of the first temperature range;

(c) assigning colours from a colouring scheme to temperatures in the second temperature range, wherein the colouring scheme has a first number of colours, a second number of colours are assigned to the second temperature range, and the second number of colours represents a larger proportion of the first number of colours as compared to the second temperature range'"'"'s proportion of the first temperature range, thereby improving the resolution of the display of the IR image data in the first portion of the image; and

a processing unit for executing the instructions.

6. A camera according to claim 5, further comprising:

a user interface for receiving information about the at least first portion of the image.

7. A camera according to claim 5, further comprising a user interface for selecting the relevant temperature range.

8. A camera according to claim 6, wherein the colours assigned to the temperatures from the second temperature range are assigned from the entire range of colours in the colouring scheme.