Image alignment and trend analysis features for an infrared imaging system

• US 7,732,768 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Thermoteknix Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: The Thermoteknix Systems Limited
• Inventors: Tucker, Robin, Salisbury, Richard, Haigh, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Green; Yara B
• Application Number:
  US11/679,938
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 348/83, 348/179, 348/231.99, 352/39, 352/53, 430/348, 430/616, 250/339.09, 250/339, 250/370, 250/332, 250/330, 250/221, 382/294, 382/313, 382/103, 382/151, 382/201, 382/218, 382/165
• US Class Current: 250/332
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/03 Arrangements for indicating or recording specially adapted for radiation pyrometers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• 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 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

In one embodiment, a thermographic imaging device having a visual compare mode that allows a user to compare a live image of a subject to a previously captured image of the same subject to aid the user in aligning the live image with the previously captured image. In this manner, a user can capture a series of images of the subject with the device located and oriented at a common location and orientation that is consistent throughout the series. In another embodiment, trend analysis software that includes a thermographic tool copying feature for copying one or more thermographic tools from a tooled thermographic image file to one or more non-tooled thermographic image files. In some embodiments, the software includes a trend-graphing feature that generates one or more trend plots after one or more tools have been copied to one or more non-tooled thermographic image files.

Claims

1. A thermographic imaging device, comprising:

an imaging system configured to capture a live image;

an electronic display;

a memory containing a reference image and thermographic tool data corresponding to said reference image; and

a display driver operatively configured to drive said display so as to display simultaneously each of said live image and said reference image for assisting a user in aligning said live image with said reference image.

2. The thermographic imaging device of claim 1, wherein said display driver is configured to display, on said electronic display, said live image in a first primary image region and display said reference image in a second primary image region differing from said first primary image region.

3. The thermographic imaging device of claim 2, wherein each of said live image and said reference image is a thermographic image.

4. The thermographic imaging device of claim 2, wherein each of said live image and said reference image is a visual image.

5. The thermographic imaging device of claim 2, wherein said display driver is configured to display a first thermographic tool representation within said reference image and display a second thermographic tool representation within said live image, said first thermographic tool representation having a first position within said second primary image region and said second thermographic tool representation having a second position within said first primary region that corresponds to said first position of said first thermographic tool representation.

6. The thermographic imaging device of claim 1, wherein said display driver is configured to overlay said live image and said reference image with one another in a common primary image region on said electronic display.

7. The thermographic imaging device of claim 6, wherein when said display driver displays said live image and said reference image in said common primary image region said live image and said reference image have a relative intensity relative to one another, the thermographic imaging device further comprising a user control for adjusting said relative intensity.

8. The thermographic imaging device of claim 7, wherein said user control includes a joystick.

9. The thermographic imaging device of claim 7, wherein said electronic display includes a touch-responsive feature and said user control utilizes said touch-responsive feature for receiving user input for changing said relative intensity.

10. The thermographic imaging device of claim 6, wherein each of said live image and said reference image is a thermographic image.

11. The thermographic imaging device of claim 6, wherein each of said live image and said reference image is a visual image.

12. The thermographic imaging device of claim 6, wherein said display driver is configured to display said reference image in a second primary image region adjacent said common primary image region.

13. The thermographic imaging device of claim 12, wherein said display driver is configured to display a first thermographic tool representation within said second primary image region and display a second thermographic tool representation within said common primary image region, said first thermographic tool representation having a first position within said second primary image region and said second thermographic tool representation having a second position within said common primary region that corresponds to said first position of said first thermographic tool representation.

14. The thermographic imaging device of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface that includes a survey mode and an image compare mode for assisting a user in aligning said live image with said reference image, said graphical user interface including controls for toggling into and out of said survey mode and said image compare mode.

15. The thermographic imaging device of claim 1, wherein said display driver is configured to display a multipurpose region on said electronic display, said multipurpose region configured to display a thumbnail of said reference image.

16. A thermographic camera, comprising:

an imaging system configured to capture a live image;

an electronic display;

a memory containing a previously captured image and thermographic tool data corresponding to said previously captured image;

and a display driver operatively configured to drive said electronic display so as to display an overlay comprising said live image and said previously captured image.

17. The thermographic camera of claim 16, wherein when said display driver displays said overlay said live image and said previously captured image have a relative intensity relative to one another, the thermographic camera further comprising an image intensity control in communication with said display driver for controlling said relative intensity.

18. The thermographic imaging device of claim 17, wherein said image intensity control includes a joystick.

19. The thermographic imaging device of claim 17, wherein said electronic display includes a touch-responsive feature and said image intensity control utilizes said touch-responsive feature for receiving user input for changing said relative intensity.

20. The thermographic imaging device of claim 16, wherein each of said live image and said previously captured image is a thermographic image.

21. A method of capturing a thermographic image of a subject using a previously captured image of the subject, the method comprising:

capturing a live image of the subject;

displaying said live image to a user;

displaying the previously captured image of the subject to the user simultaneously with said live image so as to allow the user to visually align said live image with the previously captured image;

displaying to the user one or more thermographic tools overlaid with said live image;

wherein displaying one or more thermographic tools includes displaying said one or more thermographic tools as a function of one or more corresponding respective thermographic tools associated with the previously captured image;

aligning, in response to aligning movements by the user, said live image with said reference image; and

capturing, in response to user input, a thermographic still image of said live image when said live image and said reference image are aligned to the satisfaction of the user.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising displaying to the user said live image and the previously captured image in differing display regions.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising displaying to the user an overlay image comprising said live image and the previously captured image.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said live image and the previously captured image have a relative intensity in said overlay image, the method further comprising adjusting said relative intensity.

25. A machine readable medium containing machine executable instructions for performing a method of capturing a thermographic image of a subject using a previously captured image of the subject, said machine executable instructions comprising:

a first set of machine executable instructions for capturing a live image of the subject;

a second set of machine executable instructions for displaying said live image to a user;

a third set of machine executable instructions for displaying the previously captured image of the subject to the user simultaneously with said live image so as to allow the user to visually align said live image with the previously captured image; and

a fourth set of machine executable instructions for capturing, in response to user input, a thermographic still image of said live image when said live image and said reference image are aligned to the satisfaction of the user;

a fifth set of machine executable instructions for displaying to the user one or more thermographic tools overlaid with said live image; and

wherein the fifth set of machine executable instructions for displaying one or more thermographic tools includes machine executable instructions for displaying said one or more thermographic tools as a function of one or more corresponding respective thermographic tools associated with the previously captured image.

26. The machine readable medium of claim 25, further comprising a sixth set of machine executable instructions for displaying to the user said live image and the previously captured image in differing display regions.

27. The machine readable medium of claim 25, further comprising a sixth set of machine executable instructions for displaying to the user an overlay image comprising said live image and the previously captured image.

28. The machine readable medium of claim 27, wherein said live image and the previously captured image have a relative intensity in said overlay image, the machine readable medium further comprising a seventh set of machine executable instructions for adjusting said relative intensity.