Image alignment and trend analysis features for an infrared imaging system

• US 8,013,304 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• 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:
  US12/766,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20100225766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 374/197, 374/198, 250/332, 250/370.08, 250/330, 250/339.09, 250/221, 382/294, 382/313, 382/103, 382/151, 382/201, 382/218, 382/165, 348/179, 348/82, 348/83, 348/231.99, 352/39, 352/53, 430/348, 430/616
• US Class Current: 250/339.09
• 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 camera, comprising:

an imaging system configured to capture a live image;

an electronic display;

a memory containing a previously captured image; and

a display driver operatively configured to drive said electronic display so as to display an overlay comprising said live image, said previously captured image, and one or more thermographic tools.

2. The thermographic camera of claim 1, 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.

3. The thermographic camera of claim 2, wherein said image intensity control includes a joystick.

4. The thermographic camera of claim 2, 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.

5. The thermographic camera of claim 1, wherein each of said live image and said previously captured image is a thermographic image.

6. 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;

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

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

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying to the user said live image and the previously captured image in differing display regions.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying to the user an overlay image comprising said live image and the previously captured image.

9. The method of claim 8, 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.

10. 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;

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

a fifth 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.

11. The machine readable medium of claim 10, 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.

12. The machine readable medium of claim 10, further comprising a seventh set of machine executable instructions for displaying to the user an overlay image comprising said live image and the previously captured image.

13. The machine readable medium of claim 12, wherein said live image and the previously captured image have a relative intensity in said overlay image, the machine readable medium further comprising an eighth set of machine executable instructions for adjusting said relative intensity.