Thermal image frame capture using de-aligned sensor array
First Claim
1. An infrared imaging system comprising:
- an infrared sensor array comprising a plurality of infrared sensors arranged in rows and columns and adapted to capture a thermal image frame of a scene exhibiting at least one horizontal or vertical feature;
a housing;
wherein the infrared sensor array is permanently positioned within the housing during manufacture to intentionally de-align the rows and columns from the at least one horizontal or vertical feature while the thermal image frame is captured to distribute the at least one feature across a plurality of the de-aligned rows and columns;
a processing device adapted to perform a row and column noise reduction process on the captured thermal image frame to determine and apply row and column fixed pattern noise offset terms to provide a processed thermal image frame, wherein the distribution of the feature across the de-aligned rows and columns causes the processed thermal image frame to exhibit reduced row and column noise artifacts resulting from the row and column noise reduction process; and
wherein the permanent position of the infrared sensor array relative to and within the housing is configured to passively de-align the rows and columns while the infrared imaging system is capturing the thermal image frame, andwherein the infrared imaging system is adapted to be operated to capture the thermal image frame without rotating the infrared sensor array from the permanent position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various techniques are provided to capture one or more thermal image frames using an infrared sensor array that is fixably positioned to substantially de-align rows and columns of infrared sensors. In one example, an infrared imaging system includes an infrared sensor array comprising a plurality of infrared sensors arranged in rows and columns and adapted to capture a thermal image frame of a scene exhibiting at least one substantially horizontal or substantially vertical feature. The infrared imaging system also includes a housing. The infrared sensor array is fixably positioned within the housing to substantially de-align the rows and columns from the feature while the thermal image frame is captured.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An infrared imaging system comprising:
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an infrared sensor array comprising a plurality of infrared sensors arranged in rows and columns and adapted to capture a thermal image frame of a scene exhibiting at least one horizontal or vertical feature; a housing; wherein the infrared sensor array is permanently positioned within the housing during manufacture to intentionally de-align the rows and columns from the at least one horizontal or vertical feature while the thermal image frame is captured to distribute the at least one feature across a plurality of the de-aligned rows and columns; a processing device adapted to perform a row and column noise reduction process on the captured thermal image frame to determine and apply row and column fixed pattern noise offset terms to provide a processed thermal image frame, wherein the distribution of the feature across the de-aligned rows and columns causes the processed thermal image frame to exhibit reduced row and column noise artifacts resulting from the row and column noise reduction process; and wherein the permanent position of the infrared sensor array relative to and within the housing is configured to passively de-align the rows and columns while the infrared imaging system is capturing the thermal image frame, and wherein the infrared imaging system is adapted to be operated to capture the thermal image frame without rotating the infrared sensor array from the permanent position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An infrared imaging system comprising:
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an infrared sensor array comprising a plurality of infrared sensors arranged in rows and columns and adapted to capture a thermal image frame of a scene exhibiting at least one horizontal or vertical feature; a housing comprising a surface parallel to the at least one feature; wherein the infrared sensor array is permanently positioned within the housing during manufacture to intentionally de-align the rows and columns from the surface while the thermal image frame is captured to distribute the at least one feature across a plurality of the de-aligned rows and columns; a processing device adapted to perform a row and column noise reduction process on the captured thimble image frame to determine and apply row and column fixed pattern noise offset terms to provide a processed thermal image frame, wherein the distribution of the feature across the de-aligned rows and columns causes the processed thermal image frame to exhibit reduced row and column noise artifacts resulting from the row and column noise reduction process; and wherein the permanent position of the infrared sensor array relative to and within the housing is configured to passively de-align the rows and columns while the infrared imaging system is capturing the thermal image frame, and wherein the infrared imaging system is adapted to be operated to capture the thermal image frame without rotating the infrared sensor array from the permanent position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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capturing a thermal image frame of a scene exhibiting at least one substantially horizontal or vertical feature; wherein the capturing is performed by an infrared sensor array comprising a plurality of infrared sensors arranged in rows and columns; wherein the infrared sensor array is permanently positioned within a housing of an infrared imaging system, the infrared sensory array being permanently positioned within the housing during manufacture to intentionally de-align the rows and columns from the at least one substantially horizontal or vertical feature while the thermal image frame is captured; performing row and column noise reduction process on the captured thermal image frame to determine and apply row and column fixed pattern noise offset terms to provide a processed thermal image frame; wherein a distribution of the feature across the de-aligned rows and columns causes the processed thermal image frame to exhibit reduced row and column noise artifacts resulting from the row and column noise reduction process; and wherein the permanent position of the infrared sensor array relative to and within the housing is configured to passively de-align the rows and columns while the infrared imaging system is capturing the thermal image frame, and wherein the infrared imaging system is adapted to be operated to capture the thermal image frame without rotating the infrared sensor array from the permanent position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification