Patent · US Active

Infrared imaging system and method of operating

US10306158B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

3References

5Claims

0Family size

Assignee

SONY GROUP CORPORATION · JP

Inventors

Muhammad Atif · Bellevue, US
Muhammad Siddiqui · Eßlingen, DE
Christian Unruh · Stuttgart, DE
Markus Kamm · Karlsruhe, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Sep 25, 2017
Grant date	May 28, 2019
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Sep 25, 2037

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH04N25/615
WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A lens unit (120) shows longitudinal chromatic aberration and focuses an imaged scene into a first image for the infrared range in a first focal plane and into a second image for the visible range in a second focal plane. An optical element (150) manipulates the modulation transfer function assigned to the first and second images to extend the depth of field. An image processing unit (200) may amplify a modulation transfer function contrast in the first and second images. A focal shift between the focal planes may be compensated for. While in conventional approaches for RGBIR sensors contemporaneously providing both a conventional and an infrared image of the same scene the infrared image is severely out of focus, the present approach provides extended depth of field imaging to rectify the problem of out-of-focus blur for infrared radiation. An imaging system can be realized without any apochromatic lens.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.