Defective pixel signal substitution in thermal imaging systems
US5532484A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 9, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jul 2, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 9, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/68
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Thermal imaging system (10) includes a focal plane array (18) having pixels (20). Signals produced by pixels (20) are addressed by integrated circuit substrate (22) and passed to video processor (24). Video processor (24) includes, among other modules, a detection and substitution module (28) that detects defective pixels (21) and substitutes the signals produced by defective pixels (21). The detection and substitution of signals produced by defective pixels (21) may be performed while viewing the thermal scene (12) or while stimulating pixels (20) with a stimulus. A thermal stimulus may be generated by a thermoelectric cooler (50) thermally coupled to integrated circuit substrate (22) and focal plane array (18). An electrical stimulus to identify defective pixels (21) may also be delivered to pixels (20) of focal plane array (18).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.