Thermal imaging camera

US8357898B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• DRÄGER SAFETY AG & CO. KGAA · DE

Inventors

• Frank Weisbach · Jena, DE
• Ingo Kaneblei · Wulfen, DE
• Markus Wansing · Wulfen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 5, 2011
• Grant date: Jan 22, 2013
• Expiry date: Jun 21, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01J2005/0077
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A thermal imaging camera is provided with at least two different sensitivities for alternating reading and with has a device for linking at least two more and less sensitive images read consecutively. The recording and displaying of thermal images makes it possible to combine images with two different dynamic ranges in a common thermal image, wherein the noise and drift of the pixel signals as well as the amount of storage needed for buffering and processing are reduced at the same time. An image buffering unit is designed as a common accumulator (8) for both more sensitive and less sensitive original images (B) and makes available a common output image (A). An image weighting unit (12) is arranged upstream of the accumulator (8) for weighting the more sensitive and less sensitive original images (B) read alternatingly from the detector unit (1) pixel by pixel with a settable percentage weighting function (G) and for weighting the output image (A) being buffered in the accumulator (8) pixel by pixel with a weighting function (I−G) complementary to the settable percentage weighting function as well as for the additive superimposition of the two images (B; A) for the purpose of conti…