U.S. patent application number 16/696523 was filed with the patent office on 2020-03-26 for error smoothing through global source non-uniformity correction.
The applicant listed for this patent is DRS Network & Imaging Systems, LLC. Invention is credited to Kristina F. Jeppson, Steven J. Marteney, George Skidmore, Richard L. Southerland.
Application Number | 20200099825 16/696523 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 69167163 |
Filed Date | 2020-03-26 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200099825 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marteney; Steven J. ; et
al. |
March 26, 2020 |
ERROR SMOOTHING THROUGH GLOBAL SOURCE NON-UNIFORMITY CORRECTION
Abstract
A method of determining a temperature of an element in a scene
includes providing a set of targets each characterized by a target
temperature and measuring pixel output values for pixels in a
detector array for the targets in the set of targets. Measuring
pixel output values is performed at a plurality of detector
temperatures. The method also includes mapping each pixel output
value to one of a plurality of constant values, each of the
plurality of constant values being associated with one of the
target temperatures, assembling a scene temperature profile using
the mapped pixel output values, and obtaining an image of the scene
including the element, wherein the element is associated with a
pixel of the detector array. The method further includes
determining a pixel value associated with the element and computing
the temperature of the element using the scene temperature
profile.
Inventors: |
Marteney; Steven J.;
(Melbourne, FL) ; Southerland; Richard L.;
(Melbourne, FL) ; Jeppson; Kristina F.;
(Melbourne, FL) ; Skidmore; George; (Melbourne,
FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DRS Network & Imaging Systems, LLC |
Melbourne |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
69167163 |
Appl. No.: |
16/696523 |
Filed: |
November 26, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14534008 |
Nov 5, 2014 |
10542193 |
|
|
16696523 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/23229 20130101;
H04N 5/2355 20130101; G06T 2207/10048 20130101; G06T 5/002
20130101; H04N 2101/00 20130101; H04N 5/213 20130101; H04N 5/3651
20130101; G06T 7/0018 20130101; H04N 5/361 20130101; G06T 7/2006
20130101; G06T 2207/10004 20130101; H04N 5/33 20130101; H04N 5/3656
20130101; G06T 1/0007 20130101; H04N 5/3655 20130101; G06T
2207/20182 20130101; G06T 2207/20192 20130101; H04N 5/367 20130101;
H04N 5/217 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/217 20060101
H04N005/217; H04N 5/232 20060101 H04N005/232; G06T 1/00 20060101
G06T001/00; G06T 5/00 20060101 G06T005/00; H04N 5/213 20060101
H04N005/213; H04N 5/33 20060101 H04N005/33; H04N 5/235 20060101
H04N005/235 |
Claims
1. A method of determining a temperature of an element in a scene,
the method comprising: providing a set of targets each
characterized by a target temperature; measuring pixel output
values for pixels in a detector array for the targets in the set of
targets, wherein measuring pixel output values is performed at a
plurality of detector temperatures; mapping each pixel output value
to one of a plurality of constant values, each of the plurality of
constant values being associated with one of the target
temperatures; assembling a scene temperature profile using the
mapped pixel output values; obtaining an image of the scene
including the element, wherein the element is associated with a
pixel of the detector array; determining a pixel value associated
with the element; and computing the temperature of the element
using the scene temperature profile.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of targets comprise two
targets.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of detector
temperatures comprise five or more temperatures.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the scene temperature profile
includes temperature data as a function of detector output data and
is stored in a lookup table.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the detector output data is
post-NUC output data.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a pixel value
associated with the element comprises: measuring a number of counts
associated with the pixel; and computing a NUC-adjusted number of
counts using factory calibration data collected using a shutter and
operational calibration data collected using the shutter.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. utility application
Ser. No. 14/534,008 filed on Nov. 5, 2014, now allowed, the
contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety
for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses radiation from
gamma rays, x-rays, ultra violet, a thin region of visible light,
infrared, terahertz waves, microwaves, and radio waves, which are
all related and differentiated in the length of their wave
(wavelength). All objects, as a function of their temperatures,
emit a certain amount of radiation. For example, the higher an
object's temperature, the more infrared radiation the object
emits.
[0003] Thermal cameras have many applications, particularly when
light and visibility are low. For example, thermal cameras have
been used in military applications to locate human beings or other
warm entities. Warm-blooded animals can also be monitored using
thermographic imaging, especially nocturnal animals. Firefighters
use thermal imaging to see through smoke, find people, and localize
hotspots of fires. With thermal imaging, power line maintenance
technicians locate overheating joints and parts, a telltale sign of
their failure, to eliminate potential hazards. Where thermal
insulation becomes faulty, building construction technicians can
see heat leaks to improve the efficiencies of cooling or heating
air-conditioning. Thermal imaging cameras are also installed in
some luxury cars to aid the driver at night.
[0004] Thermal cameras utilize an array of detector elements and
each individual detector can have different gain and offset values
that change with time, due to detector-to-detector variability in
the fabrication process, sensor operating temperature, and the
like. The difference in gain and offset values among detectors can
produce fixed pattern noise in the image. Despite the progress made
in the area of thermal cameras and thermographic imaging, there is
a need in the art for improved methods of performing non-uniformity
correction for thermal imagery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to the present invention, techniques related to a
method of correcting non-uniformity in infrared (IR) images is
provided. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention
relate to methods for utilizing factory calibration data to improve
non-uniformity correction performance. In a particular embodiment,
factory calibration data is obtained using a shutter, a thermal
reference source, or combinations thereof. This factory calibration
data is then utilized during operational calibration. Both linear
and quadratic non-uniformity correction techniques are utilized in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In a specific
embodiment, multiple non-uniformity corrections are integrated
(e.g., global source and shutterless techniques) to provide
enhanced performance. The present invention is applicable to a wide
variety of thermal imaging systems and other imaging systems.
[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
method of performing non-uniformity correction for an imaging
system including a detector, a data processor, and a memory is
provided. The method includes receiving image data from the
detector, retrieving stored correction coefficients from the
memory, and retrieving a stored factory calibration reference
frame. The method also includes acquiring an operational
calibration reference frame, computing, using the data processor,
updated correction coefficients based on the stored correction
coefficients; the stored factory calibration reference frame, and
the operational calibration reference frame, and computing, using
the data processor, the non-uniformity correction based on the
updated correction coefficients. The method further includes
forming a corrected image by applying the non-uniformity correction
to the image data and outputting the corrected image.
[0007] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a
method of performing non-uniformity correction for an imaging
system including a platform, a detector coupled to the platform, a
data processor, and a memory is provided. The method includes
receiving image data from the detector, retrieving stored
correction coefficients from the memory, and retrieving a stored
factory calibration reference frame. The method also includes
acquiring an operational calibration reference frame and computing,
using the data processor, updated correction coefficients based on
the stored correction coefficients; the stored factory calibration
reference frame, and the operational calibration reference frame.
The method further includes computing, using the data processor,
the non-uniformity correction based on the updated correction
coefficients, determining, that the platform is moving, updating
the non-uniformity correction based on the platform motion, forming
a corrected image by applying the updated non-uniformity correction
to the image data, and outputting the corrected image.
[0008] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention,
a method of determining a temperature of an element in a scene is
provided. The method includes providing a set of targets each
characterized by a target temperature and measuring pixel output
values for pixels in a detector array for the targets in the set of
targets. Measuring pixel output values is performed at a plurality
of detector temperatures. The method also includes mapping each
pixel output value to one of a plurality of constant values, each
of the plurality of constant values being associated with one of
the target temperatures, assembling a scene temperature profile
using the mapped pixel output values, and obtaining an image of the
scene including the element. The element is associated with a pixel
of the detector array. The method further includes determining a
pixel value associated with the element and computing the
temperature of the element using the scene temperature profile.
[0009] Numerous benefits are achieved by way of the present
invention over conventional techniques. For example, embodiments of
the present invention provide improved response time in thermal
imaging systems. These and other embodiments of the invention along
with many of its advantages and features are described in more
detail in conjunction with the text below and attached figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
correcting an infrared image according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
correcting an infrared image using edge detection according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
updating the correction table using edge detection according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4A is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
correcting an infrared image by updating a correction table with
and without edge detection according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4B is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
correcting an infrared image by updating a correction table without
edge detection according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
updating the correction table without edge detection according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
updating the correction table without edge detection according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
correcting an infrared image according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 8 is an example of input infrared image with drift and
its respective output corrected infrared image according to
embodiments of the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 9 is a high level schematic diagram illustrating a
subsystem or component according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic diagram of an optical system
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
performing global source NUC according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a simplified flowchart illustrating interaction
between shutterless NUC and global source NUC according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
performing combined global source NUC and shutterless NUC according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a plot illustrating non-uniformity performance
utilizing embodiments of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 15 is a plot illustrating mean detector output vs.
camera temperature for various target temperatures according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 16 is a plot illustrating mean detector output vs.
camera temperature for two target temperatures according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 17 is a plot illustrating constant value mapped mean
detector outputs for two target temperatures according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 18 is a plot illustrating constant value mapped mean
detector outputs for six target temperatures according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 19 is a plot illustrating target temperature as a
function of post-NUC detector output according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of
correcting non-uniformity in infrared (IR) images. The method can
incorporate a correction table that, when added to the image,
corrects the drift associated with each pixel.
[0031] Infrared imagers may be devices used to capture and/or form
infrared images, for example, a thermographic camera or infrared
camera. Infrared imagers may include any device that forms an image
using infrared radiation. Instead of the 450-750 nanometer range of
the visible light camera, infrared cameras may operate in
wavelengths as long as 14,000 nm (14 .mu.m).
[0032] Infrared energy is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum,
which encompasses radiation from gamma rays, x-rays, ultra violet,
a thin region of visible light, infrared, terahertz waves,
microwaves, and radio waves. The various categories of infrared
radiation are related and differentiated in the length of their
wave (wavelength). All objects emit a certain amount of infrared
radiation as a function of their temperature.
[0033] In general, objects with higher temperatures emit more
infrared radiation as black-body radiation. Infrared imagers can
detect this radiation in a way similar to the way an ordinary
camera detects visible light. Infrared imagers have been used in
various applications, particularly in applications with low light,
such as in the nighttime, smoke-filled buildings, or underground.
Accordingly, infrared imaging has useful applications in military,
rescue, and wildlife observation operations, for example.
[0034] Color cameras require a more complex construction to
differentiate wavelength and color has less meaning outside of the
normal visible spectrum because the differing wavelengths do not
map uniformly into the system of color vision visible and
detectable to humans. Infrared image resolution and refresh rates
are typically considerably lower than the resolution and refresh
rates of visible cameras.
[0035] One existing issue with infrared imagers is that they are
extremely susceptible to temperature variations of the device
itself, which cause focal-plane array (FPA) drift; thus as the
infrared imager device is being operated, the device itself
generates heat during its operation, resulting in noise in an
infrared image. For example, in uncooled detectors the temperature
differences at the sensor pixels are minute; a 1.degree. C.
difference at the scene induces just a 0.03.degree. C. difference
at the sensor. Therefore, these sensors are particularly sensitive
to noise. In addition, the pixel response time is also fairly slow,
at the range of tens of milliseconds.
[0036] Therefore, to reduce the noise in infrared images, some
infrared cameras are kept cooled, by containing them in a
vacuum-sealed case or Dewar and cryogenically cooled. The cooling
is necessary for the operation of the semiconductor materials in
the sensors of the infrared imagers to reduce FPA drift, and the
range of operating temperature may range depending on type and
performance level.
[0037] Without cooling, these photo-detecting sensors which detect
and convert infrared radiation would be `blinded` or flooded by
their own radiation, which results in FPA drift and noise in the
thermal image. However, the drawbacks of cooled infrared cameras
are that they are expensive both to produce and to operate at
specific cooled temperatures, as the power consumption of cooling
is high, costly, and time-intensive. For example, the thermal
imager may need several minutes to cool down before it can begin
operating properly. Additionally, even cooled sensors may
experience some drift, but on a small scale than compared to the
drift of a cooled sensor. However, embodiments of the present
invention are applicable to both cooled and uncooled sensors.
Further, drift is more a function of dark current than of being
flooded by self radiation.
[0038] Alternatively, uncooled infrared imagers use a sensor
operating at ambient temperature, or a sensor stabilized at a
temperature close to ambient using small temperature control
elements, which are more cost-effective to produce and operate.
Modern uncooled detectors all use sensors that work by the change
of resistance, voltage or current when heated by infrared
radiation. These changes are then measured and compared to the
values at the operating temperature of the sensor.
[0039] Uncooled infrared sensors can be stabilized to an operating
temperature to reduce image noise, but they are not cooled to low
temperatures and do not require bulky, expensive cryogenic coolers.
This makes infrared cameras smaller and less costly. However, their
resolution and image quality tend to be lower than cooled
detectors. So the infrared imager, as it warms up or cools down,
each pixel starts to react a little bit differently than it did at
the initial temperature, consequently, each pixel begins drift in
its performance. This drift, or FPA drift, typically appears as
fixed patterns emerging in the image, for example, as a
cross-hatched pattern, or as unwanted artifacts in the image.
Typical methods of correcting FPA drift in infrared images was to
either utilize factory calibration tables to help to correct the
drift, and also implement a shutter operation in the infrared
imager to generate an offset for the image. For example, take a
picture of the uniform scene, or that shutter, and use that as an
offset to correct the non-uniformity of the FPA drift of the
pixels.
[0040] As described herein, embodiments relate to a shutter-less
method of correcting non-uniformity in IR images. The method can
determine if an image includes an edge. "Edges" occur around the
outline of objects in the image and manifest within the image as a
difference in pixel value between a pixel and one or more of its
neighbors (e.g., above, below, left, right, or diagonal, etc.). A
small difference in pixel value can be indicative of a weak edge
and a large difference in pixel value can be indicative of a strong
edge. The method may initially assume that each pixel and its
immediate neighbors are viewing the same scene content (e.g.,
object) in an image, and thus should read the same pixel value. In
an embodiment, an edge can cause these and other assumptions to be
untrue, including the assumption that each pixel and its immediate
neighbors are viewing the same object in a scene. In an embodiment
of the invention, a pixel showing an edge may not be processed
(e.g., skipped).
[0041] When neighboring pixels do not read the same value, it can
also be due to drift of the focal plane array (FPA) from the
factory calibrated non-uniformity correction (NUC) tables.
[0042] In an embodiment, a correction table can be incorporated
with the method to correct the drift. The correction table may be
the same size as the image so that each entry (e.g., cell) in the
table can store the correction value for the corresponding pixel in
the image. Other tables, such as a gain or an offset table, may
also be used to iteratively form a correction table. The gain and
offset tables may be factory tables with predetermined
settings.
[0043] An offset table may be a matrix that is also the same size
of the image such that each entry in this table corresponds to one
of the pixels in the image. The offset table may be automatically
adjusted to remove non-uniformities from the infrared imager. Gain
and offset tables may be factory calibration tables, which may be
used in embodiments of the present invention without the use of the
shutter to capture a uniform image. Embodiments of the invention
describe an automatic algorithm to replace the shutter using the
factory calibration tables for gain and offset, as well as a
correction table.
[0044] Although some embodiments of the present invention utilize
gain and offset arrays in conjunction with a linear NUC model,
these arrays and their use are not required by the present
invention. The present invention is not dependent upon the
implementation of a linear NUC model. On the contrary, embodiments
of the present invention can be implemented using other types of
NUC models. Accordingly, embodiments create a table C such that an
output=f(raw image)+C is an image with fixed pattern noise
corrected, where f( ) represents a correction of the raw image
according to tables previously measured (e.g., in a factory during
manufacturing). These tables have coefficients for each pixel that
are useful in any NUC model, be that linear or otherwise. One of
ordinary skill in the art would recognize many variations,
modifications, and alternatives.
[0045] The method may begin by forming the correction table. Each
pixel can be analyzed by comparing the pixel to each of its
neighbors. Any number of neighbors may be used. For example in the
case of four neighbors, if I(x, y) represents the image pixel at
column "x" and row "y," then when I(x, y) is processed, I(x+1, y),
I(x-1, y), I(x, y+1), and I(x, y-1) are the neighbors.
[0046] The pixel analysis for the correction table can occur in any
order. For example, the analysis can begin by processing the pixel
on the first row and first column of the image and proceed along
the columns of the first row. When all columns of that row are
finished, processing can move to the next row, starting at the
first column. Processing can continue to each row until each pixel
in the image has been processed.
[0047] The correction table can alter the correction value for a
variety of situations, including when the pixel is part of an edge
region. If the method is allowed to operate on an edge, the edge
can become blurry as the algorithm seeks to make the pixels around
the edge read the same value.
[0048] Edge regions can be detected during processing by
implementing an edge detection algorithm. Correction table entries
corresponding to the detected edge pixels can be prohibited from
being updated (e.g., they are "masked out" of the updating process)
in order to avoid a deleterious blurring effect. Any edge detection
algorithm may be used (e.g., the Canny algorithm that can detect
weak as well as strong edges).
[0049] In an embodiment, a motion detection algorithm can also be
used when forming the correction table. Since the edge detection
method cannot detect some weak edges (e.g., locations in the image
where only a small difference in pixel value exists between a given
pixel and its neighbor due to the scene), a motion detection
algorithm can be used. The motion detection algorithm can prohibit
the correction table from being updated while the scene is
stationary. This can prevent "burn in," which is a condition where,
in some embodiments, the correction factor erroneously takes scene
differences as pixel offset differences. The motion detection
algorithm may be accomplished with the use of motion sensors
mounted to the camera or may be accomplished with image processing
techniques.
[0050] To begin processing the current frame, each pixel at column
"x" and row "y" may be initially corrected with the factory tables
(e.g., in the case of a linear non-uniformity model):
I(x,y)=g(x,y)P(x,y)+O(x,y), where g(x,y) is the corresponding entry
in the factory-determined gain table, P(x,y) is the pixel value at
column "x" and row "y" in the raw observed image, and O(x,y) is the
corresponding entry in the factory-determined offset table. The
pixels may be further modified by adding the corresponding entry in
the correction table from the previous frame C(x,y):
I'(x,y)=I(x,y)+C(x,y), where I'(x,y) is the initially corrected
pixel value at column "x" and row "y." In an embodiment, the
correction table, C(x,y), can be initialized to all zeros when the
camera is turned on or can be initialized to some other
predetermined array. If the camera is determined to not be moving,
I'(x,y) is output and no update is made to the correction table on
the current frame. If the camera is determined to be moving, the
initially corrected image I'(x,y) is input to the edge detection
algorithm.
[0051] Once the edges have been detected, updating of the
correction table C(x,y) for the current frame may proceed.
Processing the x.sup.th column and the y.sup.th row of table C can
proceed by first determining if the pixel I(x,y) is an edge pixel.
If it is an edge pixel, no processing may be done and the algorithm
can move on to the next pixel. If it is not an edge pixel, the
algorithm can compute an update to table C.
[0052] To update table C, the algorithm can then proceed entry by
entry in the previously mentioned order by computing the difference
("DIFF") between the corrected pixel and the corrected value of its
first neighbor, if the neighbor is not an edge pixel. For example,
if the neighbor is I(x+1,y), then:
DIFF=(I(x,y)+C(x,y))-(I(x+1,y)+C(x+1,y)). If the neighbor is an
edge pixel, that neighbor can be ignored.
[0053] A portion of "DIFF" can be subtracted from the pixel's
corresponding entry in the correction table C(x,y), and the same
portion can be added to the neighbor's corresponding entry in the
correction table C(x+1,y). This process can be repeated for each
neighbor. In an embodiment, the algorithm may be altered to adjust
the proportion of the difference that is added and subtracted from
the entries in the correction table.
[0054] After all neighbors have been analyzed, processing can
proceed to the next pixel. In an embodiment, the processing can
recursively analyze each pixel in the received image.
[0055] After the correction table has been updated, the updated
correction table can be added to the NUC-corrected image, using the
following formula: Output(x,y)=I(x,y)+C(x,y).
[0056] In one embodiment of the invention, a method of updating the
correction table with edge detection is provided which may be used
with camera motion and is thus, a motion-based method with edge
detection. This motion-based method for updating the correction
table includes prior edge detection. Further, in this motion-based
method with edge detection, the DIFF is divided by a denominator,
in conjunction with the camera motion detected prevents
over-reacting and over-compensation in detecting weak scene edges
and/or temporal noise.
[0057] In another embodiment of the invention, a method of updating
the correction table without edge detection is provided which may
be used with or without camera motion. Thus, this method may be
motionless or motion-based in updating the correction table;
however, this method does not utilize prior edge detection. In this
method of updating the correction table without edge detection, it
may be determined whether the DIFF falls within a range designated
by threshold values T1 and T2, which may be set to accommodate a
moving camera or a non-moving camera. For example, T1 may be set to
a larger value for a moving camera compared to a non-moving camera,
and T2 may be set to a smaller value for a moving camera compared
to a non-moving camera.
[0058] FIG. 1 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
correcting an infrared image according to an embodiment of the
present invention. The method includes receiving a raw image from a
camera at 110. The image can comprise a first pixel with a first
pixel value and a neighbor pixel with a neighbor pixel value,
wherein the first pixel and the neighbor pixel are assumed to view
the same object in the image. The raw image may be processed using
the factory calibration tables for gain and offset to generate a
processed image. The raw image may also be processed with a
correction table from the previous frame. Thus, for example, if the
camera is receiving the first frame, then the values in the initial
correction table may be zero or another initial pre-determined
value, since there is no previous frame to begin calculating a
correction table from; in this case.
[0059] At 112, the method further includes determining whether the
camera (e.g., infrared imager) is moving. When the camera is
determined to be moving, the method further includes detecting the
edges in the corrected image at 114 by iterating through each pixel
in the corrected image. Then at 116, the correction table is
updated and a corrected image is generated with the updated
correction table. The corrected image may be generated by adding
the first pixel value to its corresponding corrected pixel value in
the updated correction table. The correction table may be updated,
for example, by iterating through each pixel, computing the
difference between the first image pixel and the neighbor pixel
value, subtracting the difference from the first image pixel, and
adding the difference to the neighbor pixel value.
[0060] Once the correction table is updated, the method includes
outputting a corrected image at 118. The corrected image is the
processed image corrected by the values in the updated correction
table updated in 116, which may be achieved by summing
corresponding pixel values from the processed image and the
correction table. The method then proceeds to receive and process
the next raw image at 110, and the previously updated correction
table is used for the next frame. When at 112, the camera is
determined to not be moving, in an embodiment, the method may
directly output the corrected image at 118 with the previous
correction table.
[0061] It should be appreciated that the specific steps illustrated
in FIG. 1 provide a particular method of correcting an infrared
image according to an embodiment of the present invention. Other
sequences of steps may also be performed according to alternative
embodiments. For example, alternative embodiments of the present
invention may perform the steps outlined above in a different
order. Moreover, the individual steps illustrated in FIG. 1 may
include multiple sub-steps that may be performed in various
sequences as appropriate to the individual step. Furthermore,
additional steps may be added or removed depending on the
particular applications. One of ordinary skill in the art would
recognize many variations, modifications, and alternatives.
[0062] FIG. 2 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
correcting an infrared image according to an embodiment of the
present invention. At 202, a processed image "I" may be generated
based on a received raw image "P". Raw image P is processed with a
factory calibration table "g" (hereinafter, referred to as "the
gain table"), which is the same size as the raw image P.
Accordingly, each value in the gain table g is a gain value for a
corresponding pixel value in image P. Since P is the raw image
captured by the camera, the pixels in P have non-uniformities. "O"
is a factory calibrated table for offset (hereinafter, referred to
as "the offset table"). As shown in 202, I is a processed image of
raw image P using the gain table g and the offset table O, both of
which are factory calibrated tables. Accordingly, the processed
image I is the gain table g multiplied by the raw image P, plus the
offset table O, (I=gP+O) which results in some corrections to the
non-uniformities of raw image P, but is not ideal.
[0063] It should be noted that I=gP+O is a linear model for NUC
that may be used and is described in the embodiment of FIG. 2.
However, other NUC models may be utilized, for example, quadratic
models may be implemented in other embodiments of the
invention.
[0064] To improve the corrections to the non-uniformities of raw
image P, a correction table "C" may be further added. In addition
to processed image I, there may also be a corrected image "I"
generated, which is the processed image summed with the correction
table (I'=I+C). Similar to g and O, C is a table of the same size
as P, however C is not a static factory calibrated table, but a
dynamically generated correction table. According to embodiments in
the invention, C is populated iteratively to automatically correct
I and remove all remaining non-uniformities that exist after the
use of factory calibrated tabled g and O. Thus initially at the
first frame to be processed in 202, C may be set to have values of
zero or another pre-determined value, and when the next frame is
processed, the C used to correct the second frame is updated and
calculated based on the first (or previous) frame. Accordingly, C
is constantly and iteratively updated sequentially with each
frame.
[0065] At 204, a camera motion detection is performed, which may be
accomplished using a motion sensor, or using image processing-based
techniques to determine whether the camera is moving. At 206, if
the camera is not moving, then at 214, the output image generated
is I', which is the processed image I summed with C from the
previous frame. If at 206, the camera is determined to be moving,
then at 208, an edge detection is performed using I', which is the
corrected image using C as generated from the last frame.
[0066] The edge detection at 208 is performed using the best data
currently available for that frame, which is I'. Therefore the
pixels in I' are analyzed to determine a list of the edge pixels.
An edge of the image would be, for example, in a scene including a
hot ball against a cold background, the edges would just be the
outline of that ball. The edge detection in 208 would result in a
list of the pixels that define the outline of the ball. However, it
may not be simple to determine all of the edges in the image.
Strong edges, for example, such as the ball against a white
background, may be easy to determine. However weak edges, such as
the hot ball in a shadow or against a background in a similar
temperature as the ball, may be more difficult to discern as the
edge pixels may start to get lost in the noise of the image.
Various edge detection algorithms and techniques may be
implemented. In an embodiment of the invention, the edge detection
of 208 determines strong edges and provides a list of edge pixels
that define strong edges in the image.
[0067] At 210, the correction values in C may be updated based on
the non-edge pixels of I. As shown in 210, an example of the
pseudo-code to update C is shown in nested loops. For each entry
(pixel) at x,y of C, it is determined whether that entry (x,y) in I
is an edge. If I(x,y) is an edge, then that entry (e.g., pixel) is
skipped and the next entry in C and its corresponding entry in I is
evaluated. The next entry evaluated in a table, such as C, g, P, I,
and I', may be determined by scanning in raster scan mode. For
example, evaluating all the x values in row y, for example: (x, y),
(x+1, y), (x+2, y) . . . (x+n, y), and then proceeding to the next
row, y+1, for example: (x, y+1), (x+1, y+1), (x+2, y+1) . . . (x+n,
y+1). The elements of correction table C may be evaluated in any
order.
[0068] If in 210, I(x,y) is not an edge, then the neighbors of that
pixel are evaluated. Neighbors may include the pixels directly
above, directly below, directly to the left, and directly to the
right. Neighbors may also include pixels that are
diagonal--northwest, northeast, southwest, southeast to I(x,y), or
any combination of surrounding pixels to I(x,y).
[0069] The neighboring pixels are then evaluated to determine if
the neighboring pixels are edges or not. If the neighbor pixel is
not an edge, then the difference "DIFF" is computed, which may be
the difference between the corrected pixel and the corrected value
of its first neighbor. For example, if the neighbor is I(x+1,y),
then: DIFF=(I(x,y)+C(x,y))-(I(x+1,y)+C(x+1,y)). Reducing the
equation, the DIFF is essentially the best correction of the
current pixel minus the best correction of the neighbor. If the
neighbor is an edge pixel, that neighbor can be ignored.
[0070] If the neighbor is not an edge, then ideally, the neighbor
and the current pixel I(x,y) should be equal, and DIFF represents
the extent to which the neighbor and the current pixel are not
equal. However, DIFF includes pixel differences due not only to the
fixed pattern noise from pixel drift but also from other causes
such as temporal noise and weak edges from the scene that did not
get masked. Therefore the correction value for I(x,y) is determined
by using a portion of DIFF so that over several frames, the
difference between the pixels will converge to zero and make the
non-edge neighbor and the non-edge current pixel I(x,y) equal
without reacting too strongly to temporal noise or weak edges. As
shown in 210, the correction values for I(x,y) and I(neighbor) are
updated in correction table C. To update the correction values in
C, a portion of DIFF may be subtracted from the current value of
C(x,y), which is the correction value of I(x,y), and added to the
current correction value of the neighbor pixel, which is
C(neighbor). Every pixel in I and its corresponding entry in C is
evaluated to iteratively update all the correction values in every
entry in C.
[0071] Masking of scene edges found via edge detection is performed
to avoid processing edge pixels because the correction values are
computed to minimize the difference between a current pixel and its
neighbor. If the neighbor is an edge and the current pixel is not,
then minimizing the difference would "burn" the edge into table C.
This would have the effect of blurring the edge until the camera
moves and it would have the effect of a ghost edge in that location
of the image after the camera moves. However, edge detection
algorithms cannot be counted on to find all edges, particularly
weak edges. Therefore, the updates to C are only allowed when the
camera is moving. Because, if for example, in comparing the pixel
to its neighbor it happens to be on a weak edge that is not masked
out, the correction values will get updated to minimize the
difference across this edge. However, since the update is only
allowed if the camera is moving, and since only a portion of DIFF
is used to update table C, the correction that was erroneously
computed because of that weak edge will be imperceptibly small and
will only be used once because a weak edge in one frame will be
positioned on different pixels on the next frame when the camera is
moving.
[0072] When the camera is not moving, no update to table C is made
and I' (the image corrected by the last frame's correction table)
is output in one embodiment. Not updating table C in this case
keeps unmasked weak edges from being burned into table C. The edge
detection in 208 may be used when the camera is moving because weak
edges may be difficult to detect. Therefore, if the camera is
stationary, and if a pixel and its neighbor, on a current frame
form a weak edge, the iterative correction table updated in 210 of
FIG. 2 may result in a blurring of the edge after the processing of
several frames.
[0073] Thus, in an embodiment, when camera motion is detected in
206, a method of updating table C with edge detection is performed
in 208 and 210.
[0074] Alternatively, in another embodiment, when camera movement
is detected in 206, then in 218, a method of updating table C
without edge detection may be utilized. This method of updating
table C in 218 is shown in block 504 of FIG. 5. Referring to 504 of
FIG. 5, without edge detection, every entry in C and every pixel in
I is evaluated at 504. For each correction value (x,y) in C, and
for each neighbor of (x,y) in C, a difference DIFF is computed. As
mentioned previously, every correction value in C corresponds to a
pixel in I, for example correction value C(x,y) corresponds to
pixel I(x,y), and correction value C(neighbor) corresponds to pixel
I(neighbor).
[0075] The DIFF may be computed by taking the difference between
I(x,y)+C(x,y) and I(neighbor)+C(neighbor). If the absolute value of
DIFF is within a range of values as defined by thresholds T1 and
T2, then the correction value is updated. For example, whether
T1>absolute value of DIFF>T2. Thresholds T1 and T2 may be
predetermined values. The correction value C(x,y) for the current
pixel is updated by subtracting a fraction of the DIFF from the
current correction value. The fraction of the DIFF may be computed
by dividing DIFF by a denominator, denom. The denominator denom,
T1, and T2 may be input values that are set, and/or may be
predetermined. The correction value of the neighbor C(neighbor) may
be updated by adding the fraction of the DIFF (for example,
DIFF/denom) to the current correction value of the neighbor. 504 is
repeated iteratively for every entry in C, until the entire table
is populated and updated.
[0076] For this moving camera case, T1 may be chosen to be a value
such that the amount DIFF/denom is imperceptible to the eye when
the pixel differences (DIFF) is less than T1. T2 may be chosen to
be smaller than T1 such that pixel differences less than T2 are so
small as to not be worth correcting. T2 may provide a lower limit
on pixel differences in order to prevent over-convergence of the
algorithm.
[0077] Referring to FIG. 2, at 212, after every entry in I and C
have been iterated through by either a combination of 208 and 210
(method of updating table C with edge detection), or by 218 only
(method of updating table C without edge detection), then the
outputted image is a summation of the processed image I (in which
I=gP+O) and the updated correction table C. As a result, the
outputted image contains a more complete correction of the
non-uniformities of the raw image, with the correction becoming
progressively and iteratively improved.
[0078] It should be appreciated that the specific steps illustrated
in FIG. 2 provide a particular method of correcting an infrared
image according to an embodiment of the present invention. Other
sequences of steps may also be performed according to alternative
embodiments. For example, alternative embodiments of the present
invention may perform the steps outlined above in a different
order. Moreover, the individual steps illustrated in FIG. 2 may
include multiple sub-steps that may be performed in various
sequences as appropriate to the individual step. Furthermore,
additional steps may be added or removed depending on the
particular applications. One of ordinary skill in the art would
recognize many variations, modifications, and alternatives.
[0079] FIG. 3 is a simplified flowchart diagram illustrating a
method of updating a correction table with edge detection according
to an embodiment of the present invention, for example, as shown in
210 of FIG. 2. At 301, a current pixel is provided. Evaluating the
current pixel I(x,y), at 302, the method further includes
determining whether the current pixel I(x,y) is an edge. If the
current pixel is determined to be an edge at 302, then the method
proceeds to 312 and iterates to a next pixel in the image and a
next value in the correction table. If I(x,y) is not an edge, then
the neighbors of that pixel are determined and considered at 304.
Neighbors may include any surrounding pixels to I(x,y).
[0080] At 306, the neighboring pixels are then evaluated to
determine if the neighboring pixels are edges or not. If the
neighbor pixel is determined to be an edge at 306, then the method
reverts back to 304 to consider another neighbor pixel of the
current pixel I(x,y) until all the neighboring pixels have been
considered. If the neighbor pixel is not an edge, then the
difference "DIFF" between the corrected pixel and the corrected
value of its first neighbor is computed at 308. For example, if the
neighbor is I(x+1,y), then:
DIFF=(I(x,y)+C(x,y))-(I(x+1,y)+C(x+1,y)). If the neighbor is an
edge pixel, that neighbor can be ignored.
[0081] When the neighbor is not an edge, then DIFF quantifies how
different the neighbor and the current pixel I(x,y) are, and the
correction value for the current pixel is calculated to minimize
DIFF such that is converges close to zero. When DIFF converges,
then the current pixel and the neighbor should be almost equal. In
310, the updated correction values in C are computed by subtracting
DIFF/denom from the current value of C(x,y), which is the
correction value for I(x,y), and adding DIFF/denom to the current
correction value of the neighbor pixel, which is C(neighbor). The
value of denom may be a predetermined value.
[0082] At 312, the method includes proceeding to the next pixel in
image I and its corresponding correction value in correction table
C. The method may then proceed to evaluate the next pixel as the
current pixel provided in 301. The process shown in 301-312 is
repeated for every pixel in I(x,y) to iteratively, automatically,
and incrementally update the correction values in correction table
C.
[0083] It should be appreciated that the specific steps illustrated
in FIG. 3 provide a particular method of updating a correction
table according to an embodiment of the present invention. Other
sequences of steps may also be performed according to alternative
embodiments. For example, alternative embodiments of the present
invention may perform the steps outlined above in a different
order. Moreover, the individual steps illustrated in FIG. 3 may
include multiple sub-steps that may be performed in various
sequences as appropriate to the individual step. Furthermore,
additional steps may be added or removed depending on the
particular applications. One of ordinary skill in the art would
recognize many variations, modifications, and alternatives.
[0084] FIG. 4A is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
correcting an infrared image according to another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0085] At 402, a processed image I may be generated by multiplying
a raw image P with a factory calibrated gain table g with an added
factory calibrated offset table O, such that I=gP+0. As a result, I
contains some corrections to the non-uniformities of raw image P,
but is not ideal, as the corrections are based purely on factory
calibrated tables with predetermined values. In addition to
processed image I, there may also be a corrected image "I"
generated at 402, which is the processed image summed with the
correction table (I'=I+C). Similar to g and O, C is a table of the
same size as P, however C is not a static factory calibrated table,
but a dynamically generated correction table. According to
embodiments in the invention, C is populated iteratively to
automatically correct I and remove all remaining non-uniformities
that exist after the use of factory calibrated tabled g and O. Thus
initially at the first frame to be processed in 402, C may be set
to have values of zero or another pre-determined value, and when
the next frame is processed, the C used to correct the second frame
is updated and calculated based on the first (or previous)
frame.
[0086] At 404, a camera motion detection operation is performed.
Detecting camera motion may be accomplished using a motion sensor,
or using image processing-based techniques. At 406, if the camera
is moving, then edge detection using I' is performed at 411, and a
correction table is generated, populated, and updated at 412, using
the method illustrated in FIG. 3 and at 210 of FIG. 2. The edge
detection at 411 may be performed using the best data currently
available for that frame, which is I'. Therefore the pixels in I'
are analyzed to determine a list of the edge pixels. Various edge
detection algorithms and techniques may be implemented at 411. In
an embodiment of the invention, the edge detection of 411 may
provide a list of edge pixels that define strong edges in the
image.
[0087] However, if at 406, the camera is not moving, then a
correction table is generated, populated, and updated at 408
according to a method illustrated in FIG. 6 and at 504 in FIG. 5.
Referring to 504 of FIG. 5, without edge detection, every entry in
C and every pixel in I. For each correction value (x,y) in C, and
for each neighbor of (x,y) in C, a difference DIFF is computed. As
mentioned previously, every correction value in C corresponds to a
pixel in I, for example correction value C(x,y) corresponds to
pixel I(x,y), and correction value C(neighbor) corresponds to pixel
I(neighbor).
[0088] The DIFF may be computed by taking the difference between
I(x,y)+C(x,y) and I(neighbor)+C(neighbor). If the absolute value of
DIFF is within a range of values as defined by thresholds T1 and
T2, then the correction value is updated. For example, whether
T1>absolute value of DIFF>T2. Thresholds T1 and T2 may be
predetermined values. The correction value C(x,y) for the current
pixel is updated by subtracting a fraction of the DIFF from the
current correction value. The fraction of the DIFF may be computed
by dividing DIFF by a denominator, denom. The denominator denom,
T1, and T2 may be input values that are set, and/or may be
predetermined. The correction value of the neighbor C(neighbor) may
be updated by adding the fraction of the DIFF (for example,
DIFF/denom) to the current correction value of the neighbor. 504 is
repeated iteratively for every entry in C, until the entire table
is populated and updated.
[0089] In this non-moving camera case, T1 may be chosen to be a
value such that pixel differences less than T1 are imperceptible to
the eye. T2 may be chosen to be smaller than T1 such that pixel
differences less than T2 are so small as to not be worth
correcting. T2 may provide a lower limit on pixel differences in
order to prevent over-convergence of the algorithm.
[0090] Referring back to FIG. 4A, when the correction table C is
complete from either 408 or 412, it is added to processed image I
(I=gP+O) to create an output image that is corrected of its
non-uniformities without edge detection.
[0091] It should be appreciated that the specific steps illustrated
in FIG. 4A provide a particular method of correcting an infrared
image according to an embodiment of the present invention. Other
sequences of steps may also be performed according to alternative
embodiments. For example, alternative embodiments of the present
invention may perform the steps outlined above in a different
order. Moreover, the individual steps illustrated in FIG. 4A may
include multiple sub-steps that may be performed in various
sequences as appropriate to the individual step. Furthermore,
additional steps may be added or removed depending on the
particular applications. One of ordinary skill in the art would
recognize many variations, modifications, and alternatives.
[0092] FIG. 4B is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
correcting an infrared image according to another embodiment of the
present invention without edge detection for both motionless and
motion-based algorithms for updating the correction table.
[0093] At 452, a processed image I may be generated by multiplying
a raw image P with a factory calibrated gain table g with an added
factory calibrated offset table O, such that I=gP+0.
[0094] At 454, a camera motion detection operation is performed.
Detecting camera motion may be accomplished using a motion sensor,
or using image processing-based techniques. At 456, if the camera
is moving, then a correction table is generated, populated, and
updated at 462 according to a method illustrated in FIG. 6 and at
504 in FIG. 5, where T1 is larger and T2 is smaller than in a
motionless algorithm of 458. Referring to 504 of FIG. 5, without
edge detection, every entry in C and every pixel in I is evaluated.
For each correction value (x,y) in C, and for each neighbor of
(x,y) in C, a difference DIFF is computed.
[0095] The DIFF may be computed by taking the difference between
I(x,y)+C(x,y) and I(neighbor)+C(neighbor). If the absolute value of
DIFF is within a range of values as defined by thresholds T1 and
T2, then the correction value is updated. For example, whether
T1>absolute value of DIFF>T2. Thresholds T1 and T2 may be
predetermined values. The correction value C(x,y) for the current
pixel is updated by subtracting a fraction of the DIFF from the
current correction value. The fraction of the DIFF may be computed
by dividing DIFF by a denominator, denom. The denominator denom,
T1, and T2 may be input values that are set, and/or may be
predetermined. The correction value of the neighbor C(neighbor) may
be updated by adding the fraction of the DIFF (for example,
DIFF/denom) to the current correction value of the neighbor. 504 is
repeated iteratively for every entry in C, until the entire table
is populated and updated.
[0096] For this moving camera case, T1 may be chosen to be a value
such that the amount DIFF/denom is imperceptible to the eye when
the pixel differences (DIFF) is less than T1. T2 may be chosen to
be smaller than T1 such that pixel differences less than T2 are so
small as to not be worth correcting. T2 may provide a lower limit
on pixel differences in order to prevent over-convergence of the
algorithm.
[0097] Referring back to FIG. 4B, when the camera is determined to
not be moving in 456, then the method proceeds to the motionless
algorithm of 458, according to a method illustrated in FIG. 6 and
block 504 of FIG. 5, where T1 is smaller and T2 is larger than in
the motion-based algorithm of 462. Thus, embodiments of the present
invention provide a method of performing NUC in situations when the
camera is not moving (i.e., still camera case) by making updates to
the correction table when the camera is still using block 458 of
FIG. 4B.
[0098] At 460, when the correction table C is complete from either
458 or 462, it is added to processed image I (I=gP+O) to create an
output image that is corrected of its non-uniformities without edge
detection.
[0099] It should be appreciated that the specific steps illustrated
in FIG. 4B provide a particular method of correcting an infrared
image according to an embodiment of the present invention. Other
sequences of steps may also be performed according to alternative
embodiments. For example, alternative embodiments of the present
invention may perform the steps outlined above in a different
order. Moreover, the individual steps illustrated in FIG. 4B may
include multiple sub-steps that may be performed in various
sequences as appropriate to the individual step. Furthermore,
additional steps may be added or removed depending on the
particular applications. One of ordinary skill in the art would
recognize many variations, modifications, and alternatives.
[0100] FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified flowchart illustrating a
method of updating a correction table without camera movement
according to an embodiment of the invention. At 502, a processed
image I=gP+O is used to iteratively determine correction values for
correction table C. Without edge detection, every entry in C and
every pixel in I is evaluated at 504. For each correction value
(x,y) in C, and for each neighbor of (x,y) in C, a difference DIFF
is computed. As mentioned previously, every correction value in C
corresponds to a pixel in I, for example correction value C(x,y)
corresponds to pixel I(x,y), and correction value C(neighbor)
corresponds to pixel I(neighbor).
[0101] The DIFF may be computed by taking the difference between
I(x,y)+C(x,y) and I(neighbor)+C(neighbor). If the absolute value of
DIFF is within a range of values as defined by thresholds T1 and
T2, then the correction value is updated. For example, whether
T1>absolute value of DIFF>T2. Thresholds T1 and T2 may be
predetermined values. The correction value C(x,y) for the current
pixel is updated by subtracting a fraction of the DIFF from the
current correction value. The fraction of the DIFF may be computed
by dividing DIFF by a denominator, denom. The denominator denom,
T1, and T2 may be input values that are set, and/or may be
predetermined. The correction value of the neighbor C(neighbor) may
be updated by adding the fraction of the DIFF (for example,
DIFF/denom) to the current correction value of the neighbor. 504 is
repeated iteratively for every entry in C, until the entire table
is populated and updated.
[0102] When 504 is applied to a non-moving camera case, T1 is
chosen to be a value such that pixel differences (DIFF) less than
T1 are imperceptible to the eye. When 504 is applied to a moving
camera case, T1 may be chosen to be a value such that the amount
DIFF/denom is imperceptible to the eye when the pixel differences
(DIFF) is less than T1. T2 is chosen to be smaller than T1 such
that pixel differences less than T2 are so small as to not be worth
correcting. T2 provides a lower limit on pixel differences in order
to prevent over-convergence of the algorithm. Using a fraction of
DIFF may compensate for temporal noise and the lack of edge
detection, particularly for weak edges, because if the correction
values get updated on a pixel and a neighbor that form a weak edge,
the fractional DIFF can make the correction to the weak edge
unnoticeable. In the alternative, as described in other embodiments
using camera movement and edge detection, for weak edges, updating
the correction values for a pixel and its neighbor forming a weak
edge may result in blurring the edge even further.
[0103] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when
the camera is moving, a weak edge that existed on one frame I may
not be there or may have moved on frame I+1, so the edges may not
be blurred, and the correction table update process using edge
detection techniques described herein may be used. On the other
hand, if the camera is stationary, and if a pixel and its neighbor,
on this frame, form a weak edge, the iterative correction table
update method may not noticeably blur the edge since the correction
values are updated by fractions of DIFF.
[0104] Then at 506, when the correction table C is complete, it is
added to processed image I from 502 to result in an output image
with its non-uniformities corrected without camera movement or edge
detection.
[0105] It should be appreciated that the specific steps illustrated
in FIG. 5 provide a particular method of updating a correction
table when the camera is stationary according to an embodiment of
the present invention. Other sequences of steps may also be
performed according to alternative embodiments. For example,
alternative embodiments of the present invention may perform the
steps outlined above in a different order. Moreover, the individual
steps illustrated in FIG. 5 may include multiple sub-steps that may
be performed in various sequences as appropriate to the individual
step. Furthermore, additional steps may be added or removed
depending on the particular applications. One of ordinary skill in
the art would recognize many variations, modifications, and
alternatives.
[0106] FIG. 6 illustrates a simplified flowchart diagram of
updating a correction table without edge detection according to an
embodiment of the present invention, for example, as shown at 504
of FIG. 5. The method illustrated in FIG. 6 may be used for both
motion-based and motionless algorithms to update correction table
C.
[0107] At 601, a current pixel I(x,y) is provided. Subsequently at
602, neighbor correction values of C(x,y) are considered and
determined, where C(x,y) is a correction value for the current
pixel I(x,y). The method considers each neighbor of the current
pixel before considering the next current pixel as described
herein. Thus, each neighbor pixel of the current pixel is
considered as shown in block 504 of FIG. 5.
[0108] At 604, the difference between the correction value for the
current pixel and the correction value of its neighbor is
determined as DIFF. The DIFF may be computed by taking the
difference between I(x,y)+C(x,y) and I(neighbor)+C(neighbor). At
606, it is determined whether the absolute value of DIFF is within
a range of values, for example, in a range between T2 and T1, with
T2 being a lower bound and T1 being an upper bound. If NO, that is,
the DIFF is not within the predetermined range defined by T1 and
T2, then the method makes no update to table C and proceeds to the
next neighbor (No path from 606 to 602). After all neighbors have
been visited, the method proceeds to the next pixel as the new
"current pixel" and proceeds again beginning at block 602.
[0109] If YES, the DIFF is within the range, to update the
correction values, at 608, the correction value C(x,y) for the
current pixel is updated by subtracting a fraction of the DIFF from
the current correction value. The fraction of the DIFF may be DIFF
divided by a denominator. At 610, the correction value of the
neighbor C(neighbor) may be updated by adding the fraction of the
DIFF (for example, DIFF/denom) to the current correction value of
the neighbor.
[0110] Then, at 612, the next correction value in the correction
table is evaluated, and its neighbor correction values are
determined in 602, in which 602-612 are repeated iteratively for
every entry in C, until the entire table is populated and
updated.
[0111] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A-6, the infrared image
correction is performed without an edge detection first before
updating the correction table. Instead it determines DIFF, which is
the difference between the pixel and its neighbor. If that
difference DIFF is less than threshold T1 and greater than another
threshold T2, then the correction value is updated. For the
non-moving camera case, the thresholds T1 and T2 are set very close
such that the range for DIFF is very small. Therefore, when the
camera is not moving, the correction table may still be
incrementally updated to produce a fairly clean image to at least
prevent the fixed-pattern noise from evolving and negatively
affecting the image.
[0112] For the non-moving camera case, typical values for T1 and T2
may be 5-6 grayscale values for a 14-bit camera. Input values for
T1 and T2 would depend on the bit depths of the camera. For
example, for 14-bits there would be 16,384 grayscale values; thus
the range between T1 and T2 would be 5-6 grayscale values out of
16,384. Although the camera is 14 bits, the camera is not
necessarily detecting everything from zero up to 16,383, but may
only be detecting just a small range within that total range.
Therefore, these thresholds of 5-6 grayscale values are set small
enough such that edges having these differences would be
undetectable by the human eye. The fixed-pattern noise starts from
zero, but as the camera heats up or cools down, the fixed pattern
noise increases a little bit each time. These thresholds allow the
fixed pattern noise to be corrected as it evolves and before it
becomes perceptible.
[0113] For the moving camera case, T1 may be chosen to be a value
such that the amount DIFF/denom is imperceptible to the eye when
the pixel differences (DIFF) is less than T1. Accordingly, the
correction table update process of FIGS. 5-6 helps to reduce fixed
pattern noise. Because no edge detection is performed, some weak
edges may be inadvertently updated, but only weak edges that are
imperceptible to the human eye. In contrast, strong edges that are
detectable to the human eye typically have a DIFF value of
thousands of grayscale values.
[0114] It should be appreciated that the specific steps illustrated
in FIG. 6 provide a particular method of updating a correction
table when a camera is stationary according to an embodiment of the
present invention. Other sequences of steps may also be performed
according to alternative embodiments. For example, alternative
embodiments of the present invention may perform the steps outlined
above in a different order. Moreover, the individual steps
illustrated in FIG. 6 may include multiple sub-steps that may be
performed in various sequences as appropriate to the individual
step. Furthermore, additional steps may be added or removed
depending on the particular applications. One of ordinary skill in
the art would recognize many variations, modifications, and
alternatives.
[0115] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method of correcting
infrared images according to another embodiment of the invention.
The method may receive a processed image I at 702, which comprises
multiplying a raw image P with a gain table g and adding an offset
table O. The gain table and offset table may be the same size as
the raw image, such that each entry in the gain table corresponds
to an entry in the offset and a pixel in the raw image.
[0116] At 704, the method includes determining whether I is the
first frame. If it is the first frame, then the method includes, at
706, initializing a correction table C, which is also the same size
as raw image P, the gain table g, and the offset table O. In an
embodiment, correction table C may be initialized to have all the
entries be zero's or to some predetermined array of values. Other
parameters, such as a mean value of the processed image or a
counter may also be set to predetermined values. For example,
meanImage may be initialized to I=gP+O and mean_image_cntr may be
set to 0. After the correction table C and other parameters are
initialized, then the method proceeds to 708 to determine whether
the camera is in motion.
[0117] If the current I is not the first frame, the method directly
proceeds to 708 to determine whether the camera is in motion. If
the camera is determined to be moving at 708, then the method
proceeds to 710 to determine whether there is motion >T6 where
T6 is a measure of camera motion. For example, if a motion detector
is used to measure camera motion, T6 might be an accelerometer
reading. If image processing techniques are used to detect camera
motion, T6 might be in units of pixels. If motion >T6, then the
method further includes, at 712, using a motion-based algorithm to
update the correction table C. For example, the motion-based
algorithm used may use prior edge detection as illustrated in FIG.
3, and blocks 208 and 210 of FIG. 2. In another embodiment, the
motion-based algorithm may be implemented without edge detection,
for example, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and block 504 of FIG. 5. The
correction table C is then added to processed image I to result in
corrected output image at 714.
[0118] If there is small motion <T6 determined at 710, then the
method proceeds to 716 such that the mean image parameter is reset
to I (=gP+O) and the mean image counter is reset to 0.
[0119] Alternatively, if at 708, the camera is determined to be
stationary, then at 722, the method can further include computing a
percentage change in greyscale value of each pixel relative to the
corresponding pixel in the mean image (e.g., meanImage). Then at
724, any pixel having a percentage change greater than a threshold
T3 is marked as moving. T3 may be a predetermined threshold. The
number of pixels marked as moving are counted at 726 and saved as
the number of pixels that have changed.
[0120] At 728, when the number of changed pixels has exceeded a
threshold T4, the mean image parameter may then be reset to I
(=gP+O) (e.g., meanImage=I) and the mean image counter may be reset
to 0 (e.g., mean_Image_cntr=0). Alternatively, if the number of
changed pixels has not exceed the threshold T4, then at 730, the
mean image value is set to the sum of the processed image I
multiplied by a constant .alpha. and a fraction of the previous
mean image value, where constant .alpha. is less than 1, and the
fraction is 1-.alpha.. For example,
meanImage=.alpha.1+(1-.alpha.)meanImage. After the mean image value
is updated, then the mean image counter parameter is incremented at
732. T4 and a may be predetermined values.
[0121] If the mean image counter (e.g., mean_Image_cntr) is greater
than a threshold value T5, then at 720 a motionless algorithm
without edge detection is used to update the correction table C.
For example, implementing the method illustrated in FIG. 6 and
block 504 of FIG. 5 of updating correction table C without edge
detection, where the input image is meanImage instead of I. When
the correction table C is updated, then it is added to processed
image I to output corrected output image at 714. If the mean image
counter parameter is less than the threshold T5, then at 714, the
processed image I is added to the previous correction table C to
result in corrected output image. Thresholds T4, T5, and T6 may be
predetermined values.
[0122] It should be appreciated that the specific steps illustrated
in FIG. 7 provide a particular method of correcting an infrared
image according to an embodiment of the present invention. Other
sequences of steps may also be performed according to alternative
embodiments. For example, alternative embodiments of the present
invention may perform the steps outlined above in a different
order. Moreover, the individual steps illustrated in FIG. 7 may
include multiple sub-steps that may be performed in various
sequences as appropriate to the individual step. Furthermore,
additional steps may be added or removed depending on the
particular applications. One of ordinary skill in the art would
recognize many variations, modifications, and alternatives.
[0123] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of an input image and its
corresponding output image after correction methods performed
according to embodiments of the invention. 802 is an input image of
an actual infrared image with FPA drift, which can be observed as a
cross-hatched pattern in the image. When 802 is processed using
correction methods described in the present application, the result
is 804, where the cross-hatched pattern of the FPA drift is
significantly and visibly reduced.
[0124] FIG. 9 is a high level schematic diagram illustrating a data
processing system upon which the disclosed embodiments may be
implemented in certain embodiments. Embodiments may be practiced
with various computer system configurations such as infrared
cameras, hand-held devices, microprocessor systems,
microprocessor-based or programmable user electronics,
minicomputers, mainframe computers and the like. As an example, the
data processing system can be used to correct an infrared image in
conjunction with an infrared lens system 920 as described
throughout the present application, for example, providing for
control of the imaging functions of the infrared lens system 920.
The embodiments can also be practiced in distributed computing
environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices
that are linked through a wire-based or wireless network. FIG. 9
shows one example of a data processing system, such as data
processing system 900, which may be used with the present described
embodiments. Note that while FIG. 9 illustrates various components
of a data processing system, it is not intended to represent any
particular architecture or manner of interconnecting the components
as such details are not germane to the techniques described herein.
It will also be appreciated that network computers and other data
processing systems which have fewer components or perhaps more
components may also be used. The data processing system of FIG. 9
may, for example, a personal computer (PC), workstation, tablet,
smartphone or other hand-held wireless device, or any device having
similar functionality.
[0125] As shown, the data processing system 901 includes a system
bus 902 which is coupled to a microprocessor 903, a Read-Only
Memory (ROM) 907, a volatile Random Access Memory (RAM) 905, as
well as other nonvolatile memory 906. In the illustrated
embodiment, microprocessor 903 is coupled to cache memory 904.
System bus 902 can be adapted to interconnect these various
components together and also interconnect components 903, 907, 905,
and 906 to a display controller and display device 908, and to
peripheral devices such as input/output ("I/O") devices 510. Types
of I/O devices can include keyboards, modems, network interfaces,
printers, scanners, video cameras, or other devices well known in
the art. Typically, I/O devices 510 are coupled to the system bus
902 through I/O controllers 909. In one embodiment the I/O
controller 909 includes a Universal Serial Bus ("USB") adapter for
controlling USB peripherals or other type of bus adapter.
[0126] RAM 905 can be implemented as dynamic RAM ("DRAM") which
requires power continually in order to refresh or maintain the data
in the memory. The other nonvolatile memory 906 can be a magnetic
hard drive, magnetic optical drive, optical drive, DVD RAM, or
other type of memory system that maintains data after power is
removed from the system. While FIG. 3 shows that nonvolatile memory
906 as a local device coupled with the rest of the components in
the data processing system, it will be appreciated by skilled
artisans that the described techniques may use a nonvolatile memory
remote from the system, such as a network storage device coupled
with the data processing system through a network interface such as
a modem or Ethernet interface (not shown).
[0127] With these embodiments in mind, it will be apparent from
this description that aspects of the described techniques may be
embodied, at least in part, in software, hardware, firmware, or any
combination thereof. It should also be understood that embodiments
can employ various computer-implemented functions involving data
stored in a data processing system. That is, the techniques may be
carried out in a computer or other data processing system in
response executing sequences of instructions stored in memory. In
various embodiments, hardwired circuitry may be used independently,
or in combination with software instructions, to implement these
techniques. For instance, the described functionality may be
performed by specific hardware components containing hardwired
logic for performing operations, or by any combination of custom
hardware components and programmed computer components. The
techniques described herein are not limited to any specific
combination of hardware circuitry and software.
[0128] Embodiments herein may also be in the form of computer code
stored on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media can
also be adapted to store computer instructions, which when executed
by a computer or other data processing system, such as data
processing system 500, are adapted to cause the system to perform
operations according to the techniques described herein.
Computer-readable media can include any mechanism that stores
information in a form accessible by a data processing device such
as a computer, network device, tablet, smartphone, or any device
having similar functionality. Examples of computer-readable media
include any type of tangible article of manufacture capable of
storing information thereon such as a hard drive, floppy disk, DVD,
CD-ROM, magnetic-optical disk, ROM, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash
memory and equivalents thereto, a magnetic or optical card, or any
type of media suitable for storing electronic data.
Computer-readable media can also be distributed over a
network-coupled computer system, which can be stored or executed in
a distributed fashion.
[0129] FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic diagram of an optical system
according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the optical
system illustrated in FIG. 10, radiation from a target 1010 passes
through window 1012 and is imaged onto a detector 1020 using lenses
1015a, 1015b, and 1015c. The optical system in the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 10 includes a thermal reference source (TRS)
1030, also referred to as a thermal radiation source, that is used
in some embodiments to provide a reference source for calibration.
In some implementations, the TRS is not utilized and shutter 1032
is utilized as a reference source during the calibration
process.
[0130] In the system illustrated in FIG. 10, the shutter 1032 is
positioned between one or more of the optical elements (e.g., the
lenses 1015a, 1015b, and 1015c) and the detector 1020. During
calibration using the shutter, the emission from the optical
elements not positioned between the shutter and detector (i.e.,
optics upstream of the shutter such as lenses 1015a and 1015b) is
not collected. Accordingly, during calibration with the shutter
closed, blocking off the scene as desired, upstream optics such as
lenses 1015a and 1015b as well as window 1012 are also effectively
hidden, preventing emission from the upstream optics from being
utilized during calibration and computation of the offset
correction values.
[0131] In conventional systems, emission from the optics upstream
of the shutter can impact the non-uniformity measured at the
detector. Additionally, for optical systems in which the shutter is
positioned between the optical elements as illustrated in FIG. 10,
error can be introduced since the gain and offset correction terms
are determined based on the entire optical system but then used
during operational calibration with a subset of the optical system.
Although the optical system illustrated in FIG. 10 is schematic, it
illustrates that the shutter can be placed in an intermediate
position between elements of a multiple element system.
[0132] During conventional factory calibration for linear NUC,
images of a uniform target or scene (e.g., a uniform blackbody) are
collected at two temperatures (e.g., a cold temperature and a hot
temperature) using the detector. This can be referred to as a
2-point calibration. Gain and offset corrections are then computed
for each pixel in the array. This calibration process can be
referred to as a 2-point calibration since gain and offset are
analyzed at two different temperatures. The inventors have
determined that in this process, the optics in the system
contribute their emission (i.e., relative illumination) to the
radiation collected at the detector. During operation, calibration
is performed by closing the shutter and updating the factory gain
and offset accordingly. As discussed above, for systems with
optical elements upstream of the shutter, their relative
illumination is collected at the detector during factory
calibration, but not present during calibration during operation,
thereby adversely impacting non-uniformity measured at the
detector.
[0133] Operational calibration can be performed, for example, when
the camera is powered up, periodically during operation, in
response to changes in temperature of the detector or other system
components, in response to manual calibration commands,
combinations thereof, or the like. This operational calibration,
which can be referred to as a 1-point calibration, is performed to
update the individual pixel offset corrections to account for
sensor drift over time.
[0134] In some systems, an internal shutter (e.g., positioned
between the detector and the imaging optics as illustrated by
shutter 1032 in FIG. 10) is provided. This internal shutter is
closed during the 1-point calibration process, thereby blocking off
energy from the scene and providing a uniform reference for the
detector. However, as discussed above, since the internal shutter
blocks the relative illumination produced by the imaging optics,
the use of the internal shutter to update a 2-point factory
calibration performed viewing through the entire optical system can
cause an overall non-uniformity in the image (e.g., corner shading,
gradients, and the like). This non-uniformity results from the fact
that the gains were determined during factory calibration by
viewing the calibration scene through the imaging optics (including
the contribution from the relative illumination), but the 1-point
calibration is performed with the shutter closed, blocking the
relative illumination and removing the contribution from the
relative illumination.
[0135] Thus, to solve problems associated with conventional
approaches, during factory calibration according to embodiments of
the present invention, reference images are collected for a cold
target (i.e., a cold temperature T1), a hot target (i.e., a hot
temperature T2), and a reference with the shutter closed at a
number of camera temperatures. As described below, all three
reference images are utilized during operational calibration. The
factory calibration process of the present invention can be
referred to as a 3-point calibration since, in addition to the hot
and cold images associated with a 2-point calibration process, the
reference image of the internal shutter at a given temperature
during factory calibration can be utilized. During operational
calibration, the reference image of the internal shutter collected
at factory calibration is compared to an operational image of the
internal shutter and the result is used to determine the pixel
offsets. The relative illumination produced by the imaging optics
between the internal shutter and the scene (i.e., upstream of the
internal shutter) does not contribute to either the reference image
of the internal shutter collected at factory calibration or the
operational image of the internal shutter. Therefore, the overall
uniformity of the image is significantly improved.
[0136] Embodiments of the present invention provide extensions to a
calibration technique that are used with a shutter in an uncooled
thermal imaging system and can be referred to as global source
non-uniformity correction (NUC) techniques. These extensions enable
the use of either a linear or a quadratic non-uniformity correction
with either a shutter or a thermal reference in place of the
shutter. Additionally, some embodiments, as described in additional
detail in relation to FIG. 13, combine shutterless NUC techniques
with global source NUC techniques to provide benefits not available
using conventional approaches.
[0137] Embodiments of the present invention are able to utilize
either linear or quadratic NUC. In the case of linear NUC, gains
and offsets are tabled for each pixel in the array, then applied
using Equation 1, where Y is the output from the NUC process, X is
the input, A are the stored gain values and B are the stored offset
values.
Y.sub.i,j=A.sub.i,jX.sub.i,j+B.sub.i,j Equation 1
[0138] Similarly, quadratic NUC stores three coefficient tables,
which are applied using Equation 2, where Y is the output from the
quadratic NUC process, X is the input, A and B are two dimensional
arrays providing coefficients for the quadratic equation and C are
the stored offset values.
Y.sub.i,j=A.sub.i,jX.sub.i,j.sup.2+B.sub.i,jX.sub.i,j+C.sub.i,j
Equation 2
[0139] Some embodiments of the present invention provide
radiometric non-uniformity correction. These radiometric NUC
techniques utilize either linear or quadratic NUC combined with
corrections for the nonlinear relationship between detector output
and scene temperature based on the linear relationship between
detector output and radiant power.
[0140] During factory calibration, the pixel outputs for each pixel
in the array are measured over a range of target or scene
temperatures as well as a range of camera or ambient temperatures.
As an example, the factory calibration can include imaging a target
at a first blackbody temperature (e.g., 35.degree. C.) (i.e., the
cold target) with the camera at a first temperature (e.g.,
15.degree. C.). The temperature of the camera is then varied over a
range of temperatures, for example, 20.degree. C., 25.degree. C.,
30.degree. C., and 35.degree. C. In some embodiments, 25 different
camera temperatures, for instance five groups of five camera
temperatures, are utilized. This process is repeated with the
target at a second blackbody temperature (e.g., 75.degree. C.),
with the temperature of the camera varied over the previous range
of temperatures.
[0141] FIG. 15 is a plot illustrating mean detector output vs.
camera temperature for various target temperatures according to an
embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the
output values for the pixels of the array are averaged to produce a
single mean detector output value for each camera or ambient
temperature. As the camera temperature changes, the output values
vary as illustrated (i.e., decreasing with increasing camera
temperature in FIG. 15). Some embodiments of the present invention,
as described more fully herein, correct for this variation such
that the output values of the array are constant as a function of
camera temperature for a given target or scene temperature.
[0142] As the blackbody temperature of the target increases, the
output values increase, but not linearly as described more fully
below. It should be noted that when each individual pixel is
measured, the curves for each pixel will be similar to those
illustrated in FIG. 15, but will vary with each pixel due to
pixel-to-pixel non-uniformity.
[0143] FIG. 16 is a plot illustrating mean detector output vs.
camera temperature for two target temperatures according to an
embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the data
plotted in FIG. 15 for target temperatures of 35.degree. C. and
75.degree. C. are plotted as a function of camera temperature.
Although only five camera temperatures are illustrated,
measurements can be made at additional camera temperatures, for
example, 25 or more camera temperatures.
[0144] FIG. 17 is a plot illustrating constant value mapped mean
detector outputs for two target temperatures according to an
embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 17, the mean detector
output has been mapped to a constant value for each of the two
blackbody target or scene temperatures. By comparing the raw data
in FIGS. 15 and 16 to the mapped data in FIG. 17, the mapping of
output counts to predetermined values is evident. In practice, each
pixel in the array is measured and mapped to the constant output
value, but for ease of illustration, the mean detector outputs are
shown. This mapping of each pixel performs the function of
converting raw images into non-uniformity corrected images. Thus,
embodiments of the present invention refer to mapping and mapped
data, which can also be referred to as performing non-uniformity
correction or non-uniformity corrected data.
[0145] Thus, in FIG. 17, the mapped mean detector output is
plotted, but mapped such that the mapped output of each pixel in
the array has a constant value at a given target temperature, for
example, 3500 counts for the 35.degree. C. target temperature and
7500 counts for the 75.degree. C. target temperature. The mapping
to the constant value can utilize a second-order polynomial or
other suitable function as a function of the camera temperature. As
will be described more fully below, the mean pixel output over the
array for the cold reference image can be referred to as meanCold
and is equal to 3500 counts in this example and the mean pixel
output over the array for the hot reference image can be referred
to as meanHot and is equal to 7500 counts in this example.
[0146] Referring to FIG. 17, the relationship between the detector
output and target temperature in not linear. Accordingly, a
60.degree. C. target temperature will not result in a detector
output of 6000 counts. Thus, although FIG. 17 only illustrates
mapping to constant output values for two target temperatures,
embodiments perform this mapping at more than two target
temperatures. FIG. 18 is a plot illustrating constant value mapped
mean detector outputs for six target temperatures according to an
embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the
spacing between the six constant value curves is not uniform
although the target temperatures were increased by a constant value
as a result of the nonlinearity of detector output with respect to
target temperature.
[0147] The nonlinearity in detector output with respect to target
temperature is a consequence of the Stefan-Boltzmann law, which
relates the total radiant emittance from a source to the
temperature of the source, with the radiant emittance being a
function of the fourth power of temperature. Assuming the detector
output in counts is linear with incident radiant power (but not
linear in target temperature), then the post-NUC detector output
(S) can be computed as:
S=R.phi..sigma.T.sup.4+O Equation 3
where R is a system response term (counts/(W/cm.sup.2)) that
accounts for optics/radiometry and detector responsivity, .phi.,
which is a function of temperature, is the fraction of in-band
radiant emittance, .sigma. is the Stefan-Boltzmann's constant, and
O is the DC offset term (counts). Referring to the discussion
below, S can be represented by NUC.sub.out.
[0148] Equation 3 represents the post-NUC output of the detector
when the sensor is looking at a source with a total radiant
emittance as given by the Stefan-Boltzmann Law. Given this response
relationship, a solution for T can be found given S:
T = S - O R .PHI. .sigma. 4 Equation 4 ##EQU00001##
[0149] Equation 4 is then used to determine the target temperature
as a function of the post-NUC detector output values. In some
embodiments, a lookup table is computed by solving equation 4 for T
and then used operation of the camera, although other computational
methods can be used.
[0150] FIG. 19 is a plot illustrating target temperature (T) as a
function of post-NUC detector output (5) according to an embodiment
of the present invention. The plot illustrated in FIG. 19 is
computed using equation 4 and can be stored as a lookup table in
some implementations as discussed above. It will be noted that in
the data illustrated in FIG. 19, the 35.degree. C./3500 count
relationship has not been used, but modified for the particular
detector utilized.
[0151] Thus, embodiments of the present invention map detector
output as a function of camera temperature to a constant value
independent of camera temperature for a given target temperature
and then compute the target temperature given the measured detector
output. Although embodiments of the present invention have been
described in relation to a linear NUC process, they are equally
applicable to a quadratic NUC process as well. One of ordinary
skill in the art would recognize many variations, modifications,
and alternatives.
[0152] In some embodiments, the non-uniformity corrected output
(NUC.sub.out) for each pixel in the array, with the uncorrected
pixel output value being pix, is given by:
NUC out = Offset + pix * ( Gain ) where Equation 5 Offset =
meanCold - ( nCold + TC 1 pt ) ( Gain ) Equation 6 Gain = meanHot -
meanCold nHot - nCold Equation 7 TC 1 pt - 1 pt - nShutter T
Factory = T 1 pt Equation 8 ##EQU00002##
where TC1pt for each pixel is the pixel value during operational
calibration viewing the internal shutter at a given temperature
(i.e., 1pt) less the stored shutter value measured during factory
calibration at the given temperature (i.e., nShutter) at which the
1-point calibration is being performed, i.e.,
T.sub.Factory=T.sub.1pt. During factory calibration, the gain and
offsets are determined over a range of temperatures (e.g., 25
discrete temperatures) such that nShutter has multiple values as a
function of temperature and a function of temperature can be
formed. Thus, during operational calibration, the temperature is
measured (i.e., T.sub.1pt) and then this temperature is used to
access the pixel values (i.e., nShutter) at this operational
temperature. In the computation of NUC.sub.out, meanCold is the
mean pixel output over the array for the cold reference image,
meanHot is the mean pixel output over the array for the hot
reference image, nCold is the pixel value for each pixel in the
array for the cold reference image measured during factory
calibration, and nHot is the pixel value for each pixel in the
array for the hot reference image measured during factory
calibration. As discussed in relation to FIG. 17, each of the
values, meanCold, meanHot, nCold, and nHot are measured as a
function of camera temperature during factory calibration and can
be represented by a function that varies with camera temperature.
Thus, during operational calibration, these values are available at
the operational measurement temperature T.sub.1pt.
[0153] Referring to equation 8, the TC1pt values correct for
individual pixel offset variations over time and result from the
comparison of the pixel values measured using the internal shutter
at a factory calibration temperature (T.sub.Factory) and the
operational calibration using the internal shutter at the same
temperature. The TC1pt values should be small, with a mean of zero.
Given this, if the uncorrected pixel value "pix" is equal to
"nCold" (i.e., the camera is looking at a scene equivalent to
"nCold", "NUCout" is equal to "meanCold". Similarly, if "pix" is
equal to "nHot", "NUCout" is equal to "meanHot". Embodiments of the
present invention utilize isothermal camera designs to provide
small to negligible differences between internal shutter
temperature during factory calibration and the temperature during
operational calibration, resulting in a mean of the TC1pt values
that is substantially zero.
[0154] In some implementations, it is possible to correct for a
non-zero mean of TC1pt by subtracting the difference of the mean of
the shutter image during an operational shutter calibration and the
mean of the shutter image during factory calibration at the same
temperature, as follows:
TC1pt=1pt-nShutter|.sub.Tcomp=1pt-(mean1pt-meanShutter|.sub.Tcomp=1pt).
[0155] Some embodiments of the present invention drive all the
pixels in the array to the mean response of the array. In other
words, if there is a uniform scene temperature input, the methods
of non-uniformity correction described herein cause each and every
pixel to have a uniform output, which will have a value equal to
the average output of all the pixels in the array. In other
embodiments, the pixels can be driven to a different response in
order to provide for radiometric output. As an example, for a given
uniform blackbody target at a given temperature, the non-uniformity
corrected output could be driven to an arbitrary value to achieve
the desired radiometric response. In these embodiments, the output
of the camera in response to a given scene temperature can be
constant independent of the camera temperature, producing a first
number of counts at a first temperature and a second number of
counts at a second temperature.
[0156] For a linear NUC process, a shutter reference frame obtained
during factory calibration is utilized in performing the NUC
process. Equations 9 and 10 provide an alternative computation to
the linear NUC process described by equations 5-8 and can be
utilized to compute the output and the offset values, respectively.
Comparing equations 5-8 and 9-10:
"NUC.sub.out" is equivalent to "Y.sub.i,j" "pix" is equivalent to
"X.sub.i,j" "Gain" is equivalent to "A.sub.i,j" "Offset" is
equivalent to "B.sub.i,j" "meanCold" is equivalent to ".mu..sub.C"
"nCold" is equivalent to "C.sub.S.sub.i,j" and "TC1pt" is
equivalent to "S.sub.P.sub.i,j-S.sub.S.sub.i,j"
[0157] In the following equations, .mu. is the mean cold data table
obtained during factory calibration, C.sub.S are the stored pixel
by pixel values from the factory calibration, S.sub.S is the stored
shutter reference frame (i.e., the view of the shutter that was
stored during factory calibration), and S.sub.P is the present
value shutter reference frame read with the shutter closed during
operational calibration:
Y.sub.i,j=A.sub.i,jX.sub.i,j+B.sub.i,j Equation 9
B.sub.i,j=.mu..sub.C-A.sub.i,j(C.sub.S.sub.i,j+S.sub.P.sub.i,j-S.sub.S.s-
ub.i,j) Equation 10
[0158] In the quadratic NUC processes, three or more temperature
are utilized during factory calibration, for example, T1, T2, and
T3 in addition to the shutter reference frame with the shutter
closed. Thus, for quadratic NUC, the target is imaged during
factory calibration at three temperatures and a shutter reference
frame is collected. During operational calibration, the resulting
coefficient correction values are utilized with the shutter
reference frame. In some embodiments, either a shutter (i.e., to
obtain a shutter reference frame), a TRS (i.e., to obtain a thermal
reference frame), or both a shutter and a TRS are utilized during
factory calibration and during operational calibration. One of
ordinary skill in the art would recognize many variations,
modifications, and alternatives.
[0159] For quadratic NUC implementations of the present invention,
a shutter system for calibration updating is also utilized. In an
embodiment, Equation 11 is utilized, where C are the computed
offset values, .mu..sub.SP is the mean of the values read from the
closed shutter during operational calibration (i.e., a present
value), A and B are two dimensional arrays providing coefficients
for the quadratic equation, and S.sub.P is the present value
shutter reference frame read with the shutter closed during
operational calibration.
C.sub.i,j=.mu..sub.SP-A.sub.i,jS.sub.P.sub.i,j.sup.2-B.sub.i,jS.sub.P.su-
b.i,j Equation 11
[0160] Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques that
are superior to conventional techniques since the reference image
from the shutter collected during factory calibration accounts for
optical elements in relation to the shutter, during operational
calibration, images from the shutter during operational calibration
can effectively be compared to the same image during factory
calibration, with the differences being utilized to compute the
offset corrections. As described herein, the ability to compare the
images of the shutter during factory calibration and operational
calibration reduce or eliminate effects of the relative
illumination resulting from optical elements by comparing shutter
reference images.
[0161] In some embodiments, a thermal reference source is used in
place of the shutter. In these embodiments, the equations utilized
for shutter references are applicable, but replacing the shutter
reference images with TRS images. One of ordinary skill in the art
would recognize many variations, modifications, and
alternatives.
[0162] In addition to linear NUC, embodiments of the present
invention are applicable to quadratic NUC. In this case, equations
12 and 13 are utilized to compute the output, where C, which can
also be referred to as C.sub.F) is the factory stored offset array,
S.sub.P are present images of the shutter during operational
calibration, and S.sub.S are the stored image collected during
factory calibration (i.e., the shutter reference frame). If the TRS
is utilized in place of the shutter, then TRS can be replaced by
shutter in the computation. Thus, the composite offset is the sum
of the factory offset and the corrected offset, which is a function
of the shutter reference frames.
Y.sub.i,j=A.sub.i,jX.sub.i,j.sup.2+B.sub.i,jX.sub.i,j+C.sub.i,j+.DELTA.C-
.sub.i,j Equation 12
.DELTA.C=-A.sub.i,j(S.sub.P.sub.i,j.sup.2-S.sub.S.sub.i,j.sup.2)-B.sub.i-
,j(S.sub.P.sub.i,j-S.sub.S.sub.i,j) Equation 13
[0163] FIG. 11 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
performing global source NUC according to an embodiment of the
present invention. The method includes receiving, for a current
incoming frame, a raw incoming frame and stored Quadratic NUC
Coefficients, which are based on factory calibration (1110). If an
update to the frame (e.g., a 1-point update) is to be performed
(1112), then the method acquires an average frame of the current
view of the TRS (or the shutter) as appropriate. Using the stored
Quadratic NUC coefficients and the stored reference frame from the
factory calibration (of either the TRS or shutter as appropriate),
the new offset is computed (1116). Referring to equation 7, the new
offset is represented by .DELTA.C. In some implementations, the new
offset is computed using the methods described in relation to
equations 3-8. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize
many variations, modifications, and alternatives.
[0164] Given the new offset computed in process 1116, the NUC is
applied to the image (1118), which corresponds to the corrected
image represented by Y (i.e., the corrected NUC image) in equation
6. Accordingly, the corrected NUC image is output (1120).
[0165] In some cases, the offset correction can be initiated by a
user. Alternatively, the offset correction can be initiated
automatically by the system in response to the passing of a
predetermined time period, statistics derived from the image, or
the like.
[0166] It should be appreciated that the specific steps illustrated
in FIG. 11 provide a particular method of performing global source
NUC according to an embodiment of the present invention. Other
sequences of steps may also be performed according to alternative
embodiments. For example, alternative embodiments of the present
invention may perform the steps outlined above in a different
order. Moreover, the individual steps illustrated in FIG. 11 may
include multiple sub-steps that may be performed in various
sequences as appropriate to the individual step. Furthermore,
additional steps may be added or removed depending on the
particular applications. One of ordinary skill in the art would
recognize many variations, modifications, and alternatives.
[0167] In some embodiments of the present invention, multiple
methods of performing non-uniformity correction are combined. FIG.
12 illustrates a combination of shutterless non-uniformity
correction combined with global source non-uniformity correction.
The shutterless non-uniformity correction algorithm has two
operating modes: Motion Mode and Motionless Mode. In some
implementations, the Motion Mode is active when the system is in
motion. Operation in the Motion Mode enables a more aggressive
correction and rapid convergence of the calibration data and
enables the removal of severe fixed pattern noise (FPN). When no
motion of the imaging system is present, the Motionless Mode can be
used to maintain the correction obtained using Motion Mode and
compensate for detector drift.
[0168] As illustrated in FIG. 12, shutterless NUC, which includes
both motion and motionless mode, can interact with the global
source (ESGS) NUC techniques described herein As examples, global
source NUC can be utilized to obtain initial offset values, which
are then passed to the shutterless NUC algorithm, either in motion
or motionless mode. It should be noted that the radiometric NUC
processes described herein can be utilized in conjunction with the
shutterless NUC algorithm.
[0169] Referring once again to FIG. 12, global source NUC can
interact with shutterless NUC in either Motion Mode of Motionless
Mode. As an example, if a field of view is stationary, global
source NUC can be utilized to compensate for image non-uniformity
and the offset correction values computed using global source NUC
can be provided to the shutterless NUC algorithm, which then
operates in motionless mode to mitigate residual non-uniformity. As
another example, if the system is moving, Motion Mode can utilize
offset correction values provided by the global source NUC
algorithm to mitigate residual non-uniformity. In a particular
embodiment, the global source NUC method is utilized to preload the
offset values, which would then be maintained and/or updated by the
shutterless NUC. Thus, ESGS NUC can be utilized to provide inputs
to the Motion Mode, providing a well calibrated starting
environment and thereby allowing faster convergence, which lowers
fixed pattern noise at system start up.
[0170] As another example, ESGS NUC could be employed with only
Motionless Mode, providing it a clean environment to maintain. This
implementation provides multiple advantages. First, the Motionless
Mode can maintain calibration information provided by the ESGS NUC
with less frequent use of the shutter or TRS, which obscure the
scene momentarily when employed. Secondly, this implementation
provides a viable NUC methodology for fixed systems for which the
platform does not move.
[0171] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the order in which the
non-uniformity correction methods are utilized can vary depending
on the particular application. In some embodiments, global source
non-uniformtity correction is utilized first and shutterless
non-uniformity correction is utilized
[0172] FIG. 13 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of
performing combined global source NUC and shutterless NUC according
to an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes
receiving, for a current incoming frame, a raw incoming frame and
stored Quadratic NUC Coefficients, which are based on factory
calibration (1310). If an update to the frame (e.g., a 1-point
update) is to be performed (1312), then the method acquires an
average frame of the current view of the TRS (or the shutter) as
appropriate. Using the stored Quadratic NUC coefficients and the
stored reference frame from the factory calibration (of either the
TRS or shutter as appropriate), the new offset is computed (1316).
Referring to equation 7, the new offset is represented by .DELTA.C.
Given the new offset computed in process 1316, the NUC is applied
to the image (1318), which corresponds to the corrected image
represented by Y (i.e., the corrected NUC image) in equation 6.
[0173] A determination is made of whether or not the platform of
the imaging system is moving (1350). If the platform is detected as
moving, then the offsets are updated using the shutterless motion
mode as described throughout the present specification (1352). If
the platform is detected as not moving, then the offsets are
updated using the shutterless motion-free mode as described
throughout the present specification (1354). The offsets updated in
processes 1352 or 1354 are applied to the image to provide an
updated image (i.e., NUC corrected image) (1360). The corrected NUC
image is output (1362).
[0174] As discussed in relation to FIG. 11 above, in some cases,
the offset correction can be initiated by a user. Alternatively,
the offset correction can be initiated automatically by the system
in response to the passing of a predetermined time period,
statistics derived from the image, or the like.
[0175] It should be noted that although FIG. 13 illustrates a
combination of shutterless NUC and global source NUC, this is not
required by the present invention and the global source NUC methods
described herein can be utilized independent of the shutterless NUC
methods. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize many
variations, modifications, and alternatives.
[0176] It should be appreciated that the specific steps illustrated
in FIG. 13 provide a particular method of performing combined
global source NUC and shutterless NUC according to an embodiment of
the present invention. Other sequences of steps may also be
performed according to alternative embodiments. For example,
alternative embodiments of the present invention may perform the
steps outlined above in a different order. Moreover, the individual
steps illustrated in FIG. 13 may include multiple sub-steps that
may be performed in various sequences as appropriate to the
individual step. Furthermore, additional steps may be added or
removed depending on the particular applications. One of ordinary
skill in the art would recognize many variations, modifications,
and alternatives.
[0177] FIG. 14 illustrates non-uniformity correction data for
blackbody temperatures from 10.degree. C. to 70.degree. C., which
simulates a range of scene temperatures. The top three lines show
non-uniformity curves for conventional techniques using a reference
(e.g., a TRS) at three different temperatures (15.degree. C.
(1410), 25.degree. C. (1412), and 40.degree. C. (1414)). The lower
three lines show non-uniformity curves for embodiments of the
present invention utilizing the ESGS NUC technique described herein
for the same three reference temperatures (15.degree. C. (1420),
25.degree. C. (1422), and 40.degree. C. (1424)). As illustrated in
FIG. 14, across the entire range of scene temperatures, the methods
provided by the present invention reduce the non-uniformity
considerably (i.e., from values in the range of 30-60 noise counts
to values of .about.15 noise counts), providing greatly improved
system performance.
[0178] It is also understood that the examples and embodiments
described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that
various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested
to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the
spirit and purview of this application and scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *