Laser illuminated gas imaging device for determining inoperable gas detection pixels

摘要

Aspects of the invention generally relate to illumination gas imaging and detection. Camera systems can illuminate a target scene with light sources configured to emit absorbing and non-absorbing wavelengths with respect to a target gas. An image of the target scene illuminated with a non-absorbing wavelength can be compared to a non-illuminated image of the target scene in order to determine information about the background of the target scene. If sufficient light of the non-absorbing wavelength is scattered by the scene toward a detector, the target scene comprises an adequate background for performing a gas imaging process. A camera system can alert a user of portions of the target scene suitable or unsuitable for performing a gas imaging process. If necessary, the user can reposition the system until sufficient portions of the target scene are recognized as suitable for performing the gas imaging process.

主权项

1. A method for detecting a target gas in a target scene comprising:
capturing a first image of the target scene using a detector element sensitive over a range of wavelengths of light including a first wavelength, the first wavelength being such that the target gas does not significantly absorb light of the first wavelength; illuminating a first portion of the target scene with light of the first wavelength; capturing a second image of the target scene, the second image being representative of the target scene illuminated by light of the first wavelength; comparing corresponding portions of the first image and the second image; generating a gas detection image in which, for a given one or more pixels in the corresponding portions,
in the condition that the corresponding one or more pixels in the first image and the second image are not sufficiently different, considering such one or more pixels to be inoperable gas detection pixels; andin the condition that the corresponding one or more pixels in the first image and the second image are sufficiently different, considering such one or more pixels to be operable gas detection pixels; and displaying the gas detection image in which such pixels considered to be inoperable gas detection pixels are presented in a distinguishing way from such pixels considered to be operable gas detection pixels.