The invention comprises an infrared source and method of use thereof comprising the steps of: (1) providing a solid state source, comprising an electrically conductive layer of a composition of molybdenum silicide and silicon nitride; (2) providing a heating element embedded in the solid state source; (3) applying an alternating/pulsed current to the heating element to heat the heating element; and (4) heating the electrically conductive layer of molybdenum silicide silicon nitride to at least seven hundred degrees using thermal conduction from the heating element resultant in the electrically conductive layer emitting infrared light in a range of 1.1 to 20 micrometers, where the infrared source operates continuously with heating and cooling of the molybdenum silicide silicon nitride through a differential of at least 200 C. occurring at least five and less than thirty times per second.

Various techniques are provided for calibrating a thermal imaging device using a non-contact temperature sensor. In one example, a method includes capturing a thermal image of a scene. The thermal image comprises a plurality of pixel values. The method also includes detecting, by a non-contact temperature sensor, a temperature value associated with a portion of the scene corresponding to a subset of the pixel values. The method also includes comparing the subset of pixel values with the detected temperature value. The method also includes generating a correction term based on the comparing. The method also includes applying the correction term to at least the subset of pixel values to radiometrically calibrate the subset of pixel values. Related systems and alignment processes are also provided.

A system and method for detecting medical conditions in individuals in crowded settings is described, including methods and approaches for addressing confounding issues such as variation due to external factors.

A method and an imaging system for providing an infrared image of an object comprises an optical element configured to capture infrared radiation from the object, an infrared sensing module, a processing unit, and a shutter assembly. The infrared sensing module comprises a plurality of infrared detectors, each configured to receive the infrared radiation from the object after passage through the optical element and generate a measurement signal from the received infrared radiation. The processing unit is coupled to the infrared sensing module and configured to convert the measurement signals into temperature data associated with the object for providing the infrared image. The shutter assembly is disposed between the infrared sensing module and the optical element, and is configured to selectively pass the infrared radiation from the object through to the infrared sensing module. The shutter assembly comprises a temperature controller configured to adjust a temperature of the shutter assembly.

Imaging devices including dielectric metamaterial absorbers and related methods are disclosed. According to an aspect, an imaging device includes a support. The imaging device also includes multiple dielectric metamaterial absorbers attached to the support. Each absorber includes one or more dielectric resonators configured to generate and emit thermal heat upon receipt of electromagnetic energy.

The invention comprises an infrared source and method of use thereof comprising the steps of: (1) providing a solid state source, comprising: a film of oxide particles comprising an average particle size of less than ten micrometers, gaps between the oxide particles comprising an average gap width of less than ten micrometers, and a heating element embedded in the solid state source; (2) applying a pulsed current to the heating element to heat the heating element; and (3) heating the film of oxide particles to at least seven hundred degrees using thermal conduction from the heating element resultant in the film of oxide particles emitting infrared light in a range of 1.1 to 20 micrometers, where the infrared source operates continuously with heating and cooling of the oxide particles through a differential of at least 200 C. occurs at least five and less than thirty times per second.

An ultra-small thermal imaging core, or micro-core. The design of the micro-core may include substrates for mounting optics and electronic connectors that are thermally matched to the imaging Focal Plane Array (FPA). Test fixtures for test and adjustment that allow for operation and image acquisition of multiple cores may also be provided. Tooling may be included to position the optics to set the core focus, either by moving the lens and lens holder as one or by pushing and/or pulling the lens against a lens positioning element within the lens holder, while observing a scene. Test procedures and fixtures that allow for full temperature calibration of each individual core, as well as providing data useful for uniformity correction during operation may also be included as part of the test and manufacture of the core.

The invention comprises an infrared source and method of use thereof comprising the steps of: (1) providing a solid state source, comprising: a film of oxide particles comprising an average particle size of less than ten micrometers, gaps between the oxide particles comprising an average gap width of less than ten micrometers, and a heating element embedded in the solid state source; (2) applying a pulsed current to the heating element to heat the heating element; and (3) heating the film of oxide particles to at least seven hundred degrees using thermal conduction from the heating element resultant in the film of oxide particles emitting infrared light in a range of 1.1 to 20 micrometers, where the infrared source operates continuously with heating and cooling of the oxide particles through a differential of at least 200 C. occurs at least five and less than thirty times per second.

The present invention provides a calibration apparatus, system and method for an in-vehicle camera. The calibration apparatus for an in-vehicle camera includes: a body, where at least one distinctive mark arranged at intervals along a first direction and at least one heating member arranged at intervals along a second direction are disposed on the body. The distinctive mark is configured to be recognized by a common camera, and the heating member is configured to generate heat so as to be recognized by an infrared camera. According to the calibration apparatus, system and method for an in-vehicle camera provided in the present invention, during calibration, a common camera can recognize the distinctive mark, and therefore, the common camera can be calibrated; the heating member may generate heat so as to be recognized by an infrared camera, and therefore, the infrared camera is calibrated. In this way, the common camera and the infrared camera can be calibrated simultaneously in one calibration operation; the operation is simple and convenient.

A temperature controlled calibration source for thermal imaging that provides for extremely inexpensive, mass producible, field deployable thermal calibration in specific, relatively low temperature ranges, and in particular temperatures near nominal human body temperature. A calibration source suitable for such applications may be implemented primarily as a suitable designed Printed Circuit Board (PCB), packaged in a thermally isolating housing and powered of commonly available power sources such as USB chargers.