US 11,891,057 B2
Thermal imaging system with multiple selectable viewing angles and fields of view for vehicle applications
Tim LeBeau, Santa Barbara, CA (US)
Assigned to Seek Thermal, Inc., Goleta, CA (US)
Filed by Seek Thermal, Inc., Goleta, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/179,250.
Application 17/179,250 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/028,717, filed on Sep. 22, 2020, granted, now 11,076,102.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/905,172, filed on Sep. 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0197810 A1, Jul. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. B60W 30/095 (2012.01); B60W 50/14 (2020.01); B60W 30/09 (2012.01); H04N 23/45 (2023.01); H04N 23/52 (2023.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01); H04N 23/15 (2023.01)
CPC B60W 30/0956 (2013.01) [B60W 30/09 (2013.01); B60W 50/14 (2013.01); H04N 23/15 (2023.01); H04N 23/52 (2023.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01); B60W 2050/146 (2013.01); B60W 2420/42 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for enhancing vehicular operation, comprising:
a sensor carrier configured for mounting to at least one selected location on a vehicle;
at least three thermal imaging sensors, each sensor comprising a thermal imaging Focal Plane Array (FPA) and associated interface and signal processing elements, each FPA including a number of pixels defining the image resolution of the FPA, configured for mounting to the sensor carrier; and
optics associated with each sensor defining the Field of View (FOV) of each sensor;
wherein a first sensor with a first number of pixels and a first defined FOV is disposed in the carrier at a first viewing angle, a second sensor with at least one of the same or a different number of pixels and a second defined FOV is disposed in the carrier at a second viewing angle, and a third sensor with at least one of the same or different number of pixels and a third defined FOV is disposed in the carrier at a third viewing angle;
wherein the first viewing angle is aligned with a forward orientation of the vehicle, the second viewing angle is offset by more than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees on a first side relative to the forward orientation of the vehicle, and the third viewing angle is offset by more than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees on a second side opposite the first side relative to the forward orientation of the vehicle; and
wherein the second defined FOV of the second sensor and the third defined FOV of the third sensor each overlap the first defined FOV of the first sensor, and the second defined FOV of the second sensor touches or overlaps the third defined FOV of the third sensor.