Patent ID: 7645990
Filing Date: 2010-01-12
Classification: G01J,H04N

Abstract:
1. A thermal-type infrared imaging device comprising: an infrared ray detection unit having a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged pixels, each pixel including an infrared ray detection device to convert an infrared ray of a subject to an electrical signal; and, a signal processing unit to process signals from said infrared ray detection unit; wherein said signal processing unit is to set a sensitivity of each pixel according to a predetermined pattern for classifying said pixels into pixels of a plurality of types having different sensitivities, wherein said plurality of types of pixels comprise pixels of a first type for which a relatively high sensitivity is set and pixels of a second type for which a relatively low sensitivity is set, the pixels of the infrared ray detection unit being arranged in such a way that pixels of the same type are not adjacent to one another, and wherein the thermal-type infrared imaging device is to generate an infrared ray image based on signals from the pixels of the first type and, if the signals from the pixels of the first type exceed a predetermined threshold, the thermal-type infrared imaging device is to generate the infrared ray image based on signals from the pixels of the second type.