Patent Publication Number: US-9891817-B2

Title: Processing an infrared (IR) image based on swipe gestures

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,110 filed Dec. 18, 2014 and entitled “PROCESSING AN INFRARED (IR) IMAGE BASED ON SWIPE GESTURES” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,110 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/991,394 filed May 9, 2014 and entitled “PROCESSING AN INFRARED (IR) IMAGE BASED ON SWIPE GESTURES” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,110 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/917,796 filed Dec. 18, 2013 and entitled “PROCESSING AN INFRARED (IR) IMAGE BASED ON SWIPE GESTURES” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Generally, embodiments of the invention relate to the technical field of image processing and visualization of infrared (IR) images, and in particular, to image processing and visualization of infrared (IR) images for image analysis using swipe gestures. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Thermal, or infrared (IR), images of scenes are often useful for monitoring, inspection and/or maintenance purposes. 
     Typically, a thermal imaging device, e.g. in the form of a thermography arrangement or an infrared IR camera, is provided to capture infrared (IR) images as IR image data values, representing infrared radiation emitted from an observed real world scene. The captured IR image can after capturing be displayed or visualized and analyzed on a display in a computer system such as a thermography arrangement, infrared IR camera, smartphone, tablet computer, laptop computer, desktop computer or a wrist-worn computer configured with a touch screen with a touch based user input functionality. 
     As infrared radiation is not visible to the human eye there are no natural relation between the captured infrared (IR) image&#39;s data values of each pixel in an IR image and greyscale or colors displayed on a display. Therefore an information visualization image processing referred to as false color or pseudo color is used to map captured infrared (IR) image data values of each pixel in an IR image to a palette used to present the corresponding pixel displayed on a display, e.g. using grey-scale or colors. 
     Further, as IR images by nature are generally low contrast and noisy, the captured IR image may be subjected to further imaging processing in to improve the interpretability of the image before displaying it to a user, such as filtering or combination/fusion with visual light images captured of the same observed real world scene. 
     Applying an appropriate imaging processing to an IR image for display to a user is a cumbersome process as the requirements may vary significantly with the observed real world scene, objects of interest in the observed real world scene, the type of application or use case and user preference. 
     There is therefore a need to reduce complexity and time for a user to find an appropriate imaging processing to apply to an IR image for display to a user, in particular in a computer system configured with a touch screen with a touch based user input functionality. Thereby the interpretability of an IR image is improved and particular aspects or details of the image may be analyzed. 
     SUMMARY 
     Various techniques are provided for a computer system and a computer-implemented method to process an infrared (IR) image based on a swipe gesture. For example, the method includes displaying an IR image on a touch screen, wherein the IR image is displayed within a first graphical object of one or more graphical objects displayed within said touch screen; receiving, by a processor communicatively coupled to said touch screen, a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein said receiving the user indication comprises generating first data representing a first swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a first swipe gesture direction; processing the one or more graphical objects based on the first and the second data, wherein the processing comprises at least one of: (i) splitting said IR image within the first graphical object into a first and second parts to process the first or the second part, (ii) modifying a size of a second graphical object to a predefined expanded size or a predefined minimized size, (iii) modifying a temperature range for processing the IR image, or (iv) modifying one or more parameter ranges for processing the IR image; and displaying said processed one or more graphical objects within said touch screen. 
     In another embodiment, a method may include: displaying an IR image within a first graphical object displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects within a touch screen by applying a first palette, receiving a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein receiving a user indication further comprises generating first data representing a first swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a first swipe gesture direction, splitting said IR image into two parts based on said first data, wherein the two parts comprise a first part and a second part, selecting said first part or said second part based on said second data, image processing said selected first part or second part based on said second data, displaying said image processed first part or displaying said image processed second part overlaid onto said displayed IR image within said touch screen. 
     In another embodiment, a method may include: displaying a graphical object within a touch screen, wherein said graphical object represents a temperature range for processing an IR image, and wherein the graphical object comprises one or more portions each associated with a temperature value from the temperature range; receiving, by a processor communicatively coupled to said touch screen, a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein said receiving the user indication comprises generating first data representing a swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a swipe gesture direction, and wherein said swipe gesture starting location corresponds to one of the portions of the graphical object; modifying said first temperature range based on said first data and said second data, wherein said modifying said temperature range comprises modifying one or more of a minimum temperature value, a middle temperature value, and a maximum temperature value of said temperature range; processing said IR image based on said modified temperature range; and displaying said processed IR image within said touch screen. 
     In another embodiment, a method may include: displaying the IR image on a touch screen, wherein the IR image is displayed within a first graphical object displayed within the touch screen; receiving, by a processor communicatively coupled to said touch screen, a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein said receiving the user indication comprises generating first data representing a swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a swipe gesture direction, and wherein said second data indicates that the user indication corresponds to a stationary swipe; determining, based at least in part on the first data representing the swipe gesture starting location, a spot marker location for selecting a pixel or group of pixels of the IR image displayed within the first graphical object; displaying a second graphical object representing a spot marker by overlaying the second graphical object onto the IR image at the spot marker location; and processing said IR image based on the spot marker location. 
     In another embodiment, a method may include: displaying a first graphical object comprising the IR image within a touch screen; displaying a second graphical object within said touch screen, wherein said second graphical object is overlaid onto the first graphical object; receiving, by a processor communicatively coupled to said touch screen, a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein said receiving the user indication comprises generating first data representing a swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a swipe gesture direction, and wherein the swipe gesture starting location corresponds to a coordinate associated with said second graphical object; and modifying said second graphical object based on said first data and said second data, wherein modifying said second graphical object comprises modifying the size of the second graphical object to a predefined expanded size or a predefined minimized size. 
     In another embodiment, a method may include: displaying the IR image on a touch screen based on a first parameter range and a second parameter range, wherein the IR image is displayed within a first graphical object displayed within the touch screen; displaying a second graphical object and a third graphical object within said touch screen, wherein said second graphical object represents the first parameter range and comprises one or more portions each associated with a parameter value from the first parameter range, and wherein said third graphical object represents the second parameter range and comprises one or more portions each associated with a parameter value from the second parameter range; receiving, by a processor communicatively coupled to said touch screen, a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein said receiving the user indication comprises generating first data representing a swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a swipe gesture direction, and wherein the swipe gesture starting location corresponds to one of the portions of the second or the third graphical object; modifying said first or said second parameter range based on said first data and said second data, wherein said modifying said first or said second parameter range comprises modifying one or more of a minimum parameter value, a middle parameter value, and a parameter temperature value of said first or said second parameter range; processing said IR image based on said modified first or said modified second parameter range; and displaying said processed IR image within said touch screen. 
     In another embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium may store computer readable code which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the various methods of processing an infrared (IR) image based on a swipe gesture discussed above. 
     In another embodiment, a computer system may include: a memory; a touch screen; and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the touch screen, wherein said processor is configured to: display an IR image on said touch screen, wherein the IR image is displayed within a first graphical object of one or more graphical objects displayed within said touch screen, receive a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein said receiving the user indication comprises generating first data representing a first swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a first swipe gesture direction, process the one or more graphical objects based on the first and the second data by performing one or more operations comprising at least one of: (i) splitting said IR image within the first graphical object into a first and second parts to process the first or the second part, (ii) modifying a size of a second graphical object to a predefined expanded size or a predefined minimized size, (iii) modifying a temperature range for processing the IR image, or (iv) modifying one or more parameter ranges for processing the IR image; and display said processed one or more graphical objects within said touch screen. 
     The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference. A more complete understanding of embodiments of the invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a computer system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of the computer system in accordance with one or more alternative embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3 a    illustrates how an IR image is processed based on a swipe gesture, according to an embodiment of a computer-implemented method of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3 b    illustrates how an IR image is processed based on a swipe gesture, according to another embodiment of a computer-implemented method of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4 a    shows an example image being displayed within a touch screen according to an embodiment of a computer-implemented method of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4 b    shows another example image illustrating how an IR image is split within the touch screen according to an embodiment of a computer-implemented method of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4 c    shows another example image being displayed within the touch screen according to an embodiment of a computer-implemented method of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5 a    shows an example image being displayed within a touch screen according to an embodiment of a computer-implemented method of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5 b    shows another example image illustrating how an IR image is split within the touch screen according to an embodiment of a computer-implemented method of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5 c    shows another example image being displayed within the touch screen according to an embodiment of a computer-implemented method of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates how an image processing operation may be selected based on a determination of a direction of a swipe gesture, according to an embodiment of a computer-implemented method of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7 a    shows an example image illustrating how an IR image is processed based on a swipe gesture including a stationary swipe or tap gesture, according to an embodiment of a computer-implemented method of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7 b    shows an example image that is resized based a swipe gesture, according to an embodiment of a computer-implemented method of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  shows a flowchart of a computer-implemented method to process an IR image based on a swipe gesture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  shows various example parameters for processing or presenting IR images in a thermal imaging device display, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 10 a  and 10 b    show example images of an IR image and an associated temperature range that may be displayed within a touch screen, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 11 a , 11 b , 12 a , 12 b , 13 a , and 13 b    show touch screen images illustrating various examples of how a swipe gesture from a user may be received to modify a temperature range for processing or presenting an IR image, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  shows a flowchart of a computer-implemented method to process an IR image based on a swipe gesture, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 15 a , 15 b , 16 a , 16 b , 17 a , and 17 b    show touch screen images illustrating various examples of how a user indication of a swipe gesture may be received to place or otherwise control a spot marker for processing an IR image, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 18  shows an example touch screen image displaying an IR image and a spot marker, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 19  shows a flowchart of a computer-implemented method to process an IR image based on a swipe gesture, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 20 a  and 20 b    show touch screen images illustrating an example of how a size of a graphical object may be adjusted based on a swipe gesture, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 21  show a flowchart of a computer-implemented method to process graphical objects displayed on a touch screen based on a swipe gesture, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 22 a , 22 b , 23 a , and 23 b    show touch screen images illustrating various example of how a swipe gesture from a user may be received to adjust one of a plurality of parameters that control or affect processing and/or presentation of an IR image, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 24  shows a flowchart of a computer-implemented method to process an IR image based on a swipe gesture, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Embodiments of the invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Introduction 
     The invention relates to image analysis of IR images based on image processing and visualization of infrared (IR) images for image analysis using swipe gestures in a computer system. After capturing an IR image by imaging systems integrated in or coupled to a computer system, a user typically analyzes the image, e.g. to detect electric faults, heat emission or gas emission. The analysis may be performed in a thermography arrangement, infrared IR camera, smartphone, tablet computer, laptop computer, desktop computer or a wrist-worn computer configured with a touch screen with a touch based user input functionality. 
     As IR images typically are noisy and low contrast, the user may have to apply various image processing operations to be identifying areas of interest, such as overheated electrical components, faulty wall insulation or gas leaks. 
     By applying a different palette or by applying a different image mode, such areas of interest may be visualized more clearly to the user, and thus improving the analysis of the IR image. 
     To apply image processing, e.g. apply a different palette or to apply a different image mode, in conventional systems is a cumbersome and time consuming process, that may include substantial menu navigation and parameter updates. Another problem is the delay between when a user first observes an IR image where a first palette has been applied and when the user observes the updated IR image where a second palette has been applied. Yet another problem is that no comparison between the visualizations is available. 
     The invention disclosed herein addresses the problems listed above and other problems related to analysis of IR images based on image processing and visualization of infrared (IR) images for image analysis. 
     Applying a Palette to an Image or IR Image 
     As thermal images by nature are generally low contrast and noisy, the captured IR image may be subjected to various imaging processing in to improve the interpretability of the image before displaying it to a user. Examples of such image processing is correction with IR temperature calibration data parameters, low pass filtering, registration of multiple successive IR images and averaging to obtain a averaged IR image or any other IR image processing operation known to a person skilled in the art. 
     As infrared radiation is not visible to the human eye there are no natural relation between the captured infrared (IR) image&#39;s data values of each pixel in an IR image and greyscale or colors displayed on a display. Therefore an information visualization process referred to as false color or pseudo color is used to map captured infrared (IR) image data values of each pixel in an IR image to a palette used to present the corresponding pixel displayed on a display, e.g. using grey-scale or colors. 
     A palette is typically a finite set of color or grey-scale representations selected from a color model for the display of images or visual representations of IR images, i.e. a pre-defined palette represents a finite set of grayscale or color values of a color model displayable on a display thereby making it visible to the human eye. 
     Mapping of captured infrared (IR) image data values of each pixel in an IR image to a palette also referred to as applying a palette, used to present the corresponding pixel of a visual representation of said IR image displayed on a display is typically performed by applying a pre-determined relation, wherein said pre-determined relation describes a mapping from intervals of infrared image data values to said pre-defined palette, e.g. a palette index value with an associated color or grey-scale representation selected from a color model. 
     The captured IR image is typically displayed to an intended user based on the captured IR image comprising infrared (IR) image data values, IR temperature calibration data parameters, a predefined palette representing a finite set of grayscale or color values of a color model displayable on a display and a pre-determined relation describing a mapping from infrared image data values to said pre-defined palette. 
     The same method of applying a palette to an image may be used for any type of image, as would be understood by a person skilled in the art. 
     Image Mode 
     An IR image may in some embodiments comprise additional information related to the observed real world scene. Example of such related information may be a visible light (VL) image (also referred to as a visual light image) depicting the same real world scene, a blueprint or drawing of the observed real world scene, a distance map describing estimated distances to the observed real world scene, GPS coordinates, ambient temperature, moisture levels or other information related to the observed real world scene. Such an IR image containing additional information may also be referred to as a multilayer image. 
     The additional information may be either displayed or visualized alone or be combined through image processing with the IR image as a combined image and displayed or visualized. Such display of additional information alone or as a combined image is referred herein as an image mode of the IR image. 
     Such image modes of the IR image may image processed beforehand and stored as an IR image or image processed instantaneously when applying an image mode to an IR image. 
     One example of an image mode is VL only, wherein only additional information from a VL image is displayed as an IR image within a first graphical object displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects within a screen (e.g., a touch screen), as would be understood by a person skilled in the art. 
     Yet another example of an image mode is fusion, wherein IR image data values additional information from a VL image is aligned, superimposed and combined as a combined image by fusing or blending, e.g. by alpha blending or other fusion techniques, as would be understood by a person skilled in the art. 
     Yet another example of an image mode is contrast enhancing fusion, wherein IR image data values additional information from a VL image is aligned, high pass filtering the VL image to extract pixel data representing contours and/or edges in the visual image, combining luminance information of the extracted pixel data with luminance information of corresponding pixels in the IR image to augment the IR image with the contours and/or edges from the visual image, as would be understood by a person skilled in the art. 
     Yet another example of an image mode is distance map, wherein IR image data values additional information from a VL image is used to calculate the distance z from the thermal imaging device to the observed real world scene for each pixel and used to form a distance map. In one example, the distance z is dependent on a predetermined displacement between the visible light imaging system and the IR imaging system. 
     Yet another example of an image mode is blueprint, wherein additional information representing a blueprint or drawing of the observed real world scene is displayed as an IR image within a first graphical object displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects within said touch screen, as would be understood by a person skilled in the art. 
     Color Range 
     Applying a palette might in some embodiments comprise applying a first or a second palette only to IR image data values of an IR image that are within a particular range referred to as color range. The color range may be adapted by adapting a low threshold and/or a high threshold, wherein the low threshold and the high threshold define the color range. The color range may be adapted by simultaneously increasing or decreasing the low threshold and the high threshold with the same value, thereby transposing the color range. 
     The color range may be adapted by increasing or decreasing the low threshold or the high threshold individually or simultaneously, thereby increasing or reducing the color range. 
     Detecting a User Indication as a Swipe Gesture 
     Generally, computer systems that include or comprise a touch screen may detect user indications made on the touch screen and generate data indicative of user input. A touch screen enables a user to interact by user indications with what is displayed, e.g. graphical objects displayed on the touch screen using various types of gestures, such as swipe, pinch close, pinch open, tap, double tap, long press, flick, rotate. A touch screen may be configured to operate on a selection of technology, such as resistive, Surface acoustic wave (SAW), capacitive, surface capacitive, projected capacitive, mutual capacitance, self-capacitance or any other touch screen technology, as understood by a skilled person. 
     An image, e.g. an IR image, may be displayed in a graphical object, such as a frame or image window, to a user of the computer system and a gesture might be detected and converted to data indicative of the detected gesture, as would be understood by a person skilled in the art. 
     A swipe gesture may be detected via said touch screen by receiving a user indication and generating a first data representing a first swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a first swipe gesture direction, wherein the first swipe gesture starting location corresponds to a first swipe gesture starting location coordinate within said first graphical object displayed within said touch screen. Alternatively, the first swipe gesture starting location may correspond to a first swipe gesture starting location coordinate within said touch screen. In one example, this might involve generating data corresponding to a swipe gesture starting location on the right hand part of the touch screen and a leftward swipe gesture direction. 
     System Embodiments 
     As described above a user might be operating a computer system to analyze a visualized IR image for analysis. To perform a successful analysis the user might apply various image processing operations. 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of one or more embodiments of a computer system, e.g. in the form of a thermography arrangement, infrared IR camera, smartphone, tablet computer, laptop computer, desktop computer or a wrist-worn computer. Said computer system is configured for processing an infrared (IR) image based on a swipe gesture. The computer system further comprises a processor/processing unit  112  provided with specifically designed programming or program code portions adapted to control the processing unit  112  to perform the steps and functions of embodiments of the method described herein. The computer system further comprises at least one memory  115  configured to store data values or parameters received from the processor  112  or to retrieve and send data values or parameters to the processor  112 . In one or more embodiments the computer system further comprises a display  117  configured to receive a signal from a processor  112  and to display the received signal as a displayed image, e.g. to a user of the computer system. In one or more embodiments the computer system  110  further comprises an input device  118  configured to receive input or indications from a user, e.g. a user to indicate a swipe gesture in an image. In one exemplary embodiment the display  117  is integrated with a user input device  118  and implemented as a touch screen configured to receive a signal from the processor  112  and to display the received signal as a displayed image, e.g. to a user of the computer system. The touch screen (e.g., display  117 ) is further configured to receive indications from a user and to generate data indicative of user input, thereby enabling the user to interact by user indications with what is displayed, e.g. graphical objects displayed on the touch screen using various types of gestures. The touch screen is further configured to send the generated data as a signal to said processor  112 . In one or more embodiments computer system further comprises a communications interface  116  configured to send or receive data values or parameters to/from a processor  112  to/from external units via the communications interface  116 . 
     In one or more embodiments, a computer system having a processor operatively coupled to a memory and a touch screen for processing an infrared (IR) image based on a swipe gesture, the system comprising:
         a memory;   a touch screen; and   a processor, wherein said processor is configured to:   display an IR image within a first graphical object displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects within said touch screen by applying a first palette;   receive a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein receiving a user indication further comprises generating first data representing a first swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a first swipe gesture direction, the first swipe gesture starting location corresponding to a first swipe gesture starting location coordinate within said first graphical object, wherein said first graphical object is displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects on said touch screen;   split said IR image into two parts based on said first data, wherein the two parts comprises a first part and a second part;   select said first part or said second part based on said second data;   image process said selected first part or second part based on said second data; and;   display said image processed first part or displaying said image processed second part overlaid onto said displayed IR image within said touch screen.       

     One of the advantages of the inventions is that complexity and time for a user to find an appropriate imaging processing to apply to an IR image for display to a user for analysis may be reduced. 
     The IR image upon which the analysis is based may be obtained from a memory in the computer system. 
     In one or more embodiments, the processor is further arranged to retrieve an IR image or a multilayer image from memory  115  as a signal frame of IR image data values or multilayer image data values. 
     The IR image upon which the analysis is based might be obtained from an external thermal imaging device, such as an IR camera, communicatively coupled to the computer system. 
     In one or more embodiments, the processor is further arranged to receive an IR image or a multilayer image from a thermal imaging device as a signal frame of IR image data values or multilayer image data values. 
     The IR image upon which the analysis is based might be obtained from an external thermal imaging device, such as an IR camera, communicatively coupled to the computer system, wherein a video or sequential series of IR images is received at a predetermined frame rate. 
     In one or more embodiments, the processor is further arranged to receive a series of IR images or a multilayer images from a thermal imaging device as signal frames of IR image data values or multilayer image data values with a predefined frame rate. 
     The IR image upon which the analysis is based might be obtained from an external thermal imaging device, such as an IR camera, communicatively coupled to the computer system, wherein a video or sequential series of IR images is received at a predetermined frame rate. The series of IR images may be previously recorded in the thermal imaging device or captured live and sent to the computer system. 
     In one or more embodiments, said received IR image is recorded live in real-time or near real-time. 
     In one or more embodiments the processor/processing unit  112  may be a processor such as a general or specific purpose processor/processing unit for example a microprocessor, microcontroller or other control logic that comprises sections of code or code portions, stored on a computer readable storage medium, such as the memory  115 , that are fixed to perform certain tasks but also other alterable sections of code, stored on a computer readable storage medium, that can be altered during use. Such alterable sections of code can comprise parameters that are to be used as input for the various tasks, such as the calibration of the computer system, adaption of the sample rate or the filter for the spatial filtering of the images, or any other parameter related operations known to a person skilled in the art and applied without inventive skill. 
     In one or more embodiments, the processor/processing unit  112  is configurable using a hardware description language (HDL). 
     In one or more embodiments, the processor/processing unit  112  is a Field-programmable gate array (FPGA), i.e. an integrated circuit designed to be configured by the customer or designer after manufacturing and configurable using a hardware description language (HDL). For this purpose, embodiments of the invention comprise configuration data configured to control an FPGA to perform the steps and functions of the method embodiments described herein. 
     In one or more embodiments, said communications interface  116  may comprise a selection of a Local Area Network (LAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), Global System for Mobile Network (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Bluetooth®, Zigbee®, Wi-Fi, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), LTE Advanced, IEEE802.16m, WirelessMAN-Advanced, Evolved High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), Mobile WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) (formerly Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Rev. C), Fast Low-latency Access with Seamless Handoff Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (Flash-OFDM), High Capacity Spatial Division Multiple Access (iBurst®) and Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) (IEEE 802.20) systems, High Performance Radio Metropolitan Area Network (HIPERMAN), Beam-Division Multiple Access (BDMA), World Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi-MAX) and ultrasonic communication, etc., but is not limited thereto. 
     In this document, the terms “computer program product” and “computer-readable storage medium” may be used generally to refer to media such as the memory  115  or the storage medium of processing unit  112  or an external storage medium. These and other forms of computer-readable storage media may be used to provide instructions to processing unit  112  for execution. Such instructions, generally referred to as “computer program code” (which may be grouped in the form of computer programs or other groupings), when executed, enable the computer system to perform features or functions of embodiments of the current technology. Further, as used herein, “logic” may include hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of thereof. 
     In one or more embodiments the memory  115  may comprise a selection of a hard RAM, disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, a CD or DVD drive (R or RW), or other removable or fixed media drive. 
     The computer system may be configured to capture IR images and alternatively VL images. 
       FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of one or more embodiments of the computer system described in  FIG. 1 , e.g. in the form of a thermography arrangement, infrared IR camera, smartphone, tablet computer, laptop computer, desktop computer or a wrist-worn computer. Said computer system is configured for processing an infrared (IR) image based on a swipe gesture. The computer system further comprises a processor/processing unit  212  provided with specifically designed programming or program code portions adapted to control the processing unit  212  to perform the steps and functions of embodiments of the method described herein. The computer system further comprises at least one memory  215  configured to store data values or parameters received from the processor  212  or to retrieve and send data values or parameters to the processor  212 . In one or more embodiments the computer system further comprises a display  217  configured to receive a signal from a processor  212  and to display the received signal as a displayed image, e.g. to a user of the computer system. In one or more embodiments the computer system further comprises an input device  218  configured to receive input or indications from a user, e.g. a user to indicate a swipe gesture in an image. In one exemplary embodiment the display  217  is integrated with a user input device  218  and implemented as a touch screen configured to receive a signal from the processor  112  and to display the received signal as a displayed image, e.g. to a user of the computer system. The touch screen (e.g., display  217 ) is further configured to receive indications from a user and to generate data indicative of user input, thereby enabling the user to interact by user indications with what is displayed, e.g. graphical objects displayed on the touch screen using various types of gestures. The touch screen (e.g., display  217 ) is further configured to send the generated data as a signal to said processor  112 . In one or more embodiments computer system further comprises a communications interface  116  configured to send or receive data values or parameters to/from a processor  112  to/from external units via the communications interface  116 . 
     wherein the computer system is further configured to capture infrared (IR) image data values, representing infrared radiation emitted from an observed real world scene by an infrared (IR) imaging system  213 . Said IR imaging system comprises an infrared (IR) optical system  2131 , e.g. comprising a lens, zoom functionality and focus functionality, together with a corresponding infrared IR detector  2132 , for example comprising a micro-bolometer focal plane array, arranged to provide an IR image in the form of a signal frame of IR image data values, representing infrared radiation emitted from an observed real world scene. The infrared (IR) imaging system  213  is further arranged to send the signal frame of IR image data values to a processor  212 . 
     An exemplary embodiment of the operation of such a computer system, such as an IR camera, is generally as follows: Infrared energy is accepted via said infrared optical system  2131  and directed onto the IR detector elements  2132 . Each detector element responds to the infrared radiation or heat energy received. A frame of infrared (IR) image data values may, for example, be captured by scanning all the rows and columns of the detector and, in some embodiments, analog to digital converted to obtain a captured IR image wherein data values associated to each detector element is referred to as an IR image pixel having an associated row and column index. 
     In one or more embodiments, the computer system further comprises a visible light (VL) imaging system  214  that is configured to capture visible light (VL) image data values, representing VL emitted from an observed real world scene. Said VL imaging system employ an visible light (VL) optical system  2141 , e.g. comprising a lens, zoom functionality and focus functionality together with a corresponding infrared VL detector  2142 , for example comprising a digital charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel sensors, to provide an VL image in the form of a signal frame of VL image data values, representing VL emitted from an observed real world scene. The VL imaging system  214  is further arranged to send the signal frame of VL image data values to a processor  212 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the VL imaging system  214  may be adapted to capture electromagnetic radiation in other non-thermal wavelengths in addition to or in place of visible light wavelengths. For example, the VL imaging system  214  may be configured to capture near-infrared (NIR) light, short wave infrared (SWIR) light, ultra-violet (UV) light, or other non-thermal light in addition to or in place of visible light. For such embodiments, the VL imaging system  214  may represent a non-thermal imaging system comprising a non-thermal optical system (represented by the VL optical system  2141 ) and a non-thermal detector (represented by the VL detector  2142 ) responsive to non-thermal radiation. For example, electron multiplying CCD (EMCCD) sensors, scientific CMOS (sCMOS) sensors, intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) sensors, as well as CCD-based and CMOS-based sensors discussed above and/or other suitable sensors, may be used to implement the non-thermal detector (represented by the VL detector  270 ) to detect NIR light, SWIR light, and/or other non-thermal light. 
     In one or more embodiments, the computer system is configured as two physically separate devices, i.e. a first device comprising a IR imaging system  213  and second device comprising a VL imaging system  214 , communicatively coupled and depicting, or capturing, substantially the same observed real world scene. A memory  215  may be integrated into either one or the first or second device or a memory  215  may be integrated in a physically separate memory device, not shown in the figure, to which said first and second device is communicatively coupled. 
     In one or more embodiments, the computer system is configured to capture infrared (IR) image data values, representing infrared radiation emitted from an observed real world scene and then further to correct or calibrate captured data values by applying pre-determined IR temperature calibration data parameters, to map and scale the captured data values for display as an IR, or thermal, image, singly or combined with a VL image, according to methods known in the art. 
     In one or more embodiments, the IR imaging system  213  comprised in the computer system (e.g., a thermal imaging device) is further arranged to send the signal frame of IR image data values to a processor  212  intermediate storing in a memory comprised in or separate from the thermal imaging device  210 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the IR imaging system  213  comprised in the computer system (e.g., a thermal imaging device) is further arranged to send the signal frame of IR image data values to an external processor/processing unit (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) from said intermediate storing via a communications interface  216  (e.g., implemented in a same or similar manner as communications interface  116 ). 
     In one or more embodiments, the processor/processing unit  212  comprised in the computer system (e.g., a thermal imaging device) is further arranged to send the received IR image as a signal frame of IR image data values to a an external processor/processing unit (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) directly or from said intermediate storing via said communications interface  216 . 
     In one or more embodiments, a computer system includes a processor operatively coupled to a memory and a touch screen for processing an infrared (IR) image based on a swipe gesture, the system comprising:
         a memory;   a touch screen;   infrared (IR) imaging system; and   a processor, wherein said processor is configured to:   display an IR image within a first graphical object displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects within said touch screen by applying a first palette;   receive a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein receiving a user indication further comprises generating first data representing a first swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a first swipe gesture direction, the first swipe gesture starting location corresponding to a first swipe gesture starting location coordinate within said first graphical object, wherein said first graphical object is displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects on said touch screen;   split said IR image into two parts based on said first data, wherein the two parts comprises a first part and a second part;   select said first part or said second part based on said second data;   image process said selected first part or second part based on said second data; and;   display said image processed first part or displaying said image processed second part overlaid onto said displayed IR image within said touch screen.       

     In one or more embodiments, said computer system further comprises a visible light (VL) imaging system. 
     In one non-limiting example, an IR imaging system and alternatively a VL imaging system may by integrated in the computer system, thereby enabling capture of IR images and/or VL images. 
     Method Embodiments 
     When applying image processing based on swipe gestures, a first part of the IR image may be displayed with a first palette or first image mode applied and a second part of the IR image may be displayed with a second palette or second image mode applied, thereby enabling the user to compare the interpretability of both parts of the IR image. 
     Image Processing Based on a Swipe Gesture 
       FIG. 3 a    illustrates how an IR image is processed based on a swipe gesture according to an embodiment of a computer-implemented method in a computer system having a processor operatively coupled to a memory and a touch screen  300  for processing an infrared (IR) image based on a swipe gesture. The method comprises displaying an IR image within a first graphical object  310  displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects within said touch screen  300  by applying a first palette, wherein the method further comprises receiving a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen  300 . Said receiving the user indication further comprises generating first data representing a first swipe gesture starting location  330  and second data representing a first swipe gesture direction  340 , the first swipe gesture starting location corresponding to a first swipe gesture starting location coordinate within said first graphical object  310 , wherein said first graphical object  310  is displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects within said touch screen  300 . In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises displaying menu objects in a menu window, such as icons, slide controls and menus within a second graphical object  320 . In one non limiting example these menu objects, when indicated by a user, adapts parameters controlling display options of the IR image and/or other options of the computer system. Examples of such display options may include setting of color span or selection of palette. Examples of other options of the computer system may include setting image capturing mode to single image or multiple image/video, activation of a spot indicator, activation of an illuminator/light or setting of image mode, such as IR, VL or combined contrast enhanced image. 
     The method further comprises splitting said IR image into two parts based on said first data, wherein the two parts comprise a first part  370  and a second part  360 . In one or more embodiments, splitting said IR image into two parts comprises splitting the IR image along a vertical line  350  intersecting said first swipe gesture starting location  330 . In one or more embodiments, splitting said IR image into two parts comprises splitting the IR image along a horizontal line intersecting said first swipe gesture starting location  330  (not shown in the figure). The method further comprises selecting said first part  370  or said second part  360  based on said second data. The method further comprises image processing said selected first part  370  or second part  360  based on said second data. The method further comprises displaying said image processed first part or displaying said image processed second part overlaid onto said displayed IR image within said touch screen. In one or more embodiments, splitting said IR image into two parts comprises splitting the IR image along a vertical line  350  intersecting a horizontally offset location of said first swipe gesture starting location  330 . In one or more embodiments, splitting said IR image into two parts comprises splitting the IR image along a horizontal line intersecting a vertically offset location of said first swipe gesture starting location  330  (not shown in the figure). The first part or the second part may be a single line of the IR image or even null, for example, if said first swipe gesture starting location  330 , the vertically offset location, or the horizontally offset location coincides with an edge of the IR image. 
     In one non-limiting example, the horizontally offset location is the right hand side edge of the first graphical object or the left hand side edge of the first graphical object, such that the entire displayed IR image is comprised in the first or second part. That is, overlaying an image processed part on the IR image only becomes visible when the swipe gesture current location is different from said first swipe gesture starting location. 
     A particular image processing operation might be applied when the user performs a rightward swipe gesture or a leftward swipe gesture, e.g. applying a second palette. 
     In one or more embodiments, said splitting said IR image into two parts comprises splitting the first parts as a left hand part and splitting the second part as a right hand part, wherein selecting said first part or said second part comprises determining the direction of the swipe gesture as a selection of a rightward swipe gesture or a leftward swipe gesture based on said second data and selecting the first part if a rightward swipe gesture is determined or selecting the second part if a leftward swipe gesture is determined. 
     In one or more embodiments, said image processing said selected first part or said selected second part based on said second data comprises applying a second palette to said selected first part or said selected second part. A particular image processing operation might be applied when the user performs an upward swipe gesture or a downward swipe gesture, e.g. applying a second image mode. 
     In one or more embodiments, said splitting said IR image into two parts comprises splitting the first parts as a top part and splitting the second part as a bottom part, wherein selecting said first part or said second part comprises determining the direction of the swipe gesture as a selection of an upward swipe gesture or a downward swipe gesture based on said second data and selecting the first part if a downward swipe gesture is determined or selecting the second part if a upward swipe gesture is determined. 
     In one or more embodiments, said image processing said selected first part or said selected second part based on said second data comprises applying a second image mode to said selected first part or said selected second part, wherein said image mode may be a selection of IR only, fusion, contrast enhancing fusion or VL only but not limited thereto. 
     The user may want to visualize only parts of an IR image or to apply image processing only to parts of an IR image, wherein IR image data values of an IR image is within a certain color range. 
     In one or more embodiments, wherein image processing said selected first part or said selected second part based on said second data comprises applying a second color range to said selected first part or said selected second part. This way only particular aspects may be studied, e.g. objects within a particular temperature range. 
     In some situations, the user might want to analyze various objects in the displayed IR image by repetitively alternating between different image processing of the IR image, e.g. by reversing the direction of the swipe movement repeatedly. By continuously splitting, processing and displaying the IR image into a first and a second part as long as the swipe gesture is not ended, the line along which the split is made is made “sticky” to the user&#39;s finger (e.g., to “drag” the vertical line splitting the IR image) as long as the swipe gesture is not ended. 
       FIG. 3 b    illustrates how an IR image is processed based on a swipe gesture according to one or more embodiments of a computer-implemented method of the computer system described above in connection with  FIG. 3 a   , wherein receiving a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen further comprises periodically generating third data representing a swipe gesture current location  380 , splitting said IR image into a first part and a second part based on said third data (e.g., along a vertical line  390 ), selecting said first part or said second part based on said second data, image processing said selected first part or second part based on said second data and displaying said image processed first part or displaying said image processed second part overlaid onto said displayed IR image within said touch screen  300  until it is detected that a fourth data representing a first swipe gesture ending location  395  is generated. 
     In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises displaying said IR image within a first graphical object displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects within said touch screen by applying said second palette. 
     One of the advantages of the invention is therefore that the user quickly may alternate between applied palettes or image modes of an object in the IR image and complete the swipe gesture when a final selection has been made. 
     Use Case Embodiments 
       FIG. 4 a    shows an example IR image displayed according to one or more embodiments of a computer-implemented method in a computer system. As shown, the IR image may be displayed within a first graphical object  410  (e.g., an image window or frame) which is displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects (e.g., the image window and a menu window  411 ) within said touch screen by applying a first palette. 
     In one or more of the embodiments where the IR image is split into a first part and a second part, the first part may be split as a left hand part and the second part may be split as a right hand part as illustrated for example in  FIG. 4   b.    
       FIG. 4 b    shows another example IR image illustrating how an IR image may be split and processed according to one or more embodiments of the computer-implemented method in the computer system. The method may include receiving a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein said receiving a user indication further comprises generating first data representing a first swipe gesture starting location  421  and second data representing a first swipe gesture direction  422 . In one or more embodiments, the first swipe gesture starting location corresponds to a first swipe gesture starting location coordinate within said first graphical object  420 , wherein said first graphical object is displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects on said touch screen. In one or more embodiments, the IR image is split into two parts based on said first data, wherein the two parts comprise a first part and a second part, wherein the first parts are split as a left hand part and the second part is split as a right hand part. 
     The first part is selected in response to a rightward swipe gesture, wherein the direction of the swipe gesture may be determined as one of a rightward swipe gesture or a leftward swipe gesture based on said second data. 
     The selected first part is image processed based on said second data, indicating a rightward swipe, and comprises applying a second palette to said selected first part. The image processed first part is displayed or presented overlaid onto said displayed IR image within the first graphical object within said touch screen. 
     The receiving of the user indication may further comprise periodically generating third data representing a swipe gesture current location until it is detected that a fourth data representing a first swipe gesture ending location  423  is generated, in this example when the swipe gesture reaches the end of the first graphical object  420  or the touch-sensitive area of the touch screen. Alternatively, a first swipe gesture ending location may be detected when the user ends his swipe gesture, e.g. by removing his finger. 
     For example, when the end of a first graphical object  430  or touch-sensitive area is detected as the first swipe gesture ending location  423 , the processed IR image may be displayed with said second palette applied, within the first graphical object  430  displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects within said touch screen, as shown in  FIG. 4   c.    
       FIG. 5 a    shows an example IR image displayed according to one or more embodiments of a computer-implemented method in a computer system. As shown, the IR image may be displayed within a first graphical object  510 , such as an image window or frame, displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects, such as the image window and a menu window  511 , within said touch screen by applying a first palette. 
     In one or more of the embodiments where the IR image is split into a first part and a second part, the first part may be split as a top part and the second part as a bottom part as illustrated for example in  FIG. 5   b.    
       FIG. 5 b    shows another example IR image illustrating how an IR image may be split and processed according to one or more embodiments of the computer-implemented method in the computer system. The method may include receiving a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein said receiving the user indication further comprises generating first data representing a first swipe gesture starting location  521  and second data representing a first swipe gesture direction  522 . In one or more embodiments, the first swipe gesture starting location  521  corresponds to a first swipe gesture starting location coordinate within said first graphical object  520 , wherein said first graphical object is displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects on said touch screen. In one or more embodiments, the IR image is split into two parts based on said first data, wherein splitting said IR image into two parts comprises splitting the first parts as a top part and splitting the second part as a bottom part. 
     Selecting said first part or said second part further comprises determining the direction of the swipe gesture as a selection of an upward swipe gesture or a downward swipe gesture based on said second data, and selecting the first part as a downward swipe gesture is determined. 
     In one or more embodiments, said selected first part is image processed based on said second data by applying a second image mode to said selected first part or said selected second part, wherein said image mode may be a selection of IR only, fusion, contrast enhancing fusion or VL only but not limited thereto. The image processed first part is displayed or presented overlaid onto said displayed IR image within the first graphical object within said touch screen. 
     The receiving of the user indication of a swipe via said touch screen may further comprise periodically generating third data representing a swipe gesture current location until it is detected that a fourth data representing a first swipe gesture ending location  523  is generated, in this example when the swipe gesture reaches the end of the first graphical object  520  or the touch sensitive area of the touch screen. Alternatively, the first swipe gesture ending location may be detected when the user ends his swipe gesture, e.g. by removing his finger. 
     For example, when the end of a first graphical object  530  or touch-sensitive area is detected as the first swipe gesture ending location  523 , the processed IR image may be displayed with said second image mode applied, within the first graphical object displayed  530  in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects within said touch screen, as shown in  FIG. 5   c.    
     In some embodiments image processing is triggered by a selection of a rightward swipe gesture, a leftward swipe, an upward swipe gesture or a downward swipe gesture based on said second data. Further, although in the examples of  FIGS. 4 a -5 c    a rightward swipe triggered image processing to apply a second palette where as a downward swipe triggered image processing to apply an image mode, it should be appreciated that any of the rightward, leftward, upward, or downward swipe may be assigned to trigger any desired image processing according to desired applications of the embodiments. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates how an image processing operation may be selected based on a determination of a direction of a swipe gesture according to one or more embodiments of the computer-implemented method in the computer system described above. In one or more embodiments, said selecting of said first part or said second part comprises determining the direction of the swipe gesture as a selection of a rightward swipe gesture, a leftward swipe, an upward swipe gesture or a downward swipe gesture based on said second data. In one non-limiting example, an upward or downward swipe gesture  610  would trigger a first type of image processing, e.g. applying a second image mode, and a leftward or rightward swipe gesture  620  would trigger a second type of image processing, e.g. applying a second palette. In this way, a user may quickly find a palette  630  that enables an improved visualization and interpretability of an IR image and further quickly find an image mode  640  that enables an improved visualization and interpretability of an IR image. 
     In some embodiments image processing to resize the IR image is triggered by stationary swipe gesture or tap gesture. 
       FIG. 7 a    shows an example IR image illustrating how an IR image may be processed based on a swipe gesture including a stationary swipe or tap gesture, according to one or more embodiments of a computer-implemented method in a computer system including a processor operatively coupled to a memory and a touch screen. In one or more embodiments, the method may comprise:
         displaying an IR image within a first graphical object  710  displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects within said touch screen by applying a first palette;   receiving a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein said receiving the user indication further comprises generating first data representing a first swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a first swipe gesture direction, the first swipe gesture starting location corresponding to a first swipe gesture starting location coordinate within said first graphical object, wherein said first graphical object  710  is displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects on said touch screen;   splitting said IR image into two parts based on said first data, wherein the two parts comprise a first part and a second part;   selecting said first part or said second part based on said second data;   image processing said selected first part or second part based on said second data; and   displaying said image processed first part or displaying said image processed second part overlaid onto said displayed IR image within said touch screen.       
     In one or more embodiments, said first part comprises the entire displayed IR image  750  as shown in  FIG. 7 b   , wherein:
         said selecting said first part or said second part further comprises determining the direction of the swipe gesture as a stationary swipe gesture or tap gesture based on said second data;   said image processing said selected first part comprises resizing said displayed IR image; and;   said displaying said image processed first part comprises displaying said image processed first part within the total area included by said first graphical object  710  and a second graphical object  720 .       

     In one or more embodiments, wherein said resizing said displayed IR image  750  is performed proportionally to a quota based on the area included by said first graphical object  710  and the total area included by said first graphical object  710  and a second graphical object  720 . 
     The resizing may be performed by image interpolation techniques, as would be understood by a person skilled in the art. 
     In one non-limiting example, a user may make a stationary swipe gesture also referred to as a tap gesture, defined by determining that the first data representing a first swipe gesture starting location  730  is equal or substantially equal (e.g., when differences fall within a specified small margin) to the fourth data representing a first swipe gesture ending location  740 . The displayed IR image  750  is then resized and displayed on an area of the touch screen including a first graphical object  710  and a second graphical object  720 , e.g. displaying the IR image in full screen over the previously dedicated to a second graphical menu object. 
       FIG. 8  shows a flowchart of one or more embodiments of a computer-implemented method in a computer system having a processor operatively coupled to a memory and a touch screen for processing an infrared (IR) image based on a swipe gesture. In one or more embodiments, the method comprises: 
     At block  810 : displaying an IR image within a first graphical object displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects within said touch screen by applying a first palette; 
     At block  820 : receiving a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein receiving a user indication further comprises generating first data representing a first swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a first swipe gesture direction, the first swipe gesture starting location corresponding to a first swipe gesture starting location coordinate within said first graphical object, wherein said first graphical object is displayed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects on said touch screen; 
     At block  830 : splitting said IR image into two parts based on said first data, wherein the two parts comprises a first part and a second part; 
     At block  840 : selecting said first part or said second part based on said second data; 
     At block  850 : image processing said selected first part or second part based on said second data; and; 
     At block  860 : displaying said image processed first part or displaying said image processed second part overlaid onto said displayed IR image within said touch screen. 
     Further Embodiments 
     Adjusting Temperature Ranges 
     In general, processing, presenting, analyzing, and monitoring of an IR image of an observed real world scene are often dependent on color ranges, temperature spans, temperature ranges, or other parameters that affect how the IR image may be visually represented. It may therefore be beneficial to reduce complexity and time for a user to find appropriate color ranges, temperature spans, or other image processing/displaying parameters to apply to an IR image, in particular in a computer system configured with a touch screen with a touch-based user input functionality. By conveniently discovering suitable image processing/display parameters for IR images depicting particular scenes, users of a computer system (e.g., an IR camera system or other computer system configured for thermographic use) may be able to quickly obtain a presentation of the IR images having improved interpretability and/or showing particular aspects or details that may be analyzed. 
       FIG. 9  shows various example parameters (e.g., temperature spans) that may define IR images or be used for image processing or presenting IR images in a thermal imaging device display (e.g., display  117  or  217 ), in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In  FIG. 9 , various bars  910 - 980  may represent different temperature ranges that are inherent in the scene or the IR camera, or levels/spans of different view parameter settings which can be set by the user of the IR camera. The numerous temperature ranges represented in the example of  FIG. 9  also serve to illustrate problems associated with presenting IR images on a display to a user, such as for example a difficulty in interpreting IR images due to complex relationships between the temperature ranges which may be hidden from the user. 
     In  FIG. 9 , the following temperature ranges are shown, and the notations introduced below may be adhered to hereinafter: 
     Temperature range X (represented by bar  910 ) illustrates a possible scene thermal content of the imaged scene. This may substantially be any temperature range a scene may have. 
     Temperature range A (represented by bar  920 ) illustrates an actual scene thermal content of the imaged scene, e.g., a span between the actual minimum temperature in the imaged scene A low  and the actual maximum temperature in the imaged scene A high . 
     Temperature range B (represented by bar  930 ) illustrates the dynamic range of the IR camera. B low  denotes the lowest detectable temperature, and B high  denotes the highest detectable temperature, i.e., the dynamic range of the imaging system of the IR camera. 
     Temperature range C (represented by bar  940 ) illustrates the image range of image data values in a captured IR image, e.g. a span between the minimum image data value C low  and the maximum image data value C high  in a captured IR image. C low  denotes the lowest temperature, and C high  denotes the highest temperature in the captured thermal image content of the IR camera. The actual thermal image content C captured in the IR image may be limited by the temperature range B of the thermal imaging device. 
     Temperature range D (represented by bar  950 ) illustrates the choice of which temperature span to colorize (e.g., to map temperature values to colors). This is also referred to herein as a color range or color span, i.e., a mapping to a palette comprising colors. D low  denotes the lowest temperature, and D high  denotes the highest temperature that is to be colorized by the IR camera. 
     Temperature range E (represented by bar  960 ) illustrates the captured image&#39;s calculated colors to use in the thermal image. E low  denotes the lowest temperature to be colored in the captured image, and E high  denotes the highest temperature that is colored in the captured image. However, in the example of  FIG. 9 , since D high  has been set lower than C high , the part of E located between D high  and C high  are saturated, and therefore is colored the same color as the end of the temperature span D, or a particular color used to display saturated parts of a thermal image. 
     Temperature range F (represented by bar  970 ) illustrates the thermal image fusion span where thermal image information and visual image information is combined. F low  denotes the lower thermal image fusion level/threshold, and F high  denotes the higher thermal image fusion level/threshold. For the infrared image data values within F the thermal imaging device will display IR image data values, and for the infrared image data values outside F the thermal imaging device will display visual light (VL) image data values. Temperature range G (represented by bar  980 ) illustrates the resulting fusion image presented by the IR camera. 
     Temperature ranges A-F may thus respectively comprise a minimum temperature value, a maximum temperature value, and temperature values in between the minimum and the maximum. In general, temperature ranges D-F may be represented by their respective minimum temperature values (also referred to as minimum color levels), maximum temperature values (also referred to as maximum color levels), and optionally one or more temperature values in between the minimum and the maximum. In one non-limiting example, temperature ranges D-F may respectively be represented using a corresponding minimum temperature value, maximum temperature value, and middle temperature value. According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, one or more of temperature ranges A-F may be visually presented (e.g., on a display) to a user, for example as a separate graphical object such as a legend or scale displayed together with an IR image presented according to the temperature ranges. 
     As discussed above, it may be beneficial to provide a computer system (e.g., an IR camera or a thermographic arrangement) that permits users to quickly and conveniently discover and apply desired temperature ranges for processing and/or presenting IR images. Various techniques to provide such a computer system by processing swipe gestures are discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 10 a   - 14 , in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. 
       FIG. 10 a    and  FIG. 10 b    show example images of an IR image and an associated temperature range that may be displayed within a touch screen, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In the example images of  FIGS. 10 a  and 10 b   , an IR image and an associated temperature range are displayed within graphical objects  1010  and  1016 , respectively, on a touch screen. Other graphical objects may be displayed if desired. As one example,  FIGS. 10 a  and 10 b    show a graphical object  1020 , which may for example be a menu window as shown in  FIG. 10   b.    
     Graphical objects  1010 ,  1016 ,  1020  may be structured, grouped, managed, and/or arranged for display according to appropriate graphical user interface (GUI) techniques. For example, graphical objects  1010  and  1020  may be managed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects, whereas graphical object  1016  may be managed in a second set of graphical objects that may overlap with objects in the first set of graphical objects. 
     According to various embodiments, one or more portions of graphical object  1016  may each be associated with a corresponding temperature value from the temperature range represented in graphical object  1016 . In one example, graphical object  1016  may comprise a first portion  1015  associated with a minimum temperature value, a second portion  1017  associated with a middle temperature value, and a third portion  1018  associated with a maximum temperature value of the temperature range represented in graphical object  1016 . In other examples, graphical object  1016  may comprise fewer than the three portions identified in the previous example. That is, for example, there may be just one portion associated with a temperature value (e.g., a portion associated with a middle temperature value), or there may just two portions (e.g., two portions each associated with a maximum and a minimum temperature value). In yet other examples, graphical object  1016  may comprise additional portions that correspond to additional temperature values from the temperature range. 
     According to various embodiments, a user that wishes to adjust one of the temperature ranges D-F described in connection with  FIG. 9 , for example, may apply a gesture motion on graphical object  1016  representing one of the temperature ranges D-F to do so. For example, via an appropriate gesture motion on graphical object  1016 , a user may modify only the minimum value or only the maximum value, or simultaneously modify any combination of the minimum temperature value, the maximum temperature value, and the middle temperature value of the temperature range. In one non-limiting example, this may involve starting a swipe gesture on the first portion  1015 , the third portion  1018 , or the second portion  1017  of graphical object  1016 . 
       FIG. 11 a    is an example touch screen image illustrating how a swipe gesture from a user may be received to modify a temperature range, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The example of  FIG. 11 a    shows a downward swipe gesture starting on a location corresponding to first portion  1015  of graphical object  1016 , where first portion  1015  may be associated with a minimum temperature value of a temperature range represented in graphical object  1016 . 
       FIG. 11 b    illustrates an example of how the temperature range is modified as a result of receiving the user indication of a downward swipe shown in  FIG. 11 a   , in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In various embodiments, a first data representing a swipe gesture starting location (illustrated in the figures using a cross mark) and a second data representing a swipe gesture direction (illustrated in the figures using an arrow) may be generated in response to receiving the example user indication of  FIG. 11 a   , where the swipe gesture starting location corresponds to first portion  1015  of graphical object  1016  and the swipe gesture direction corresponds to a downward direction. Responsive to such data representing the example swipe gesture of  FIG. 11 a   , the temperature range represented in graphical object  1016  may be adjusted, updated, or otherwise modified by lowering its minimum temperature value, according to some embodiments. 
     As may be understood by comparing  FIG. 11 a    with  FIG. 11 b   , in this example the minimum temperature value (indicated numerically in general proximity to first portion  1015  in this example) is lowered in response to the downward swipe gesture that started from a location associated the minimum temperature value. This in turn lowers a middle temperature value (indicated numerically in general proximity to second portion  1017  of graphical object  1016  in this example), while the maximum temperature value (indicated numerically in general proximity to third portion  1018  of graphical object  1016  in this example) is unaltered, according to embodiments illustrated by this example. According to various embodiments, the minimum temperature value may be raised, instead of being lowered, if the swipe gesture direction is an upward direction instead of the downward direction as given in this example. It should be noted that graphical object  1016  is shown to include a scale with numerical indications of temperature values (e.g., corresponding to maximum, middle, and minimum temperature values) only as an example, and that graphical object  1016  may alternatively or additionally include any other suitable graphical representation of a desired temperature range, and may or may not include numerical indications, depending on particular applications of the disclosure. 
       FIG. 12 a    illustrates another example of how a swipe gesture from a user may be received to modify a temperature range, and  FIG. 12 b    illustrates an example of how the temperature range is modified as a result of receiving the example swipe gesture of  FIG. 12 a   , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The example of  FIG. 12 a    shows a downward swipe gesture starting on a location corresponding to third portion  1018  of graphical object  1016 , where third portion  1018  may be associated with a maximum temperature value of a temperature range represented in graphical object  1016 . 
     As illustrated by the examples of  FIGS. 12 a  and 12 b   , the temperature range represented in graphical object  1016  may be adjusted, updated, or otherwise modified by lowering its maximum temperature value (indicated numerically in general proximity to third portion  1018  of graphical object  1016 ), in response to receiving the downward swipe gesture that started from a location associated with the maximum temperature value, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. This in turn lowers a middle temperature value (indicated numerically in general proximity to second portion  1017  of graphical object  1016 ), while the minimum temperature value (indicated numerically in general proximity to first portion  1015  of graphical object  1016 ) is unaltered, according to embodiments illustrated by this example. According to various embodiments, the maximum temperature value may be raised, instead of being lowered, if the swipe gesture direction is an upward direction instead of the downward direction as given in this example. 
       FIG. 13 a    illustrates yet another example of how a swipe gesture from a user may be received to modify a temperature range, and  FIG. 13 b    illustrates an example of how the temperature range is modified as a result of receiving the example swipe gesture of  FIG. 13 a   , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The example of  FIG. 13 a    shows a downward swipe gesture starting on a location corresponding to second portion  1017  of graphical object  1016 , where second portion  1017  may be associated with a middle temperature value of a temperature range represented in graphical object  1016 . 
     As illustrated by the examples of  FIGS. 13 a  and 13 b   , the temperature range represented in graphical object  1016  may be adjusted, updated, or otherwise modified by lowering its middle temperature value (indicated numerically in general proximity to second portion  1017  of graphical object  1016 ), in response to receiving the downward swipe gesture that started from a location associated with the middle temperature value, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. This in turn lowers the minimum and the maximum temperature values (indicated numerically in general proximity to first portion  1015  and third portion  1018 , respectively, of graphical object  1016 ), according to embodiments illustrated by this example. According to various embodiments, the middle, the minimum, and the maximum temperature values may be raised, instead of being lowered, if the swipe gesture direction is an upward direction instead of the downward direction as given in this example. 
     Turning to  FIG. 14 , a flowchart is illustrated of a computer-implemented method  1400  to process an IR image based on a swipe gesture, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. For example, method  1400  may process and/or display IR images based on one or more temperature ranges that may be adjusted, updated, or otherwise modified by processing swipe gestures as illustrated in the examples of  FIGS. 10 a -13 b   . In various embodiments, method  1400  may comprise the following: 
     At block  1410 , displaying an IR image on a touch screen, based on a temperature range. For example, according to some embodiments, the IR image may be processed and displayed on the touch screen by applying a first palette to IR image data values within the temperature range and applying a second palette to IR image data values outside said temperature range. In some embodiments, the IR image may be displayed within a first graphical object (e.g., graphical object  1010 ) displayed on the touch screen. In some embodiments, the first graphical object may belong to a first set of graphical objects that do not overlap each other when displayed within the touch screen. 
     At block  1420 , displaying a second graphical object (e.g., graphical object  1016 ) within said touch screen. For example, the second graphical object may comprise a scale, legend, or other graphical representation of the temperature range, based on which the IR image was applied selected palettes. The second graphical object may comprises one or more portions each associated with a temperature value (e.g., a maximum, a middle, and a minimum temperature value) from the temperature range represented in the second graphical object. In some embodiments, the second graphical object may belong to a second set of graphical objects that can be overlapped or overlaid on the first set of graphical objects (e.g., including the IR image) when displayed within the touch screen. 
     At block  1430 , receiving, by a processor communicatively coupled to said touch screen, a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein said receiving the user indication comprises generating first data representing a swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a swipe gesture direction. Block  1430  may further comprise determining whether the swipe gesture starting location represented by first data corresponds to a coordinate associated with a selected portion of the second graphical object. For example, said swipe gesture starting location may be determined as corresponding to one of a first portion representing a minimum temperature value of the temperature range, a second portion representing a middle temperature value of the temperature range, and a third portion representing a maximum temperature value of the temperature range. 
     At block  1440 , adjusting, updating, or otherwise modifying said temperature range based on said first data and said second data representing the user indication of the swipe gesture. For example, in various embodiments, modifying said temperature range may comprise lowering or raising one or more of a minimum temperature value, a middle temperature value, and a maximum temperature value of said temperature range represented in the second graphical object, based on the swipe gesture directions and on which portion of the second graphical object the swipe gesture starting location corresponds to, as described above in connection with the examples of  FIGS. 11 a   - 13   b.    
     At block  1450 , image processing said IR image based on said modified temperature range. In the example discussed above in connection with block  1410 , the IR image may be processed by applying the first palette to IR image data values now within the modified temperature range and applying the second palette to IR image data values now outside the modified temperature range, according to some embodiments. In other examples, one or more additional or alternative imaging processing operations that are dependent on or associated with the temperature range may be performed on the IR image with the now modified temperature range. 
     At block  1460 , displaying said image processed IR image within said touch screen. Thus, for example, the IR image may be displayed that is updated or modified by performing imaging processing with the modified temperature range based on the processing of the swipe gesture. In this way, for example, users may use swipe gestures and view correspondingly updated IR images to quickly and conveniently discover and apply desired temperature ranges for processing and/or presenting IR images. 
     In one or more embodiments, the temperature range may be selected from the temperature ranges D-F described in relation to  FIG. 9 . In one or more embodiments, said second set of graphical objects may be overlappingly placed or overlaid on the first graphical object at the top part, bottom part, right part or left part of said first graphical object. For example, the second set of graphical objects may include a legend placed at the top part, bottom part, right part or left part of the displayed IR image. 
     In one or more embodiments, said second set of graphical objects may further comprise one or more additional graphical objects. For example, the second set of graphical objects may comprise a graphical representation of one or more additional temperature ranges (e.g., the temperature ranges D and F described in relation to  FIG. 9  above), and a user may start a swipe gesture starting at a coordinate associated with a selected one of the graphical objects representing the temperature ranges to adjust a desired one of the temperature ranges. 
     Visualizing Temperature Using a Stationary Swipe Gesture 
     When image processing, presenting, analyzing, and monitoring an IR image of an observed real world scene, a spot marker may be overlaid onto or otherwise displayed relative to a displayed IR image to aid a user in marking or otherwise selecting a particular pixel or group of pixels of the displayed IR image. A user may mark or select a particular pixel or group of pixels using the spot marker so as to obtain one or more attributes associated with, or to control processing, presenting, and/or analyzing of an IR image based on, the marked pixel or group of pixels of the IR image. For example, the IR image may be processed to read out an IR image data value or temperature associated with the particular pixel or group of pixels marked or selected using the spot marker. It may therefore be beneficial to reduce complexity and time for a user to obtain desired attributes of, or control processing, presenting, and/or analyzing of, an IR image through the use of a spot marker or other similar means. 
     By conveniently obtaining attributes (e.g., temperature values) associated with IR images or conveniently controlling image processing and/or presentation of IR images, users of a computer system (e.g., an IR camera system or other computer system configured for thermographic use) may be able to quickly analyze particular aspects or details of the IR images and/or to discover a presentation of the IR images having improved interpretability. For example, for a user to understand the captured observed real worlds scene, it is further advantageous to be able to place a spot marker on a particular pixel or group of pixels of the displayed IR image and to be able to read out an IR image data value or temperature representative of a particular pixel or group of pixels, wherein the IR image data values represents infrared radiation emitted from an observed real world scene. 
       FIG. 15 a    and  FIG. 15 b    show touch screen images illustrating an example of how a user indication of a swipe gesture, such as a stationary swipe gesture or a tap gesture, may be received to place or otherwise control a spot marker and present an attribute associated with an IR image, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In the example of  FIGS. 15 a  and 15 b   , a user indication may be received of a stationary swipe gesture or tap gesture, which may be defined by a swipe gesture starting location  1530  (indicated using a cross mark for illustration purposes in the figures) and a swipe gesture ending location  1550  (indicated using a circle for illustration purposes in the figures) being equal or substantially equal (e.g., when differences fall within a specified small margin) as discussed in connection with  FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b    above. In response, a graphical object  1511 , e.g., a cross hair, hash symbol, or other similar graphical representations, may be displayed to represent a spot marker placed at a location corresponding to the swipe gesture starting location  1530  or ending location  1550 , for example. Graphical object  1511  may be overlaid onto graphical object  1010  containing an IR image. 
     This example further illustrates that an attribute (e.g., a temperature value, emissivity value, or other IR image attributes) associated with the IR image at the stationary swipe gesture location (e.g., swipe gesture starting location  1530  or ending location  1550 ) may be determined (e.g., based on a single IR image data value or a combination of IR image data values) and presented in a graphical object  1512 , according to some embodiments. The presentation may be numeric information representing image data values, e.g., in degrees Celsius as shown in  FIG. 12 b   , degrees Fahrenheit, or emissivity. Graphical object  1512  may be overlaid onto graphical object  1010  containing the IR image, at a predefined location relative to graphical object  1010 , for example. In some embodiments, graphical objects  1010  and  1020  may be managed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects, whereas graphical objects  1511  and  1512  may be managed in a second set of graphical objects that may overlap with or be overlaid onto objects in the first set, as discussed above in connection with  FIGS. 10 a    and  10   b.    
       FIG. 16 a    and  FIG. 16 b    illustrate another example of how a user indication of a swipe gesture, such as a stationary swipe gesture or a tap gesture, may be received to place a spot marker and present an attribute associated with an IR image, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In this example, in response to receiving a stationary swipe gesture or a tap gesture (defined by a swipe gesture starting location  1630  and ending location  1650  being equal or substantially equal), a rectangular area  1613  may be selected based on the stationary swipe gesture location (e.g., swipe gesture starting location  1630  or ending location  1650 ). In some embodiments, edges of rectangular area  1613  may be displayed as a graphical object overlaid onto graphical object  1010  containing the IR image, so as to aid the user in identifying the selected area. Depending on embodiments, the stationary swipe gesture location may determine the center of rectangular area  1613 , a corner of rectangular area  1613 , or other predefined location relative to rectangular area  1613 . Some embodiments may allow the user to adjust rectangular area  1613  via a swipe gesture or a dragging gesture starting on a corner or edge of rectangular area  1613 . 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 16 a  and 16 b   , a spot marker location is determined based on the IR image data values (e.g., pixel values) for pixels of the displayed IR image within rectangular area  1613 . In some embodiments, the spot maker location is selected by a predefined function (also referred to herein as a spot marker function) over the pixels within rectangular area  1613 . For one or more examples, the spot marker function may be a minimum image data value function (e.g., a function that returns a location of a pixel that has the minimum image data value over all pixels within rectangular area  1613 ) or a maximum image data value function (e.g., a function that returns a location of a pixel that has the maximum image data value over all pixels within rectangular area  1613 ). 
     The determined spot marker location may be indicated by a graphical object  1611  overlaid onto graphical object  1010  containing the IR image. Graphical object  1611  may be displayed at a location corresponding to the determined spot marker location, but may otherwise be similar to graphical object  1511 . Further, according to some embodiments, an attribute (e.g., a temperature value, emissivity value, or other IR image attributes) associated with the determined spot marker location may be presented in graphical object  1512 , in a similar manner as described above for  FIGS. 15 a  and 15 b   . Thus, for example, in embodiments where the spot marker function may be a minimum image data value function or a maximum image data value function for IR image data, a cold or a hot spot within rectangular area  1613  may be indicated by graphical object  1611  and a corresponding temperature value may be presented as a numerical value in graphical object  1512 . 
       FIG. 17 a    and  FIG. 17 b    illustrate another example of how a user indication of a swipe gesture, such as a stationary swipe gesture or a tap gesture, may be received to place a spot marker (represented by a graphical object  1711 ) and present an attribute associated with an IR image, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The example illustrated in  FIGS. 17 a  and 17 b    shows a circular area  1713  rather than rectangular area  1613  as the area selected in response to receiving a stationary swipe gesture (e.g., defined by a swipe gesture starting location  1730  and ending location  1750 ), but may otherwise be similar to the example illustrated in  FIGS. 16 a  and 16 b   . Although rectangular area  1613  and circular area  1713  are illustrated as examples of areas selected in response to a stationary swipe gesture for embodiments described in connection with  FIGS. 16 a -17 b   , areas in other shapes are also contemplated as variations within those embodiments. 
       FIG. 18  shows an example touch screen image displaying an IR image and a spot marker, in accordance with the various embodiments discussed in connection with  FIGS. 10 a -17 b    above. In this example image, a graphical object  1811  in the form of a cross hair or hash symbol is displayed at a location corresponding to the spot marker location, and a temperature value associated with the spot marker location is displayed in a graphical object  1812  as numerical information in degrees Fahrenheit. 
     Turning to  FIG. 19 , a flowchart is illustrated of a computer-implemented method  1900  to process an IR image based on a swipe gesture, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. For example, method  1900  may process swipe gestures to place or otherwise control a spot marker on a displayed IR image and to obtain one or more attributes (e.g., a temperature value) associated with the IR image as illustrated in the examples of  FIG. 15 a -17 b   . In some embodiments, method  1900  may control processing, presenting, and/or analyzing of the IR image based on the spot marker location, in addition to or in place of obtaining an attribute such as a temperature value of the IR image at a location corresponding to the spot marker. For example, according to some embodiments, one or more temperature values (e.g., a minimum temperature value, a middle temperature value, and a maximum temperature value) of the temperature ranges D-F of  FIG. 9  may be set or adjusted based on an image data value of the IR image at the spot marker location, which in turn may affect processing, presenting, and/or analyzing of the IR image. In various embodiments, method  1900  may comprise the following: 
     At block  1910 , displaying an IR image on a touch screen. For example, according to some embodiments, the IR image may be processed and displayed on the touch screen by applying a first palette to IR image data values of the IR image. In some embodiments, the IR image may be displayed within a first graphical object (e.g., graphical object  1010 ) displayed on the touch screen. In some embodiments, the first graphical object may belong to a first set of graphical objects that do not overlap each other when displayed within the touch screen. 
     At block  1920 , receiving, by a processor communicatively coupled to said touch screen, a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein said receiving the user indication comprises generating first data representing a swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a swipe gesture direction. In some embodiments, block  1920  may also comprise determining whether the received user indication corresponds to a stationary swipe gesture or a tap gesture. Depending on embodiments, such determination may be made when the swipe gesture starting location equals or substantially equals (e.g., when differences fall within a small range) a swipe gesture ending location and/or based on the swipe gesture direction (e.g., when no or negligible swipe gesture direction is detected). Block  1920  may further involve associating the swipe gesture starting location with a coordinate within the first graphical object (e.g., within graphical object  1010  containing the IR image). 
     At block  1930 , determining a spot marker location, in response to receiving a user indication corresponding to a stationary swipe or tap gesture. In some embodiments, the spot marker location may be determined relative to the swipe gesture starting location or the swipe gesture ending location of the stationary swipe gesture. For example, the spot marker location may be set as the swipe gesture starting location (or the ending location, which may be the same or substantially the same as the starting location for a stationary swipe gesture). In some embodiments, the stationary swipe gesture may define a selected area (e.g., rectangular area  1613  or circular area  1713 ) rather than the spot marker location, as discussed above in connection with  FIGS. 16 a -17 b   . In such embodiments, the spot marker location may then be determined based on processing of IR image data values (e.g., pixel values) for pixels of the IR image within the selected area defined by the stationary swipe gesture, as discussed above in connection with  FIGS. 16 a -17 b   . Such processing of IR image data values may involve applying a spot marker function such as a minimum image data value function, a maximum image data value function, or other functions over aggregate IR image data values for pixels within the selected area, as discussed herein above. 
     At block  1940 , displaying a second graphical object (e.g., graphical object  1511 ,  1611 ,  1711 , or  1811 ) including a cross hair, a hash symbol, or other graphical representation of a spot marker at the spot marker location. For example, the second graphical object representing a spot marker may be overlaid onto the first graphical object displaying the IR image, at a location corresponding to the spot marker location in the displayed IR image. In some embodiments, the second graphical object may belong to a second set of graphical objects that can be overlapped or overlaid on the first set of graphical objects (e.g., the displayed IR image) when displayed within the touch screen. In some embodiments, block  1940  may also involve overlaying a third graphical object representing the contour or edges of the selected area (e.g., rectangular area  1613  or circular area  1713 ) onto the first graphical object containing the IR image. 
     At block  1950 , processing the IR image based on the spot marker location. In one or more embodiments, this may include obtaining an attribute (e.g., a temperature value) associated with a pixel or group of pixels of the IR image, where the pixel or group of pixels is selected based on the spot marker location, as discussed above in connection with the examples of  FIGS. 15 a   - 18  above. In some embodiments, the obtained attribute may be presented in a fourth graphical object (e.g., graphical object  1512 ), which may for example be overlaid on the first graphical object containing the IR image. In one example, the fourth graphical object may contain a numerical representation of the obtained attribute, such as the temperature values in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. 
     Expanding or Minimizing a Legend Using a Swipe Gesture. 
     When image processing, presenting, analyzing, and monitoring an IR image of an observed real world scene, the requirement of the relative sizes of graphical objects, e.g., between the displayed image and the legend, may be adjusted as necessary. For example, in some handheld infrared imaging devices, the display area may be limited, and it may thus be advantageous to present some graphical objects such as a legend or a menu selectively in an expanded or minimized form. 
       FIG. 20 a    and  FIG. 20 b    show touch screen images illustrating an example of how a size of a graphical object may be adjusted based on a swipe gesture, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 20 a    shows a graphical object in a reduced or minimized form  1015   a , whereas  FIG. 20 b    shows the same graphical object in an expanded or full form  1015   b . In this example, the graphical object representing a legend may be switched from its reduced or minimized form  1015   a  to its expanded or full form  1015   b  in response to receiving a swipe gesture having a swipe gesture starting location  2030 , a swipe gesture direction  2040 , and a swipe gesture ending location  2040  as shown in  FIG. 20   a.    
     In particular, the swipe gesture starting location  2030  may correspond to a coordinate associated with the graphical object in its reduced or minimized form  1015   a , with the swipe gesture direction  2040  corresponding to an approximate direction in which the graphical object is to be expanded and the swipe gesture ending location  2060  corresponding to a coordinate outside a predefined threshold (e.g., to indicate a confirmation of a switch to an expanded form). Conversely, by receiving and processing a user indication of a swipe gesture starting on the graphical object in its expanded or full form  1015   b , with a swipe direction corresponding to an approximate direction in which the graphical object is to be reduced or minimized and a swipe ending location being past a predefined threshold, the graphical object in its expanded or full form  1015   b  may be switched to its reduced or minimized form  1015   a.    
       FIG. 21  illustrates a flowchart of a computer-implemented method  2100  to process graphical objects displayed on a touch screen based on a swipe gesture, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. For example, method  2100  may process graphical objects displayed, including an IR image and a graphical representation of a legend or menu, to adjust the relative sizes of the graphical objects in response to receiving a swipe gesture. In various embodiments, method  2100  may comprise the following: 
     At block  2110 , displaying an IR image on a touch screen. For example, the IR image may be processed and displayed within a first graphical object (e.g., graphical object  1010 ) displayed on the touch screen. In some embodiments, the first graphical object may belong to a first set of graphical objects that do not overlap each other when displayed within the touch screen. In some embodiments, the IR image may be processed and displayed by applying a first palette to IR image data values within a first temperature range and applying a second palette to IR image data values outside said first temperature range. 
     At block  2120 , displaying a second graphical object within said touch screen, where the second graphical object may be displayed either in its first form (e.g., reduced or minimized form  1015   a ) or in its second form (e.g., expanded or full form  1015   b ). For example, the second graphical object may comprise a scale, legend, or other graphical representation of the first temperature range, based on which the IR image was applied selected palettes. In some embodiments, the second graphical object may belong to a second set of graphical objects that can be overlapped or overlaid on the first set of graphical objects (e.g., the displayed IR image) when displayed within the touch screen. 
     At block  2130 , receiving, by a processor communicatively coupled to said touch screen, a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein said receiving the user indication comprises generating first data representing a swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a swipe gesture direction. In some embodiments, block  2130  may further comprise determining whether the first swipe gesture starting location represented by the first data corresponds to a coordinate associated with the second graphical object and whether the swipe gesture direction represented by the second data corresponds to one of predefined directions associated with an indication to adjust the size of the second graphical object. 
     At block  2140 , modifying said second graphical object based on said first data and said second data, wherein modifying said second graphical object comprises modifying the size of the second graphical object to its first form (e.g., reduced or minimized form  1015   a ) or to its second form (e.g., expanded or full form  1015   b ). For example, the size of the second graphical object may be changed from its predefined reduced or minimized size to its predefined expanded or full size, or vice-versa, based upon a determination that the first data representing the swipe gesture starting location corresponds to a coordinate associated with the second graphical object and that the second data representing the swipe gesture direction corresponds to one of predefined directions associated with an indication to adjust the size of the second graphical object. 
     Adjusting Multiple Parameter Ranges Using Spatial Separation on the Touch Screen 
     As discussed, processing, presenting, analyzing, and monitoring of an IR image of an observed real world scene are often dependent on multiple parameters that control the image processing of a visual representation of the IR image. It may therefore be beneficial to reduce complexity and time for a user to adjust a plurality of parameters that control a visual representation of an IR image, in particular in a computer system configured with a touch screen with a touch-based user input functionality. By conveniently viewing and controlling multiple parameters that affect how IR images are processed and presented, users of a computer system (e.g., an IR camera system or other computer system configured for thermographic use) may be able to quickly obtain a presentation of the IR images having improved interpretability and/or showing particular aspects or details that may be analyzed. 
       FIG. 22 a    and  FIG. 22 b    show touch screen images illustrating an example of how a swipe gesture from a user may be received to adjust one of a plurality of parameters that control or affect processing and/or presentation of an IR image, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In the example of  FIGS. 22 a  and 22 b   , an IR image may be displayed within graphical object  1010  as discussed above. Additional graphical objects, such as graphical object  1020  representing for example a menu, may also be displayed if desired. As discussed above, graphical objects  1010  and  1020  may be managed in a first set of non-overlapping graphical objects according to one or more embodiments. 
     In this example, two parameters are each graphically represented in graphical objects  22151  and  22152 , respectively. Additional parameters may be displayed in additional graphical objects if desired, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The parameters in this example each define a range of parameter values, and may be presented as a scale or legend (as shown in  FIGS. 22 a  and 22 b   ) or other graphical representation that corresponds to the range of parameter values. According to some embodiments, graphical objects  22151  and  22152  may overlap or be overlaid onto graphical object  1010  displaying the IR image. In this regard, graphical objects  22151  and  22152  may be managed in a second set of graphical objects that may overlap with objects in the first set of graphical objects, according to one or more embodiments. 
     According to various embodiments, one or more portions of graphical object  22151  may each be associated with a parameter value from the range of parameter values represented in graphical object  22151 . In one example, graphical object  22151  may comprise a first portion  22161  associated with a minimum parameter value, a second portion  22171  associated with a middle parameter value, and a third portion  22181  associated with a maximum parameter value of the parameter range represented in graphical object  22151 . Similarly, graphical object  22152  may comprise a first portion  22162  associated with a minimum parameter value, a second portion  22172  associated with a middle parameter value, and a third portion  22182  associated with a maximum parameter value of the parameter range represented in graphical object  221521 . In other examples, graphical objects  22151  and/or  22152  may comprise fewer than the three portions identified in the previous example. That is, for example, there may be just one portion associated with a parameter value (e.g., a portion associated with a middle parameter value), or there may just two portions (e.g., two portions each associated with a maximum and a minimum parameter value). In yet other examples, graphical object  1016  may comprise additional portions that correspond to additional parameter values from the parameter range. 
     According to various embodiments, a user that wishes to adjust one of the parameter ranges represented in graphical objects  22151  and  22152  may apply a gesture motion on an appropriate one of graphical objects  22151  and  22152  to do so. For example, via an appropriate gesture motion on graphical object  22151 / 22152 , a user may modify only the minimum value or only the maximum value, or simultaneously modify any combination of the minimum value, the maximum value, and the middle value of the parameter range. As a non-limiting example, this may involve starting a swipe gesture on the first portion  22161 / 22162 , the third portion  22181 / 22182 , or the second portion  22171 / 22172  of graphical object  22181 / 22182 . The example of  FIGS. 22 a  and 22 b    shows that a downward swipe gesture starting on the first portion  22161  of graphical object  22151  may be received and processed to lower the minimum parameter value from 0.3. to 0, which in turn may lower the middle parameter value of the parameter range. According to various embodiments, the minimum temperature value may be raised, instead of being lowered, if the swipe gesture direction is an upward direction instead of the downward direction as given in this example. 
     It should be noted that graphical objects  22151  and/or  22152  are shown to include a scale with numerical indications of parameter values (e.g., corresponding to maximum, middle, and minimum parameter values) only as an example, and that graphical objects  22151  and/or  22152  may alternatively or additionally include any other suitable graphical representation of a desired parameter range, and may or may not include numerical indications, depending on particular applications of the disclosure. Further, although the parameters in the example of  FIGS. 22 a  and 22 b    are shown to comprise a range of parameter values, the techniques disclosed herein may also be applied to parameters that comprise discrete values (e.g., including binary values such as on/off or yes/no). For example, a swipe gesture starting on a particular portion of a graphical object representing a parameter may be processed to adjust one or more discrete values of the parameter. 
       FIGS. 23 a  and 23 b    illustrate another example of how a swipe gesture from a user may be received to modify another parameter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The example of  FIGS. 23 a  and 23 b    shows a downward swipe gesture on graphical object  22152  instead of graphical object  22151 . Thus, in this example, the downward swipe gesture starting on the first portion  22162  of graphical object  22152  is received and processed to adjust the minimum value of the parameter range represented in graphical object  22152  from 30% to 0%, which in turn adjusts the middle value of the parameter range. 
       FIG. 24  shows a flowchart of a computer-implemented method  2400  to process an IR image based on a swipe gesture, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. For example, method  2400  may process and/or display IR images based on a plurality of parameter ranges that may be adjusted, updated, or otherwise modified by processing swipe gestures as illustrated in the examples of  FIGS. 22 a -23 b   . In various embodiments, method  2400  may comprise the following: 
     At block  2410 , displaying an IR image on a touch screen based on a first parameter range and a second parameter range. For example, according to some embodiments the IR image may be processed based on the first and the second parameter ranges, and displayed within a first graphical object (e.g., graphical object  1010 ) displayed on the touch screen. In some embodiments, the first graphical object may belong to a first set of graphical objects that do not overlap each other when displayed within the touch screen. 
     At block  2420 , displaying a second graphical object (e.g., graphical object  22151 ) and a third graphical object (e.g., graphical object  22152 ) within said touch screen. For example, the second and the third graphical objects may each comprise a scale, legend, or other graphical representation of the first and the second parameter ranges, respectively. In some embodiments, the second and the third graphical objects may belong to a second set of graphical objects that can be overlapped or overlaid on the first set of graphical objects (e.g., the displayed IR image) when displayed within the touch screen, 
     At block  2430 , receiving, by a processor communicatively coupled to said touch screen, a user indication of a swipe gesture via said touch screen, wherein said receiving the user indication comprises generating first data representing a swipe gesture starting location and second data representing a swipe gesture direction. Block  2430  may further comprise determining whether the swipe gesture starting location represented by first data corresponds to a coordinate associated with a selected portion of the second or the third graphical object. For example, said swipe gesture starting location may be determined as corresponding to a first portion, a second portion, or a third portion of the second or the third graphical object, where each portion is associated with a minimum parameter value, a middle parameter value, or a maximum parameter value of the first or the second parameter range. 
     At block  2440 , adjusting, updating, or otherwise modifying said first or said second parameter range based on said first data and said second data representing the user indication of the swipe gesture. For example, in various embodiments, modifying said first or said second parameter range may comprise lowering or raising one or more of a minimum parameter value, a middle parameter value, and a maximum parameter value of said first or said second parameter range, based on the swipe direction and on which portion of the second or the third graphical object the swipe gesture starting location corresponds to, as illustrated in the examples of  FIGS. 22 a -23 b    and the corresponding text above. 
     At block  2450 , image processing said IR image based on said the first or the second parameter range as modified, and at block  2460 , displaying said image processed IR image within said touch screen. Thus, for example, the IR image may be displayed that is updated or modified by performing imaging processing with the first and/or the second parameter ranges that may have been modified according to the swipe gesture received from the user via the touch screen. In this way, for example, users may use swipe gestures and view correspondingly updated IR images to quickly and conveniently discover and apply desired parameter ranges for processing and/or presenting IR images. 
     Gesture Manipulation of an Infrared Imaging Device 
     In one or more embodiments, a gesture on a touchscreen may be received and processed to control infrared imaging device functionality. In one non-limiting example, any of the gestures including a tap, double tap, drag, flick, pinch, spread, press, press+tap, press+drag, or rotate may be received to control a function in an infrared imaging device, such as contrast adjustment, fusion, blending, contrast enhanced fusion, panorama stitching, global positioning system (GPS) functionality, laser illumination functionality, video control functionality, communication functionality, annotation functionality, focus and zoom functionality, insulation or moisture analysis functionality, or other functionality that may be provided on particular infrared imaging devices. 
     Aligning 
     Since the capturing of the infrared (IR) image and capturing of the visual light (VL) image is generally performed by different imaging systems of the thermal imaging device mounted in a way that the offset, direction and rotation around the optical axes differ. The optical axes between the imaging systems may be at a distance from each other and an optical phenomenon known as parallax distance error will arise. The optical axes between the imaging systems may be oriented at an angle in relation to each other and an optical phenomenon known as parallax pointing error will arise. The rotation of the imaging systems around their corresponding optical axes and an optical phenomenon known as parallax rotation error will arise. Due to these parallax errors the captured view of the real world scene, called field of view (FOV) might differ between the IR imaging system and the VL imaging system. 
     Since the capturing of the infrared (IR) image and capturing of the visible light (VL) image is generally performed by different imaging systems of the thermal imaging device with different optical systems with different properties, such as magnification, the captured view of the real world scene, called field of view (FOV) might differ between the imaging systems. The IR image and the VL image might be obtained with different optical systems with different optical properties, such as magnification, resulting in different sizes of the FOV captured by the IR sensor and the VL sensor. 
     In order to combine the captured IR and captured VL image the images must be adapted so that an adapted IR image and adapted VL image representing the same part of the observed real world scene is obtained, in other words compensating for the different parallax errors and FOV size. This processing step is referred to as registration of or alignment of the IR image and the VL image. 
     Registration or alignment can be performed according to any method known to a skilled person in the art. 
     Where applicable, various embodiments provided by the present disclosure can be implemented using hardware, software, or combinations of hardware and software. Also where applicable, the various hardware components and/or software components set forth herein can be combined into composite components comprising software, hardware, and/or both without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Where applicable, the various hardware components and/or software components set forth herein can be separated into sub-components comprising software, hardware, or both without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, where applicable, it is contemplated that software components can be implemented as hardware components, and vice-versa. 
     Computer Readable Media 
     Software in accordance with the present disclosure, such as non-transitory instructions, program code, and/or data, can be stored on one or more non-transitory machine readable mediums. It is also contemplated that software identified herein can be implemented using one or more general purpose or specific purpose computers and/or computer systems, networked and/or otherwise. Where applicable, the ordering of various steps described herein can be changed, combined into composite steps, and/or separated into sub-steps to provide features described herein. 
     In one or more embodiments, a computer program product for processing an infrared (IR) image based on a swipe gesture comprising computer readable code configured to, when executed in a processor, perform any or all of the method steps described herein. 
     In one or more embodiments, a non-transitory computer readable memory or processing an infrared (IR) image based on a swipe gesture on which is stored computer readable code configured to, when executed in a processor, perform any or all of the method steps described herein. 
     Where applicable, various embodiments provided by the present disclosure can be implemented using hardware, software, or combinations of hardware and software. Also where applicable, the various hardware components and/or software components set forth herein can be combined into composite components comprising software, hardware, and/or both without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Where applicable, the various hardware components and/or software components set forth herein can be separated into sub-components comprising software, hardware, or both without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, where applicable, it is contemplated that software components can be implemented as hardware components, and vice-versa. 
     Software in accordance with the present disclosure, such as non-transitory instructions, program code, and/or data, can be stored on one or more non-transitory machine readable mediums. It is also contemplated that software identified herein can be implemented using one or more general purpose or specific purpose computers and/or computer systems, networked and/or otherwise. Where applicable, the ordering of various steps described herein can be changed, combined into composite steps, and/or separated into sub-steps to provide features described herein. 
     Embodiments described above illustrate but do not limit the invention. It should also be understood that numerous modifications and variations are possible in accordance with the principles of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined only by the following claims.