A novel false color mapping model-based fusion method of visual and thermal images

Bin Qi, Gao Kun, Yue Xin Tian, Zhen Yu Zhu

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

A fast and efficient image fusion method is presented to generate near-natural colors from panchromatic visual and thermal imaging sensors. Firstly, a set of daytime color reference images are analyzed and the false color mapping principle is proposed according to human's visual and emotional habits. That is, object colors should remain invariant after color mapping operations, differences between infrared and visual images should be enhanced and the background color should be consistent with the main scene content. Then a novel nonlinear color mapping model is given by introducing the geometric average value of the input visual and infrared image gray and the weighted average algorithm. To determine the control parameters in the mapping model, the boundary conditions are listed according to the mapping principle above. Fusion experiments show that the new fusion method can achieve the near-natural appearance of the fused image, and has the features of enhancing color contrasts and highlighting the infrared brilliant objects when comparing with the traditional TNO algorithm. Moreover, it owns the low complexity and is easy to realize real-time processing. So it is quite suitable for the nighttime imaging apparatus.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2013 International Conference on Optical Instruments and Technology
Subtitle of host publicationOptoelectronic Imaging and Processing Technology
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Event2013 International Conference on Optical Instruments and Technology: Optoelectronic Imaging and Processing Technology, OIT 2013 - Beijing, China
Duration: 17 Nov 201319 Nov 2013

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9045
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

Conference2013 International Conference on Optical Instruments and Technology: Optoelectronic Imaging and Processing Technology, OIT 2013
Country/TerritoryChina
CityBeijing
Period17/11/1319/11/13

Keywords

  • Boundary conditions
  • Color mapping model
  • Image fusion
  • Infrared imaging

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