Thermal Fusion
Imaging visually overlays imagery from a thermal imager with that of a digital night vision camera, enhancing the biological detection and low light imaging capabilities of both systems.
This is incorporated into a night vision goggle system, providing real time thermal fusion imagery to the user.
Thermal
Thermal Fusion
Night Vision
Designed For Nocturnal Wildlife Observation
Where current thermal imaging systems struggle to capture visual detail, missing important features in wildlife. These systems often use a single-eye monocular design with a narrow field of view. This makes area scanning difficult and induces eye strain by engaging only one eye.
The night vision goggle system addresses these limitations by offering visual detail capture for identification and a wider field of view through its CMOS imaging sensor and a natural binocular like image display.
The system supports both stationary, long range observation with digital magnification and helmet mounting for motion tracking and navigation.
Low Light Camera
Provides low light digital imagery to the system
264x192 Thermal Imager
Inexpensive, while providing detailed thermal imagery in a small field of view.
Gain and Blend Controls
are adjusted intuitively with a rotary encoder, allowing the system to be tuned to any environment
External Power Supply
Powers the system, mounting to the users helmet when helmet mounter or attaching to the device when used as a handheld, distributes the weight of the device.
Infrared Spotlight
Provides invisible infrared illumination, supplementing the devices low light performance in dark areas.
Imaging Controls
are easily within reach, providing digital magnification, image capture and imagery alignment, allowing the thermal imagery to be accurately overlayed.
Bi-Ocular Imagery
Where the same image is displayed to each eye, removes the eye strain of single eye, monocular systems while only relying on a single Imaging sensor, improving ergonomicsand keeping cost and processing requirements low.
Mounts to Helmet
Using standard night vision mounting hardware, allowing the device to be used hands free
Battery Pack
Mounts to the back of the helmet, evenly distributing the systems weight.
Works as a handheld
Ergonomic shape allows the device to function as both a helmet mounted or handheld night vision device.
Development Process
Complex Opto-Electrical Systems
require a staged development approach. This process involved designing, optimizing, and integrating firmware and functional components into a cohesive device that meets specific use-case requirements.
The development process considers the support needs of the computing, power and and optical components, user ergonomics, and environmental durability. These factors define the design constraints and shape the overall form of the device.
Note: The Thermal fusion night vision goggle device is shaped around the optical and electrical components that it must incorporate. (Angus Logue, 2024)
Proof of Concept
prototype was created, that showcased the imaging abilities and demonstrated the feasibility of running the thermal fusion imaging system on a portable computing platform.
This allows for initial field testing of the system, demonstrating the utility of thermal fusion imagery in enhancing the low light capabilities and biological detection of night vision camera system.
Note: Low fidelity prototypes were created as a proof of concept for field and lab testing the of the thermal fusion imaging system developed (Angus Logue, 2024)
Firmware Development and Benchmarking
Is then Undertaken. This phase focused on improving firmware efficiency while integrating user controls, display, and power components into the devices electronic systems. The aim of this, is to reduce the operating requirements of the firmware, allowing it to run on a portable embedded computing system.
Note: The firmware is developed and optimised, allowing user controlls to be integrated expanding the capabilities of the thermal fusion system. (Angus Logue, 2024)
Physical Package Design
The physical design focuses on supporting the power, thermal dissipation, and ergonomic requirements identified during earlier development stages. This ensures all components are effectively integrated, enabling the system's overall functionality and reliability.
Additionally, environmental resistance is a key consideration, with rubberized gaskets and seals incorporated into the design to prevent water ingress during operation in harsh outdoor conditions.
Note: Both Firmware and Hardware development are undertaken to incorporate the developed thermal fusion camera system into two high fidelity prototypes. (Angus Logue, 2024)
Prototype Fabrication
Was undertaken, using advance prototyping techniques. The prototypes were primarily FDM 3D printed, with gaskets and other assemblies off the shelf or molded to ensure the product remained waterproof for use in a rugged field environment.
Testing and Validation
Were conducted to empirically measure the system's performance. This process evaluated how firmware optimizations and trade-offs, made to adapt the system for portable operation, impacted its overall viability and effectiveness.
Note: Testing the systems outdoors (top) Adapting imaging resolution testing to work across both the infrared and thermal imaging spectrum Bottom left and right). (Angus Logue, 2024)
Design Outcomes
(Background) Note: The thermal fusion night vision goggles (Angus Logue, 2024)
By carefully managing the development process, the device was built from the ground up, with its computing, imaging, and display hardware selected through a process of optimization, design, and fabrication.
This approach ensured that all computing and functional components were fully supported in the final design while integrating physical design elements to enhance environmental resistance, ergonomics, and overall functionality.
Rather than being a production-ready prototype, the system was developed to build a deeper understanding of the requirements for incorporating a thermal fusion imaging system into a compact, portable package. It serves to showcase the system's capabilities in this context and effectively demonstrate its potential.