Hybrid cameras

Abstract

The disclosed technologies include systems and methods for implementing a combination of an optical camera and an infrared camera in a single device having a single output. The combination of the optical camera and infrared camera in a single device having a single output can provide low cost production and a hybrid output having optical and infrared elements. A blending or combining of the optical and infrared elements can be executed by a processor embedded in the single device. The output of the single device can have a relatively low size image overlay. In some embodiments, the single device can output a full video stream having optical and infrared elements. Also, the blending or combining of the optical and infrared elements can be executed by the processor and the processor can output and transmit a hybrid image that includes an overlay of the optical and infrared elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a printed circuit board;   an optical image sensor configured on the printed circuit board;   an infrared image sensor configured on the printed circuit board;   an output interface configured on the printed circuit board; and   a processor connected via the printed circuit board to the optical image sensor,
 the infrared image sensor, and the output interface, the processor configured to process first inputs from the optical image sensor and second inputs from the infrared image sensor to generate output image data transmitted through the output interface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the output image data includes a video stream containing optical information based on inputs from the optical image sensor, and infrared information based on inputs from the infrared image sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the output image data includes the infrared information is configured to be overlaid on the optical information at a first set of pixels. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the output image data includes the optical information at a second set of pixels without infrared information. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the output image data includes an optical image based on the first inputs from the optical image sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the output image data further includes an infrared image based on the second inputs from the infrared image sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the output image data further includes a hybrid image based on both the first inputs and the second inputs. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the hybrid image is configured to show infrared information overlaid on optical information. 
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 generating, using an optical image sensor configured on a printed circuit board, first inputs;   generating, using an infrared image sensor configured on the printed circuit board, second inputs;   processing, by a processor connected via the printed circuit board to the optical image sensor, the infrared image sensor, and an output interface, the first inputs from the optical image sensor and the second inputs from the infrared image sensor to generate output image data; and   transmitting, through the output interface, the output image data.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the output image data includes a video stream containing optical information based on inputs from the optical image sensor, and infrared information based on inputs from the infrared image sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the output image data includes the infrared information is configured to be overlaid on the optical information at a first set of pixels. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the output image data includes the optical information at a second set of pixels without infrared information. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the output image data includes an optical image based on the first inputs from the optical image sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the output image data further includes an infrared image based on the second inputs from the infrared image sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the output image data further includes a hybrid image based on both the first inputs and the second inputs. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the hybrid image is configured to show infrared information overlaid on optical information. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, comprising:
 generating, using an optical image sensor configured on a printed circuit board, first inputs;   generating, using an infrared image sensor configured on the printed circuit board, second inputs;   processing, by the processor connected via the printed circuit board to the optical image sensor, the infrared image sensor, and an output interface, the first inputs from the optical image sensor and the second inputs from the infrared image sensor to generate output image data; and   transmitting, through the output interface, the output image data.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the output image data includes a video stream containing optical information based on inputs from the optical image sensor, and infrared information based on inputs from the infrared image sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the output image data includes:
 an optical image based on the first inputs from the optical image sensor;   an infrared image based on the second inputs from the infrared image sensor; and   a hybrid image based on both the first inputs and the second inputs.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the hybrid image is configured to show infrared information overlaid on optical information.