Beyond basic upgrades – Phusion technology combines visible and thermal cameras to deliver detailed CCTV images

Research at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, is developing a technology that can provide clearer, more defined camera images by fusing RGB (red-green-blue) images with thermal imaging. Phusion is being developed by Spectral Edge, an IP licensing company spun out of the university’s Colour Lab and based in Cambridge.

Phusion for security cameras

The technology has the potential to deliver more detailed images than are usually available from conventional security cameras, provided there is a thermal imaging sensor at the camera end. It can enhance both recorded and live CCTV, though this is more difficult to achieve with live footage because of the need for a lot more processing power, either at the camera end or back at the control room.

A variant of Phusion has been developed to enhance live TV and video, allowing colour-blind viewers to differentiate between colours such as red and green. The technology is ready to be licensed to TV service providers.

Christopher Cytera, Managing Director of Spectral Edge, expects the technology for security cameras to be available mid- to end-2017. “It can take between nine months and a year to get from the start of product development to a licensable product, which can then be sold to equipment manufacturers. We’ve really only just started on the security side.”

Last month, Spectral Edge attracted £1.5 million of funding from several investors.

Licensing and leveraging Phusion technology

 “After having proved the potential of our innovative Phusion technology, this new funding provides Spectral Edge with a springboard for growth,” says Cytera. “We can now accelerate commercialisation of our intellectual property portfolio and grow by licensing our technology to consumer electronics manufacturers, TV service providers and professional equipment manufacturers in our key markets of computational photography, visual accessibility and security.”