Infrared image super resolution with structure prior from uncooled infrared readout circuit

Abstract Infrared images, rich in temperature information, have a broad range of applications. However, limitations in infrared imaging mechanisms and the manufacturing processes typically prevent uncooled infrared detector arrays from exceeding a resolution of one megapixel. Consequently, designing...

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Main Authors: Kai Che, Jian Lv, Jia Wei, Jiayuan Gong, Longcheng Que, Yun Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16698-8
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author Kai Che
Jian Lv
Jia Wei
Jiayuan Gong
Longcheng Que
Yun Zhou
author_facet Kai Che
Jian Lv
Jia Wei
Jiayuan Gong
Longcheng Que
Yun Zhou
author_sort Kai Che
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Infrared images, rich in temperature information, have a broad range of applications. However, limitations in infrared imaging mechanisms and the manufacturing processes typically prevent uncooled infrared detector arrays from exceeding a resolution of one megapixel. Consequently, designing an efficient infrared image Super-Resolution (SR) algorithm is of significant importance. In this paper, we draw inspiration from the readout circuit structure prior to Uncooled Infrared Focal Plane Arrays (IRFPA), which scans infrared signals row by row and reads them out column by column. We propose an efficient Row-Column Transformer Block (RCTB) that splits features into rows and columns to effectively capture the spatio-temporal correlation between row-column pixels. Acknowledging the continuity of temperature information within the image and the correlation between adjacent pixel regions, we develop a Compact Convolution Block (CCB) that incorporates a U-shape Spatial Channel Attention Block (USCAB) to extract local features before the RCTB. During the training phase, we introduce a regularization control term into the loss function to enhance the reconstruction details of the infrared image. Building on these components, we propose a hybrid network named Efficient Infrared Image Super-Resolution (EIRSR), which achieves an excellent balance between performance and efficiency in terms of parameters and computational costs. Furthermore, we scale the model to create a family of variants, collectively known as EIRSRs. Extensive experiments demonstrate that EIRSR delivers competitive performance while maintaining a compact structure compared to superior methods.
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id doaj-art-3caf25a16eaa40ef80b0730fd4eef485
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-3caf25a16eaa40ef80b0730fd4eef4852025-08-24T11:30:22ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-16698-8Infrared image super resolution with structure prior from uncooled infrared readout circuitKai Che0Jian Lv1Jia Wei2Jiayuan Gong3Longcheng Que4Yun Zhou5School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaSchool of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaSchool of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaInstitute of Automotive Engineers, Hubei University of Automotive TechnologySchool of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaSchool of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaAbstract Infrared images, rich in temperature information, have a broad range of applications. However, limitations in infrared imaging mechanisms and the manufacturing processes typically prevent uncooled infrared detector arrays from exceeding a resolution of one megapixel. Consequently, designing an efficient infrared image Super-Resolution (SR) algorithm is of significant importance. In this paper, we draw inspiration from the readout circuit structure prior to Uncooled Infrared Focal Plane Arrays (IRFPA), which scans infrared signals row by row and reads them out column by column. We propose an efficient Row-Column Transformer Block (RCTB) that splits features into rows and columns to effectively capture the spatio-temporal correlation between row-column pixels. Acknowledging the continuity of temperature information within the image and the correlation between adjacent pixel regions, we develop a Compact Convolution Block (CCB) that incorporates a U-shape Spatial Channel Attention Block (USCAB) to extract local features before the RCTB. During the training phase, we introduce a regularization control term into the loss function to enhance the reconstruction details of the infrared image. Building on these components, we propose a hybrid network named Efficient Infrared Image Super-Resolution (EIRSR), which achieves an excellent balance between performance and efficiency in terms of parameters and computational costs. Furthermore, we scale the model to create a family of variants, collectively known as EIRSRs. Extensive experiments demonstrate that EIRSR delivers competitive performance while maintaining a compact structure compared to superior methods.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16698-8
spellingShingle Kai Che
Jian Lv
Jia Wei
Jiayuan Gong
Longcheng Que
Yun Zhou
Infrared image super resolution with structure prior from uncooled infrared readout circuit
Scientific Reports
title Infrared image super resolution with structure prior from uncooled infrared readout circuit
title_full Infrared image super resolution with structure prior from uncooled infrared readout circuit
title_fullStr Infrared image super resolution with structure prior from uncooled infrared readout circuit
title_full_unstemmed Infrared image super resolution with structure prior from uncooled infrared readout circuit
title_short Infrared image super resolution with structure prior from uncooled infrared readout circuit
title_sort infrared image super resolution with structure prior from uncooled infrared readout circuit
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16698-8
work_keys_str_mv AT kaiche infraredimagesuperresolutionwithstructurepriorfromuncooledinfraredreadoutcircuit
AT jianlv infraredimagesuperresolutionwithstructurepriorfromuncooledinfraredreadoutcircuit
AT jiawei infraredimagesuperresolutionwithstructurepriorfromuncooledinfraredreadoutcircuit
AT jiayuangong infraredimagesuperresolutionwithstructurepriorfromuncooledinfraredreadoutcircuit
AT longchengque infraredimagesuperresolutionwithstructurepriorfromuncooledinfraredreadoutcircuit
AT yunzhou infraredimagesuperresolutionwithstructurepriorfromuncooledinfraredreadoutcircuit