Thermal camera assembly, and control system for controlling an industrial production process comprising a thermal camera assembly, and method for controlling an industrial production process comprising a thermal camera assembly

Abstract

A thermal camera assembly (1) comprising: a thermal image detector (3) for providing thermographic images and / or recordings; a protective casing (2) for housing the thermal image detector (3), the protective casing (2) including a window (5) with a transparent screen (6); one or more sensors (15; 16; 20; 32; 33) disposed in the protective casing (2) for providing signals representative of physical quantities or states; one or more actuators (8; 22; 28) disposed in the protective casing (2); and a control unit (9) integrated into the protective casing. The control unit is directly connected to the thermal image detector to receive and transmit the thermographic images and / or recordings to the outside; directly connected to the sensors to receive the associated signals; and directly connected to the actuators to control the actuators in response to the received signals. The control unit is capable of managing and controlling all components of the thermal camera and their communication with the outside world. The thermal camera assembly is part of a control system for controlling an industrial manufacturing process and is used in an associated control method.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a thermal camera assembly or thermal camera (also called a thermographic camera), which is a specific camera that is sensitive to infrared radiation and is therefore capable of obtaining a thermographic image or recording that shows a temperature map of a surface toward which the camera is pointed.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a control system and a method for controlling an industrial production process in an industrial production environment by means of a thermal camera assembly. The present invention applies to a thermal camera assembly or a thermal camera for controlling or monitoring different kinds of industrial production processes. The present invention can be applied, for example, to checking the temperature of objects such as moulds in foundries, to checking the temperature change of metal undergoing a forming process in hot forming and rolling processes, to checking the temperature of welding material in inertia welding processes, to checking the temperature of molten metal in industrial furnace plants and also other production processes. [Background technology]

[0003] Known thermal cameras used in foundries are described, for example, in patent application W02004011891 A2 or patent application WO2016199057 A2 and comprise a thermal image detector (sensitive to infrared radiation) and a metallic protective casing which contains the thermal image detector and protects it both mechanically and thermally.

[0004] The protective casing has a detection window that is closed by a transparent screen and located over the lens of the thermal image detector, allowing the thermal image detector to view outside the casing. A shutter is hinged to the exterior of the casing. The shutter rotates from an open position that does not cover the detection window to a closed position that covers the detection window. A pneumatic actuator controls the position of the shutter so that it is open only long enough to capture a thermographic image or recording.

[0005] The protective casing includes a compressed air cooling system that introduces a flow of compressed air into the protective casing. Preferably, the cooling system is provided with a vortex tube (i.e. a Ranque-Hilsch tube) arranged outside the protective casing. The vortex tube is capable of separating the high-pressure fluid into two jets with significantly different temperatures. The jet with the highest temperature is directed towards the outside of the protective casing and the cooler jet is directed towards the inside of the protective casing. Also arranged inside the protective casing are one or more sensors and one or more actuators that contribute to the operation of the thermal camera.

[0006] Thus, known thermal cameras of the above mentioned type require pneumatic connections for the compressed air supply and electrical wiring, which transmit the power (e.g. necessary to power the thermal image detector and any sensors and actuators) and also the signals in both directions (i.e. from the thermal camera and sensors to the remote controller and from the remote controller to the thermal camera and actuators). Such electrical wiring requires particularly thick multi-pole cables (e.g. with a diameter close to 30 mm), which are difficult to run in factories such as foundries, due to the presence of multiple close obstacles that force the multi-pole cables to bend into bends with small radii of curvature. Each component (sensor and / or actuator) contained in the thermal camera is individually connected to the remote controller via a dedicated electrical connection for power supply and signal transmission. Therefore, the thickness of the cables making all the connections cannot be reduced to overcome the difficulties in running the cables. The use of thick multi-pole cables entails the use of equally bulky electrical connectors to connect the cables to the thermal camera. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a thermal camera and a control system and method for controlling an industrial production process which do not suffer from the above mentioned drawbacks and at the same time are easy and economical to produce and / or implement.

[0008] The present invention provides a thermal camera assembly (or thermal camera) according to the subject matter claimed in the accompanying claims, and a control system comprising said thermal camera assembly. The present invention also provides a method for controlling an industrial production process in an industrial production environment comprising a thermal camera assembly according to the subject matter claimed in the accompanying claims. The claims describe embodiments of the invention and form an integral part of this specification.

[0009] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show non-limiting examples of embodiments. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a thermal camera according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the thermal camera of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the thermal camera of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view of the thermal camera of FIG. 1 with a portion of the protective casing removed. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a side view of the thermal camera of FIG. 1 with a portion of the protective casing removed. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] In the accompanying drawings, reference number 1 designates a thermal camera assembly or thermal camera 1 as a whole.

[0012] The thermal camera 1 comprises a protective casing 2 made of metal, which may be, for example, a parallelepiped. The protective casing 2 has six walls: a top wall and a bottom wall, which are parallel and opposite to each other, two side walls, which are parallel and opposite to each other, and a front wall and a rear wall, which are parallel and opposite to each other. The top wall, the bottom wall and the two side walls form a tubular body with two opposite open ends, to which the front wall and the rear wall are attached and locked by respective screws. The parallelepiped shape of the protective casing 2 allows the arrangement of the components inside the protective casing 2 to be optimized by minimizing the internal free space and thus the external dimensions of the protective casing 2.

[0013] Although the parallelepiped shape is particularly advantageous in terms of overall dimensions, the protective casing 2 can also have a different shape, for example a cylindrical shape.

[0014] The thermal camera 1 comprises several internal components of different types arranged inside a protective casing 2, which will be described in more detail below. The thermal camera 1 comprises a thermal image detector 3 (partially visible in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5). The thermal image detector 3 is accommodated inside the protective casing 2 and is provided with a lens 4, via which a thermographic image is acquired. The thermal image detector 3 provides an image and / or a thermographic recording showing a temperature map of the surface towards which the thermal image detector 3 faces, in particular providing data for generating such an image and / or recording. Typically, the spectral range of the thermal image detector 3 is SW (short wave infrared, suitable for measuring high temperatures), although the spectral range of the thermal image detector 3 may of course be different. According to a possible embodiment, the thermal image detector 3 may comprise a sensitive element of the flat matrix microbolometer type.

[0015] The thermal image detector 3 can be a device known per se, for example a commercially available thermographic camera.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the protective casing 2 has a detection window 5 that is closed by a transparent screen 6 (usually made of germanium glass). The detection window 5 is typically arranged to coincide with the lens 4 of the thermal image detector 3, or in any case, so that the thermal image detector 3 can "see" outside the protective casing 2. According to a preferred embodiment, a shutter 7 is hinged to the exterior of the protective casing 2. The shutter 7 rotates between an open position (shown in the accompanying drawings) in which the shutter 7 does not cover the detection window 5, and a closed position (not shown) in which the shutter 7 covers the detection window 5. According to a preferred embodiment, an electric motor 8 (visible in FIGS. 4 and 5) is housed inside the protective casing 2 and is mechanically connected to the shutter 7 (if necessary, a mechanical transmission that reduces rotation can be placed between the two) to move the shutter 7 between the open and closed positions. The electric motor 8 represents one of the actuators arranged in the protective casing 2 of the thermal camera 1.

[0017] The thermal camera 1 comprises control electronics, in particular a control unit 9 (illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 6), which manages the operation of the thermal camera assembly 1. The control unit 9 is integrated into the protective casing 2 and is connected to the thermal image detector 3 in order to receive thermographic images and / or recordings and to transmit them external to the thermal camera 1. According to the illustrated preferred embodiment, the control unit 9 is arranged inside the protective casing 2. In particular, the control unit 9 drives the electric motor 8 in order to open the shutter 7 for the time strictly necessary to obtain a thermographic image or recording. As shown in Fig. 1, the control unit 9 communicates with (sends information to and receives information from) an external controller, or remote controller 10 (i.e. separate and independent of the thermal camera 1). The control unit 9 is connected to the remote controller 10 by a single electric cable 11 for the purpose of power supply and digital transmission of information. The electric cable 11 is connected to an electric connector 12. An electrical connector 12 is mounted across the rear wall of the protective casing 2 to provide electrical connection inside the protective casing 2 .

[0018] The thermal camera 1 is therefore arranged to communicate with the outside world by digital transmission of data carried out via the control unit 9. The control unit 9 is also arranged to receive a power supply transmitted through an electrical cable 11 and distribute it to the internal components of the thermal camera 1. The control unit 9 then controls the power supply of the thermal image detector 3.

[0019] According to the representation in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 , the control unit 9 comprises, for example, a printed circuit board 13 mounted on the bottom wall of the protective casing 2 .

[0020] According to the preferred embodiment shown, a damping element 14 (a vibration damper that damps vibrations from being transmitted from the protective casing 2 to the printed circuit board 13) is provided between the printed circuit board 13 and the bottom wall of the protective casing 2.

[0021] The thermal camera 1 comprises a temperature sensor 15 (schematically shown in FIG. 4 ), which is connected to the control unit 9 and measures the temperature value inside the protective casing 2. According to a preferred embodiment, the temperature sensor 15 is integrated into the control unit 9, i.e. the temperature sensor 15 is mounted on a printed circuit board 13 of the control unit 9. As will be explained in more detail below, in a preferred embodiment, the control unit 9 monitors the temperature inside the casing 2 by means of the temperature sensor 15 and regulates it by acting on the cooling system 21 if necessary so that the temperature value does not exceed a predefined threshold value. That is, the control unit 9 is configured to act on the cooling system (21) via a command to one or more actuators. More specifically, the control unit 9 acts on the cooling system 21 depending on a signal received from the temperature sensor 15. Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, the control unit 9 is configured to switch off the thermal image detector 3 (i.e. to cut off the power supply to the thermal image detector 3) in an emergency, i.e. when the temperature inside the protective casing 2 exceeds a predefined threshold value. Thus, if the temperature inside the protective casing 2 cannot be properly corrected and reaches a too high value, the thermal image detector 3 is "protected" (as far as possible) by avoiding further heat generation due to the Joule effect inside the thermal image detector 3. Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, the control unit 9 is configured to send an alarm signal to the external controller 10 if the temperature inside the protective casing 2 exceeds a predefined threshold. In other words, the control unit 9 informs the external controller 10 of the abnormal situation and, if necessary, requests action by an operator (e.g. if the abnormal situation is too serious or lasts too long).

[0022] The thermal camera 1 also comprises a humidity sensor 16, which is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 4. The humidity sensor 16 is connected to the control unit 9 and measures the humidity value inside the protective casing 2. According to a preferred embodiment, the humidity sensor 16 is integrated into the control unit 9, i.e., the humidity sensor 16 is mounted on the printed circuit board 13 of the control unit 9. Excessive humidity inside the protective casing 2 is harmful as it may cause condensation, which may fog the lens 4 of the thermal image detector 3, damage electronic components, and lead to oxidation of metal components over time. According to a preferred embodiment, the control unit 9 is configured to send an alarm signal to the external controller 10 if the humidity inside the protective casing 2 exceeds a predefined threshold. In other words, the control unit 9 informs the external controller 10 of an abnormal situation and, if necessary, requests an action by an operator (e.g., if the abnormal situation is too serious or lasts too long).

[0023] As shown in Figure 5, the thermal camera 1 includes a compressed air distributor 17 which receives a flow of compressed air via a pipe 18 disposed inside the protective casing 2 and which is connected to a pneumatic connector 19 (shown in Figures 1 and 3). The pneumatic connector 19 is mounted across the rear wall of the protective casing 2 and is connected to a compressed air source by pneumatic wiring.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, a pressure sensor 20 is provided. The pressure sensor 20 is preferably arranged in the compressed air distributor 17 and measures the pressure value of the compressed air entering the compressed air distributor 17 (i.e. entering the protective casing 2). Preferably, the control unit 9 is connected to the pressure sensor 20, reads the pressure value of the compressed air entering the compressed air distributor 17 and sends an alarm signal to the external controller 10 if the pressure value exceeds a predefined maximum threshold and / or is lower than a predefined minimum threshold (i.e. if the pressure is too high or too low). In other words, the control unit 9 informs the external controller 10 of an abnormal situation and, if necessary, requests an action by an operator (e.g. if the abnormal situation is too serious or lasts too long).

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5, as described above, a compressed air cooling system 21 is provided. The compressed air cooling system 21 is entirely arranged inside the protective casing 2 and introduces a flow of compressed air into the protective casing 2 to reduce its temperature. The control unit 9 controls the flow of compressed air towards the cooling system 21. More specifically, the compressed air distributor 17 comprises a solenoid valve 22. The solenoid valve 22 is controlled by the control unit 9 to regulate the supply of compressed air to the cooling system 21. That is to say, by opening and closing the solenoid valve 22, the control unit 9 increases or decreases the action performed by the cooling system 21 of cooling the internal volume of the protective casing 2. In a preferred embodiment, the control unit 9 measures the value of the temperature inside the protective casing 2 by means of the temperature sensor 15 and thereby controls the solenoid valve 22 (which constitutes an actuator) depending on the temperature value inside the protective casing 2. In other words, the control unit 9 is connected to the temperature sensor 15 to read the value of the physical quantity (temperature) and is connected to the actuator (which constitutes the solenoid valve 22) to control the actuator depending on the value of the physical quantity (temperature).

[0026] According to one embodiment, the control unit 9 acts as a simple switch (with a certain hysteresis) opening the solenoid valve 22 (i.e. turning the cooling system 21 "on") when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 is higher than a certain threshold and closing the solenoid valve 22 (i.e. turning the cooling system 21 "off") when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 is lower than the certain threshold. According to a more advanced embodiment, the control unit 9 partially performs the opening / closing of the solenoid valve 22 depending on the difference between the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 and the certain threshold.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the compressed air cooling system 21 comprises a vortex tube 23 (i.e. a Ranque-Flilsch tube). The vortex tube 23 receives a compressed air flow at an inlet 24 (connected via a pipe 25 to the solenoid valve 22 of the compressed air distributor 17) and separates the compressed air flow into a warm and a cold part. The warm part goes to a first compressed air outlet 26 facing the outside of the protective casing 2. The cold part goes to a second compressed air outlet 27 facing the inside of the protective casing 2 (particularly towards the thermal image detector 3, which is the component that needs the most cooling). According to a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the outlet 26 of the vortex tube 23 passes through the rear wall of the protective casing 2 to the outside. In other words, the vortex tube 23 allows the high pressure fluid entering from the inlet 24 to be separated into two separate jets with very different temperatures. That is, the hottest jet passes through the outlet 26 (leading to the outside via the rear wall of the protective casing 2) to the outside of the protective casing 2. Meanwhile, the cooler jet passes through outlet 27 (facing the thermal image detector 3 ) towards the inside of the protective casing 2 .

[0028] A preferred embodiment, partially shown in Fig. 5, comprises a compressed air cleaning circuit, which receives compressed air from a compressed air distributor 17 and generates compressed air jets on the transparent screen 6 outside the protective casing 2 to keep it clean. The compressed air distributor 17 comprises a solenoid valve 28 (constituting an actuator), which receives compressed air from the pipe 18 and directs it to a further pipe 29, which is the end of the compressed air cleaning circuit. The solenoid valve 28 is controlled by a control unit 9, which opens the solenoid valve 28 (i.e. activates the compressed air cleaning circuit) every time the shutter 7 is opened. According to a possible embodiment, the compressed air cleaning circuit comprises an annular duct with openings or air passage ducts arranged all around the detection window 5. The openings or air passage ducts extend radially to generate as many compressed air jets as possible towards the center of the detection window 5.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6, the thermal image detector 3 is mounted on the bottom wall of the protective casing 2 and a damping element 30 (i.e. a vibration damper that damps vibrations from being transmitted from the protective casing 2 to the thermal image detector 3) is arranged between them. The damping element 30 supporting the thermal image detector 3 is different (in size and / or composition) from the damping element 14 supporting the printed circuit board 13 of the control unit 9. This is because the thermal image detector 3 has a much larger mass than the printed circuit board 13 and because the thermal image detector 3 has a different sensitivity to vibrations than the printed circuit board 13. According to a preferred embodiment, the thermal image detector 3 is arranged (mounted) on a support such as a metal cradle 31 fixed to the bottom wall of the protective casing 2 and a damping element is arranged between them.

[0030] The thermal camera 1 comprises at least one inertial sensor 32, preferably a three-axis acceleration sensor, i.e. an accelerometer (schematically shown in FIG. 4). This inertial sensor 32 is connected to the control unit 9 and measures the values ​​of the accelerations to which the protective casing 2 is subjected. According to a preferred embodiment, the accelerometer 32 is integrated in the control unit 9. More specifically, the accelerometer 32 is mounted on the printed circuit board 13 of the control unit 9. According to a preferred embodiment, the control unit 9 is configured to send an alarm signal to the external controller 10 if all or any of the instantaneous accelerations to which the protective casing 2 is subjected exceed a predefined threshold value. In other words, the control unit 9 informs the external controller 10 of an abnormal situation and, if necessary, requests an action by an operator (e.g. if the abnormal situation is too serious or lasts too long). In particular, the vibrations detected may be caused, for example, by impacts suffered by the protective casing 2 because the latter is fastened in a non-optimal (i.e. "too loose") manner to its support, or by movements of the support to which the thermal camera is fixed during normal operation in the factory.

[0031] According to a possible embodiment, the control unit 9 is arranged to process the signals of the inertial sensor 32 in a known manner to obtain information regarding the overall spatial arrangement of the protective casing 2 and the thermal camera 1. Such information can be used, for example, to restore the correct spatial arrangement of the protective casing 2 after an impact or when refitting the protective casing 2 after it has been removed, for example to carry out a maintenance intervention. The information regarding the spatial arrangement of the protective casing 2 can also be used to send an alarm signal to the external controller 10, which signals an unwanted movement of the thermal camera 1 with respect to its initial position.

[0032] Instead of or in addition to an accelerometer, a different type of inertial sensor, such as a gyroscope, can be provided to detect the spatial orientation of the protective casing 2 .

[0033] According to a possible embodiment, the thermal camera 1 is equipped with a position sensor 33 (schematically shown in FIG. 4) that directly or indirectly detects the position of the shutter 7. For example, the position sensor 33 can be coupled to the electric motor 8 (to detect the position of the shaft of the electric motor 8 mechanically connected to the shutter 7) as shown in FIG. 4, or can be mounted on the front wall of the protective casing 2 (to directly detect the position of the shutter 7). The control unit 9 is connected to the position sensor 33 to read the position of the shutter 7 and to send an alarm signal to the external controller 10 if the position of the shutter 7 does not change within a presumed time frame upon starting of the electric motor 8. For example, the position sensor 33 can consist of a pair of sensors that detect two different positions of the shutter 7 (closed or open).

[0034] In summary, the thermal camera comprises one or more sensors disposed in the protective casing 2 to provide signals representative of a physical quantity or condition. These sensors include a temperature sensor 15, a humidity sensor 16, a pressure sensor 20, a position sensor 33 and an accelerometer 32.

[0035] Furthermore, the thermal camera 1 comprises one or more actuators, such as solenoid valves 22 and 28 and an electric motor 8 , which are also arranged in the protective casing 2 .

[0036] The control unit 9 is connected to the sensors, as well as the thermal image detector 3, in order to receive the signals they provide, and to the actuators in order to control them depending on the signals received from the sensors.

[0037] As mentioned above, the control unit 9 controls the power supply of the internal components of the thermal camera, and thus the thermal image detector 3, the sensors and the actuators. According to a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the protective casing 2 is provided with thermal insulation. The inner surface of the walls of the protective casing 2 (all walls or at least some walls) is provided with thermal insulation. For example, the metallic walls of the protective casing 2 may have chambers inside that remain empty or are partially or completely filled with thermal insulation. This increases the thermal efficiency of the protective casing 2 and the thermal camera 1 overall.

[0038] From the above, it is clear that the external controller 10 communicates only with the control unit 9, which is entirely located inside the protective casing 2 and in any case in the preferred embodiment is integrated into the protective casing 2. The control unit 9 is the only part of the thermal camera 1 that communicates with the outside world (i.e. with the external controller 10). The thermal image detector 3 is therefore exclusively connected only to the control unit 9, which is responsible for sorting the digital data and for transmitting the digital data from and to the thermal image detector 3. In other words, the control unit 9 (i.e. the control electronics of the thermal camera 1), which is connected to the external controller 10, is responsible for sorting the digital data and for transmitting the digital data from and to the thermal image detector 3.

[0039] In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the control unit 9 is located entirely inside the protective casing 2 and is mounted to the bottom wall of the protective casing 2. According to an alternative embodiment (not shown), the control unit 9 may be located inside the thermal image detector 3. More specifically, the control unit 9 may be integrated into the electronics of the thermal image detector 3 (also in this embodiment the control unit 9 is located entirely inside the protective casing 2).

[0040] The control unit 9, which may be defined as "intelligent", may be configured to receive information and / or data from the components of the thermal camera 1 (thermal image detector 3, sensors, actuators, etc.), process such information and / or data autonomously, and directly control the components of the thermal camera 1 while only sending report and / or alarm signals to the external controller 10 in response to signals received from the sensors. Alternatively, the control unit 9 may only collect information and / or data from the internal components of the thermal camera, send them to the external controller 10, and receive instructions from the external controller 10 on how to control the components. Intermediate solutions are also possible, where the control unit 9 directly manages and controls the internal components in response to some signals, while seeking instructions from the external controller 10 on how to control the internal components in response to other signals.

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment, the control unit 9 is able to autonomously process the thermographic images and / or recordings collected by the thermal image detector 3 and, after processing, transmit the thermographic images and / or recordings to an external controller. Thus, unlike known thermal cameras, which must rely on an external processor to process the thermographic images and / or recordings, the thermal camera 1 of the present invention is able to perform processing operations in an autonomous manner and can be used in industrial plants without the need for an external processor and can be integrated into industrial production processes. The present invention also relates to a control method for controlling an industrial production process in an industrial production environment by means of a thermal camera assembly, the thermal camera assembly comprising a protective casing with a window closed by a transparent screen, the protective casing housing a thermal image detector; one or more sensors; one or more actuators; and an embedded control unit directly connected to the thermal image detector, the sensors and the actuators. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of positioning the thermal camera assembly relative to a target in the industrial production environment towards which the thermal camera assembly needs to be pointed, obtaining by the thermal image detector at least one thermographic image or recording of a part of an object or material corresponding to the target, which part is used or processed during the industrial production process, transmitting the thermographic image and / or recording to the embedded control unit, processing the thermographic image or recording in the embedded control unit to obtain at least one processed thermographic image and / or recording, transmitting the processed thermographic image and / or recording externally by digital transmission of data performed only via the control unit, and using the processed thermographic image and / or recording to control at least a part of the industrial production process.

[0042] The control method according to the invention can be applied, for example, to checking the temperature of objects such as moulds in foundries, to checking the temperature change of materials, more particularly metals, undergoing forming processes in hot forming and rolling processes, to checking the temperature of welding material in inertia welding processes, to checking the temperature of molten metal in industrial furnace shops and also other production processes.

[0043] The embodiments described herein can be combined with each other without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] The thermal camera 1 described above offers several advantages.

[0045] First of all, the electric cable 11 (a single cable for power supply and digital transmission of data) has a relatively small diameter, i.e. a relatively small thickness. As a result, it can be bent into bends with a small radius of curvature, which makes operation in the presence of several closely spaced obstacles very simple. Furthermore, the use of the thermal camera 1 in factories, such as moving the thermal camera, is very easy. In other words, the single digital connection between the external controller 10 and the thermal camera 1 (i.e. the control unit 9 of the thermal camera 1) allows the diameter of the electric cable 11 to be significantly smaller, which allows for smaller radii of curvature and simplifies the installation and moving operation of the thermal camera 1. Furthermore, the small size of the electric cable 11 allows the use of electric connectors 12 with very small dimensions. Furthermore, the electric cable 11 can be divided into sections connected to each other by releasable connectors. In this case, only the parts of the electric cable 11 exposed to the most harsh environmental conditions need to be protected by a special sheath, while the parts of the electric cable 11 that are less exposed to harsh environmental conditions do not need to be provided with a protective sheath.

[0046] The results and advantages obtained with the thermal camera 1 according to the invention are possible because the control unit 9 is integrated into the protective casing 2, for example is located completely inside the protective casing 2, and is able to manage and control all parts of the thermal camera 1 and the communication with the external controller 10. Configured in this way, the control unit 9 is also able to control the various parts of the thermal camera 1 individually, i.e. without the need for external commands provided by the external controller 10.

[0047] In the thermal camera 1 described above, the values ​​measured by the various sensors can be utilized locally to generate alarm signals or can be transmitted to an external controller 10 for diagnostic and data recording functions.

[0048] The above-mentioned thermal camera 1 measures the pressure of the inlet compressed air by means of a pressure sensor 20, thereby ensuring that the pneumatic operation is always proper and effective.

[0049] The thermal camera 1 described above measures the humidity by means of a humidity sensor 16 to make sure that no moisture gets inside the protective casing 2 due to the pneumatic system or due to leaks in the protective casing 2 .

[0050] The above-mentioned thermal camera 1 checks the stresses to which the thermal camera 1 is subjected during a normal operating cycle by measuring the acceleration, more specifically the dynamic acceleration, to which the thermal imager is subjected by means of at least one inertial sensor, for example a three-axis acceleration sensor.

[0051] The above-mentioned thermal camera 1 monitors the spatial arrangement of the thermal camera 1 by measuring the acceleration, more specifically the static acceleration, to which the thermal camera is subjected by at least one inertial sensor, for example a three-axis acceleration sensor and / or a gyro sensor, and checks its correct fastening and position change due to loss of clamping force in the support or due to an operator's collision with or improper operation of the machine during operation. The inertial sensor can be constructed, for example, by MEMS technology.

[0052] The thermal camera 1 described above measures the temperature by means of a temperature sensor 15. The thermal conditions inside the protective casing 2 are thus regulated, and the cooling system 21 is effectively adjusted to ensure that the thermal image detector 3 is not subjected to excessive temperatures. Due to the presence of a shutter operated by an electric motor, the thermal camera 1 can also work without a pneumatic connection if the environmental conditions are good. The consumption of compressed air can also be reduced. If the environmental conditions are good, the thermal camera 1 does not actually have to have a cooling system 21. Since the use of compressed air generally involves high energy consumption, the absence of a pneumatic connection can provide economic as well as ecological advantages.

[0053] Due to the cooling system 21 arranged entirely inside the protective casing 2 and the presence of thermal insulation in the protective casing 2, the consumption of compressed air used for cooling can be reduced. The arrangement of vibration dampers (damping elements 14 and 30) improves the resistance to external stresses. Besides the above-mentioned damping elements 14 and 30, additional and / or separate vibration dampers can be provided to protect other "sensitive" parts of the thermal camera 1, for example solenoid valves or electric motors. The invention also relates to a control system for monitoring and controlling industrial production processes in an industrial production environment, comprising the above-mentioned thermal camera 1 and power supply and processing means. Such power supply and processing means comprise a control unit 9 integrated in the thermal camera 1 and an external controller 10.

[0054] As mentioned above, according to a preferred embodiment, the control unit 9, and more generally the thermal camera 1, is connected to an external controller 10 by a single electrical cable 11 for power supply and digital transmission of data.

Claims

1. A thermal camera assembly (1), comprising: - a thermal imaging detector (3) providing a thermographic image and / or recording; - a protective casing (2) housing said thermal image detector (3), said protective casing (2) including a window (5) closed by a transparent screen (6); - one or more sensors (15; 16; 20; 32; 33) arranged in said protective casing (2) providing a signal representative of a physical quantity or condition; - one or more actuators (8; 22; 28) arranged in said protective casing (2), - said thermal camera assembly (1) comprises a control unit (9) integrated in said protective casing (2), said control unit (9) being directly connected to said thermal image detector (3) in order to receive said thermographic images and / or recordings and to transmit them to the outside; said control unit (9) being directly connected to said sensor(s) (15; 16; 20; 32; 33) in order to receive said corresponding signals; said control unit (9) being directly connected to said actuator(s) (8; 22; 28) in order to control said actuator(s) in response to said received signals, - said thermal camera assembly (1) is adapted to communicate with the outside world by digital transmission of data carried out exclusively via said control unit (9); A thermal camera assembly (1).

2. a single electrical cable (11) for digital transmission of said data and for power supply of said thermal camera assembly (1); A thermal camera assembly (1) as claimed in claim 1.

3. said digital transmission of data comprising transmitting an alarm signal in response to said signal received from said sensor(s) (15; 16; 20; 32; 33); A thermal camera assembly (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The control unit (9) controls the power supply of the thermal image detector (3). A thermal camera assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The thermal camera assembly (1) comprises a cooling system (21); The control unit (9) is configured to operate the cooling system (21) by controlling one or more of the actuators (22). A thermal camera assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. The cooling system (21) is entirely disposed inside the protective casing (2). A thermal camera assembly (1) according to claim 5.

7. The sensor or sensors include a temperature sensor (15); A thermal camera assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. The control unit (9) operates the cooling system (21) in response to a signal received from the temperature sensor (15). A thermal camera assembly (1) according to claim 7 when dependent on claim 5 or claim 6.

9. the thermal camera assembly (1) comprising a damping element (30) disposed between an internal component of the thermal camera assembly (1) and the protective casing (2); The internal components include the thermal image detector (3). A thermal camera assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. At least a part of the protective casing (2) is provided with a heat insulating portion. A thermal camera assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. The control unit (9) is arranged inside the protective casing (2). A thermal camera assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. said control unit (9) controls the power supply of said sensor(s) (15; 16; 20; 32; 33) and said actuator(s) (8; 22; 28); A thermal camera assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

13. The thermal camera assembly (1) further comprises at least one inertial sensor (32) connected to the control unit (9); The inertial sensor (32) measures acceleration values ​​to which the protective casing (2) is subjected. A thermal camera assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

14. At least one said inertial sensor (32) is integrated into said control unit (9); A thermal camera assembly (1) according to claim 13.

15. At least one of the inertial sensors (32) is a three-axis acceleration sensor. A thermal camera assembly (1) according to claim 13 or 14.

16. the control unit (9) is configured to send an alarm signal if all or any of the instantaneous acceleration values ​​experienced by the protective casing (2) exceed a threshold value; A thermal camera assembly (1) according to any one of claims 13 to 15.

17. the control unit (9) being configured to process signals provided by at least one of the inertial sensors (32) to obtain information regarding the spatial arrangement of the protective casing (2). A thermal camera assembly (1) according to any one of claims 13 to 16.

18. the control unit (9) being configured to send an alarm signal indicative of an unwanted displacement of the protective casing (2) relative to its initial position; A thermal camera assembly (1) according to claim 17.

19. said control unit (9) autonomously processes the thermographic images and / or recordings received from said thermal image detector (3) and, after processing, transmits said thermographic images and / or recordings to the outside. A thermal camera assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

20. 1. A control system for monitoring and controlling an industrial production process in an industrial production environment, comprising: - a thermal camera assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 19, - power supply and processing means connected to said thermal camera assembly (1), characterised in that the power supply and processing means comprise a control unit (9) and an external controller (10) in communication with the control unit (9), Control system.

21. A control method for controlling an industrial production process in an industrial production environment by means of a thermal camera assembly (1), comprising: The thermal camera assembly (1) comprises a protective casing (2) including a window (5) closed by a transparent screen (6), the protective casing (2) housing a thermal image detector (3); one or more sensors (15; 16; 20; 32; 33); one or more actuators (8; 22; 28); and an embedded control unit (9) directly connected to the thermal image detector (3), to the sensor(s) (15; 16; 20; 32; 33) and to the actuator(s) (8; 22; 28), The method comprises: - positioning the thermal camera assembly relative to a target in the industrial production environment at which the thermal camera assembly needs to be pointed; acquiring, by said thermal image detector (3), at least one thermographic image or recording of a part of an object or material corresponding to said target, said part being used or processed during said industrial production process; - transmitting at least one said thermographic image and / or recording to said embedded control unit; - processing at least one said thermographic image or recording in said embedded control unit to obtain at least one processed thermographic image and / or recording; - transmitting at least one of said processed thermographic images and / or recordings to the outside by digital transmission of data carried out exclusively via said integrated control unit (9); - using at least one of said processed thermographic images and / or records to control at least a part of said industrial production process; A method for providing the above.

22. a further step of receiving via said embedded control unit a signal sent by said sensor(s) and controlling via said embedded control unit said actuator(s). The checking method according to claim 21.

23. The thermal camera assembly (1) includes at least one inertial sensor (32) connected to the embedded control unit (9); The method comprises the further step of measuring a value of the acceleration to which the thermal camera assembly (1) is subjected, 23. The checking method according to claim 21 or 22.

24. a further step of processing a signal provided by at least one of said inertial sensors (32) to obtain information regarding a spatial arrangement of said thermal camera assembly (1) based on said signal. The checking method according to claim 23.

25. and generating an alarm signal if the value of the acceleration experienced by the thermal camera assembly (1) exceeds a predetermined threshold. A checking method according to any one of claims 23 and 24.

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