1213 results about "Thermographic imaging" patented technology

A thermographic test method locally resolves detection and identification of defects near the surface in a test object. A surface area of the test object is heated up. A series of thermographic images following one after another at a time interval is recorded within a heat propagation phase, each image representing a local temperature distribution in a surface region of the test object recorded by the image. Positionally correctly assigned temperature profiles are determined from the images, each positionally correctly assigned temperature profile being assigned to the same measuring region of the test object surface. Variations over time of temperature values are determined from the temperature profiles for a large number of measuring positions of the measuring region. These variations are evaluated on the basis of at least one evaluation criterion indicative of the heat flow in the measuring region.

What is disclosed is a system and method for monitoring respiration of a subject or subject of interest using a thermal imaging system with single or multiple spectral bands set to a temperature range of a facial region of that person. Temperatures of extremities of the head and face are used to locate facial features in the captured thermal images, i.e., nose and mouth, which are associated with respiration. The RGB signals obtained from the camera are plotted to obtain a respiration pattern. From the respiration pattern, a rate of respiration is obtained. The system includes display and communication interfaces wherein alerts can be activated if the respiration rate falls outside a level of acceptability. The teachings hereof find their uses in an array of devices such as, for example, devices which monitor the respiration of an infant to signal the onset of a respiratory problem or failure.

A multicolor imaging system is described wherein at least two, and preferably three, different image-fonning layers of a thermal imaging member are addressed at least partially independently by a thermal printhead or printheads from the same surface of the imaging member by controlling the temperature of the thermal printhead(s) and the time thermal energy is applied to the image-forming layers. Each color of the thermal imaging member can be printed alone or in selectable proportion to the other color(s). Novel thermal imaging members are also described.

An improved thermal imaging camera system is adapted to be releasably mounted to a protective helmet typically worn by a firefighter or other emergency personnel at an incident site. The present system comprises a thermal imaging camera assembly having a single eyepiece display flexibly coupled thereto, a protective housing for the camera assembly and a specially adapted mounting bracket assembly for releasably stationing the camera assembly and its protective housing in a central position on the helmet. The camera assembly further includes and integrates a miniaturized infrared camera unit with associated battery power supply and control electronics for high resolution image production. The single eyepiece display is flexibly coupled to the camera assembly and its housing by means of an articulated arm that accommodates positioning of the display in front of either the left or right eye of the user-wearer with or without an air mask or other protective interface being worn over the face of the user-wearer. The mounting bracket assembly includes a T-shaped base bracket having a rectangular head adapted to be fixed in a level position on the front of the helmet and a C-shaped upper bracket attached to the bottom of the housing and formed to slidingly engage the head of the base bracket thereby holding the camera system in proper position on the helmet. Spring-loaded detents on opposite sides of the head of the base bracket serve to lock the bracket assembly together by engaging the sides of the upper bracket and further allow manual disengagement therefrom so that the camera system may be quickly removed from the helmet and rapidly deployed on another similarly equipped helmet.

A system for determining presence or absence of one or more thermally distinguishable objects in a living body is disclosed. The system comprises a combined image generator configured for combining non-thermographic three-dimensional data of a three-dimensional tissue region in the living body with thermographic two-dimensional data of the tissue region so as to generate three-dimensional temperature data associated with the three-dimensional tissue region. In a preferred embodiment the combined image generator comprises a computing device configured for calculating the location and / or orientation of the thermally distinguishable object in the three-dimensional tissue region, based on the three-dimensional temperature data.

The invention is a video frequency real-time displaying control device for infrared heat imaging image and visible image. The device includes a computer, an infrared heat imaging device, visible camera whose field angle can match with it; there has a video collecting card on the interface slot of the computer, the infrared image device and the visible camera are fixed on the same platform; there stores control, temperature measuring, image processing and displaying procedure model, it can remote control the platform, the infrared heat device and the visible light camera, they can be rotated synchronously, the field angles of the posterior two match, and makes the heat imaging image and the visible light image can coincided with the coordinate of the computer monitor. The invention can carry on real-time memorization, displaying, imaging, and playbacks the heat imaging image and the visible light image, it also can display the temperature valve and position coordinates of the object, it also has merits of infrared imaging and visible light image.

A method for continuously monitoring the working condition of a heat recovery steam generator (“HRSG”) using infrared thermography, comprising the steps of identifying target locations inside the HRSG, positioning one or more infrared cameras to continuously monitor and record the temperature at each target location, generating continuous thermographic images corresponding to selected components and locations at each target locations, comparing the continuous thermographic images to corresponding, stored base line images and generating a set of comparative data reports in real time for each target location in order to predict the life span or potential failure of HRSG components.

The invention provides a thermal imaging temperature monitoring device and a thermal imaging temperature monitoring system applying the same. The system comprises at least one thermal imaging temperature monitoring device, at least one signal analysis equipment and a data management platform, wherein the device is used for acquiring infrared radiation and visual light video images in a visible monitoring region, and comprises an infrared thermal imager, a visible camera, a holder and a temperature sensor; the infrared thermal imager and the visible camera are arranged on the holder; the temperature sensor is used for correcting drifting of the infrared thermal imager caused by environment temperature changes; the signal analysis equipment is used for analyzing a video signal acquired by the thermal imaging temperature monitoring device to acquire position and temperature information of each target in the monitoring region; and the data management platform is used for providing information of a monitored object for monitor staff and accepting a command of the monitor staff. The thermal imaging temperature monitoring device and the device can monitor the temperature of a human body in a large scale range of a public place, realize non-contact, rapidness and no restriction of flowing of monitored staff.

Thermographic or photothermographic image recording elements comprising (a) a reducible silver salt, (b) a reducing agent, (c) a binder, (d) a specific phthalazine derivative and (e) an organic acid compound experience a minimized drop of image density when stored under warm humid conditions.

Systems and methods for detecting presence and movement of pests. Various embodiments of a pest detection system can be based on, for example, a beam-interrupt detector or a thermal imaging device. The beam-interrupt detection based system can provide functionalities such as counting of pests crossing a given beam. A plurality of such beams at different heights can also allow distinguishing different sized pests. The thermal imaging based detection system can provide functionalities such as tracking movement of pests. A recording can be triggered by detection of pest movement, thereby improving the efficiency of recording and reviewing information indicative of presence and movement of pests in a monitored area. Movement of pests can be monitored on a passive basis, or by providing a stimulus that induces movement.

A pulse controller device for controlling the excitation of a heat source used in thermographic imaging is disclosed. The pulse controller device comprises a power supply, a heat source coupled to the power supply, a device coupled to the power supply signaling the power supply to deliver electrical power to the heat source, a sensor for sensing the delivery of electrical power to the heat source, a flash duration module coupled to said sensor for measuring a duration of time, and a gate device coupled to said flash duration module for gating the electrical power utilized by the heat source. A method for thermographically evaluating a sample is also disclosed. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Described are methods and systems for providing improved defect detection and analysis using infrared thermography. Test vectors heat features of a device under test to produce thermal characteristics useful in identifying defects. The test vectors are timed to enhance the thermal contrast between defects and the surrounding features, enabling IR imaging equipment to acquire improved thermographic images. In some embodiments, a combination of AC and DC test vectors maximize power transfer to expedite heating, and therefore testing. Mathematical transformations applied to the improved images further enhance defect detection and analysis. Some defects produce image artifacts, or “defect artifacts,” that obscure the defects, rendering difficult the task of defect location. Some embodiments employ defect-location algorithms that analyze defect artifacts to precisely locate corresponding defects.

A method and apparatus of correcting thermally-induced field deformations of a lithographically exposed substrate, is presented herein. In one embodiment, the method includes exposing a pattern onto a plurality of fields of a substrate in accordance with pre-specified exposure information and measuring attributes of the fields to assess deformation of the fields induced by thermal effects of the exposing process. The method further includes determining corrective information based on the measured attributes, and adjusting the pre-specified exposure information, based on the corrective information, to compensate for the thermally-induced field deformations. Other embodiments include the use of predictive models to predict thermally-induced effects on the fields and thermographic imaging to determine temperature variations across a substrate.

A method for compiling thermographic data including obtaining data indicative of a monotonically changing characteristic of a specimen, sequencing the data or a surrogate of the data into a plurality of groups, categorizing, within each group, the frequency distribution of an attribute of the data or an attribute of said surrogate data, and compiling, from one or more groups, a collection of two or more of the frequency distributions.

Systems and methods for thermographically inspecting a composite material or honeycombed type structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a thermal heat source configured to be either removably coupled to or positioned proximate to the composite material to generate a localized thermal field in a selected area of the composite material. A thermal imaging device generates a visible image of the generated thermal field.

A thermographic infrared apparatus and method for seeing, and thus measuring, a foot inside of a shoe. The apparatus includes one or more thermographic instruments aimed at a base for capturing one or more thermographic images or fields of view of a shoe on the base and thus the heat transferred to the shoe from the foot. The apparatus further includes a display mounted above the base and aimed at the eye level of a person standing on the base such that the person can determine from the thermographic image how well the shoe or shoes fit. The method includes one or more of the steps of taking a thermal infrared image of a shoe on a foot, taking a thermal infrared image of a foot having no shoe thereon, taking a thermal infrared image of a shoe having no foot therein, taking a thermal infrared image from a first direction, taking a thermal infrared image from a second direction to capture surfaces hidden from the first direction, and then comparing one or more of the thermal infrared images. Other imaging methods for determining proper fit of a shoe include low dose x-ray, backscattering x-ray, microwave, acoustic, radio, and ultrasound imaging methods.

The invention relates to a therapeutic system comprising: a MR imaging unit arranged to acquire MR signals from a body (10) of a patient positioned in an examination volume, a thermal treatment unit (19, 20) for the deposition of thermal energy within tissue of the body (10). It is an object of the invention to enable continuous temperature monitoring based on MR thermometry even in a situation in which the focus of the thermal treatment is moved. To this end, the invention proposes that the system is arranged to perform the steps of: a) initiating thermal treatment by heating the tissue of the body (10) at the position of a focus within the examination volume, b) selective acquisition of MR signals from a first image plane (24), the position of the focus of the thermal treatment being located within the first image plane (24), c) reconstruction of a thermographic MR image from the MR signals acquired from the first image plane (24), d) computing a baseline thermographic MR image from the temperature distribution within at least one second image plane (25, 26, 27) being different from the first image plane (24), e) moving the focus of the thermal treatment to a new position within the examination volume, f) changing the position and / or orientation of the first image plane (24) corresponding to the new position of the focus of the thermal treatment, g) repeating steps b) and c), wherein the baseline thermographic MR image computed in step d) is used for thermographic image reconstruction in subsequent step c).

A thermal imaging paper having a laminate structure is disclosed. The laminate structure includes a thermal imaging heat sensitive substrate, an adhesive layer, and a polyfoam layer. In addition, a security feature such as an antenna and integrated circuit are provided in a position interposed between said adhesive layer and said thermal imaging heat sensitive substrate. The thermal imaging paper provides the combination of an effective thermal imaging paper product incorporating the benefits of a security feature such as a wireless memory device.

A pulse controller device for controlling the excitation of a heat source used in thermographic imaging is disclosed. The pulse controller device comprises a power supply, a heat source coupled to the power supply, a device coupled to the power supply signaling the power supply to deliver electrical power to the heat source, a sensor for sensing the delivery of electrical power to the heat source, a flash duration module coupled to said sensor for measuring a duration of time, and a gate device coupled to said flash duration module for gating the electrical power utilized by the heat source. A method for thermographically evaluating a sample is also disclosed.

A thermographic non-destructive inspection method of a structure, comprising the steps of: generating a modulated thermal wave in the direction of the structure; generating a temperature signal identifying a phase shift between the modulated thermal wave and a return thermal wave emitted from the structure; processing the temperature signal to obtain a first sub-signal related to the phase of the first harmonic of the temperature signal; identifying a first dimension of said defect as a function of the phase of the first harmonic of the temperature signal; calculating a first and a second intermediate parameter, ΔΦ1 for the first harmonic and ΔΦ2 for the third harmonic of the temperature signal, by calculating the difference, in degrees, between the phase value inside the zone with a defect and the phase value, absolute or mean of a plurality of points, of the undamaged zone close to the defect; and identifying a second dimension of the defect as a function of the first dimension and of the intermediate parameters ΔΦ1 and ΔΦ2.

A thermographic substrate assembly comprised of a colorant and a flexible substrate. This assembly also contains a thermosensitive layer, and the thermosensitive layer contains a binder, a multiplicity of hollow sphere organic pigments, and a thermal solvent.

The invention provides a temperature measurement method and device, electronic equipment and a computer readable storage medium and relates to the field of artificial intelligence. The method comprises steps of obtaining an image frame pair (comprising a visible light image and an infrared image collected at the same time) containing a target object through a visible light camera and a thermal imaging camera; arranging a black body in an image acquisition area of the thermal imaging camera; determining a measurement temperature of the target object based on the image frame pair; performing black body detection of the infrared image to obtain the black body detection result (including the position information of the black body in the infrared image); determining the measurement temperatureof the black body based on the detection result of the black body and the infrared image; and correcting the measured temperature of the target object according to the measured temperature of the black body and the preset temperature of the black body, and taking the corrected temperature as the temperature measurement result of the target object. The method is advantaged in that accuracy of temperature measurement can be effectively improved.

Material testing under variable heat and load while continuously monitoring crack formation is provided using an apparatus that permits thermal control somewhat uniformly over a conductive sample, while permitting a controlled load to be applied to the sample in tensional or flexural modes. Thermographic imaging of a sample in situ within a standard thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF) test rig or other heat and load test apparatus is used to detect and monitor cracks as they form. A 360° sample view is possible. Image analysis software may identify, count and / or characterize cracks. Thermographic images may be analyzed to determine a sample temperature, e.g. for temperature feedback control. Essentially passive thermography is used with an inductive heating coil that surrounds at least 60% of a length of the sample, with at least two windings, the windings having thickness and pitch so that at least half the sample is in view.

A method for identifying corrosion under insulation (CUI) in a structure comprises receiving thermographs from the structure using an infrared camera, applying filters to the thermograph using a first machine learning system, initially determining a CUI classification based on output from the filters, and validating the initial CUI classification by an inspection of the structure. The first machine learning system is trained using results of the validation. Outputs of the first machine learning system and additional structural and environmental data are fed into a second machine learning system that incorporates information from earlier states into current states. The second machine learning system is trained to identify CUI according to changes in the outputs of the first machine learning system and the additional data over time until a second threshold for CUI classification accuracy is reached. CUI is thereafter identified using the first and second machine learning systems in coordination.

A system for determining presence or absence of one or more thermally distinguishable objects in a living body is disclosed. The system comprises a combined image generator configured for combining non-thermographic three-dimensional data of a three-dimensional tissue region in the living body with thermographic two-dimensional data of the tissue region so as to generate three-dimensional temperature data associated with the three-dimensional tissue region. In a preferred embodiment the combined image generator comprises a computing device configured for calculating the location and / or orientation of the thermally distinguishable object in the three-dimensional tissue region, based on the three-dimensional temperature data.

There are described thermal imaging members and thermal imaging methods utilizing unsymmetrical rhodamine compounds. The rhodamine color-forming compounds exhibit a first color when in a crystalline form and a second color, different from the first color, when in an amorphous form.

The invention discloses an online thermal distribution image predicting method, and belongs to the technical field of fault detection and diagnosis. The online thermal distribution image predicting method is characterized by being a method for performing thermodynamic analysis on changes in heat distribution, giving a prediction and synthesizing a vivid heat distribution image through finite element analysis measures, digital image processing, thermodynamic theories and thermal imaging simulation based on an infrared imaging technology under the condition that heat source parameters are uncertain. According to the method, the thermal dynamic features within the heat distribution image are widely applied to the infrared imaging technology; and in the field of temperature monitoring and temperature prewarning, a temperature change trend is predicted, and even through dynamic numerical features in the heat distribution image, a temperature change characteristic in a future time domain is quantitatively given, so that the temperature prewarning time is further advanced, precious time is saved for equipment repair, the production safety is further ensured, considerable economic benefits are brought to an enterprise, and a certain contribution is made to the state development.