713 results about "Thermography" patented technology

Analysis of a vehicle is performed using multi-dimensional infrared image data acquired for the vehicle. A component of the vehicle can be identified within the infrared image data, and the infrared image data for the component can be analyzed to determine whether any condition(s) are present on the vehicle. One or more actions can be initiated in response to a determination that a particular condition is present. Additionally, visible image data can be used to supplement the infrared image data. Still further, infrared image data for similar components imaged concurrently with the component can be used to identify whether any condition(s) are present on the vehicle. Unlike prior art approaches in the rail industry, the analysis can be performed on rail vehicles within a classification yard.

A real-time thermal imaging apparatus and method includes multiple digital infrared cameras mounted to an automated composite material layup device to record digital infrared images of the composite material surface on a real-time basis during a composite material layup process. The digital infrared cameras are triggered periodically to produce digital images of the composite material. The digital image data is sent to an image analyzer which detects edges of and anomalies in the composite material and generates alarm and other process control signals. The image analyzer also aggregates the digital images from the multiple cameras and the digital images recorded over a sequence in time to produce a continuous virtual digital image of the composite material surface. The digital image data and associated analysis results are saved and may be displayed on a real-time basis or at a later time.

There is provided a non-destructive inspection device having an infrared sensor for infrared thermography inspection of a structure or surface. A rotatable reflector reflects infrared light from an inspected surface to an infrared sensor. An inspecting portion of a non-destructive device is magnetically coupled to an actuating portion of the device for concerted movement of the portions. An inspection device includes both an infrared sensor for infrared imaging and an optical device such as a camera for visible light imaging.

A method and system for detecting the presence of subterranean termites, involving use of a thermal imaging camera to scan the structure before installation of an acoustic sensor in order to quickly locate potential areas of subterranean termite infestation, and an acoustic sensor in the form of an accelerometer or the disclosed innovative acoustic sensors having a bandwidth of at least 100 Hz to 15 kHz to detect noises made by the subterranean termites. Information collected by the acoustic sensor may be transmitted to a portable mini-computer (pocket PC) for confirmation and to a central operations center for inclusion in a comprehensive database of termite data and information. A method and system for detecting the presence of dry-wood termites concealed in a structure, involving use of a heat source to warm up the wooden structure of interest and then using a thermal imaging camera to scan the structure for suspicious dry-wood infestation, followed by the use of an acoustic sensor and pattern recognition software to more precisely and accurately locate potential area of dry-wood termite infestation. Additionally, structural damage can be evaluated by the methods discussed herein, including live trees. Additionally, the method can be used to manipulate termite infestation behavior.

A device and method to diagnose an internal abnormality in a living subject by sensing a passively occurring electromagnetic radiation signal associated with the abnormality and inside an orifice of the subject. Diagnosis includes detection, imaging or identification of the abnormality. An instrument is used either to bring a sensor into the orifice or to transmit the signal to a sensor located outside of the orifice. An example of the instrument includes a prior art endoscope.

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 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.

Automated spine localizing, numbering and autoprescription system enhances correct location of diseased or injured tissue, even allow multi-spectral diagnosis. Externally located this tissue is facilitated by an integrated self adhesive spatial reference and skin marking system that is designed for a variety of modalities to include MRI, CT, SPECT, PET, planar nuclear imaging, radiography, XRT, thermography, optical imaging and 3D space tracking. The device ranges from a point localizer to a more multifunctional and complex grid/phantom system. The specially designed spatial reference(s) is affixed to an adhesive strip with corresponding markings so that after applying the unit to the skin/surface and imaging, the reference can be removed leaving the skin appropriately marked. The localizer itself can also directly adhere to the skin after being detached from the underlying strip. A spine autoprescription process performs image analysis that is able to identify vertebrae and discs even in the presence of abnormalities.

A method and apparatus for thermographically evaluating the bond integrity of a sputtering target assembly is described. The method includes applying a heating or cooling medium or energy to one surface of the assembly and acquiring a graphic recording of a corresponding temperature change on the opposing surface of the assembly using an imaging device. Also described is a method of mathematically analyzing the pixel data recorded in each frame to produce an integrated normalized temperature map that represents the bond integrity of the assembly.

A sensory substitution device according to an embodiment of the invention includes a thermal imaging array for sensing thermal characteristics of an external scene. The device includes a visual prosthesis adapted to receive input based on the scene sensed by the thermal imaging array and to convey information based on the scene to a user of the sensing device. The visual prosthesis is adapted to simultaneously convey to the user different visual information corresponding to portions of the scene having different thermal characteristics. One type of thermal imaging array includes a microbolometer imaging array, and one type of visual prosthesis includes a retinal implant. According to additional embodiments, an apparatus for obtaining thermal data includes a thermal detector adapted to sense thermal characteristics of an environment using a plurality of pixels. The apparatus also includes a pixel translator, operably coupled with the thermal detector, adapted to translate pixel data of the thermal detector to a lower resolution. The apparatus also includes an interface, operably coupled with the pixel translator, adapted to communicate the thermal characteristics of the environment to a user of the apparatus at a lower resolution than sensed by the thermal detector.

A passive microwave thermography apparatus uses passive microwave antennas designed for operation, for example, at WARC protected frequencies of 1.400 to 1.427 GHz and 2.690 to 2.70 GHz (for core body gradient temperature measurement) and 10.68 to 10.700 GHz or higher microwave frequency (for surface body gradient temperature measurement) and a related directional antenna or antenna array to measure microwave radiation emanating from an animal, especially, a human body. The antennae may be radially directed toward a point within or on the surface of a human body for comparison with known temperature distribution data for that point and a given ambient temperature. Each frequency band may provide a plurality of adjacent noise measuring channels for measuring microwave noise naturally emitted by the human body. The apparatus measures short-term changes in, for example, core and body surface temperatures to establish a basal metabolic rate. Changes in core body temperature may be stimulated by the administration of food or certain organic and drug-related substances or stress to induce a change in basal metabolic rate over time. These changes correlate directly with a human subject's metabolism rate at rest and under certain dietary constraints and can be used to determine courses of treatment for obesity, metabolic disease, and other disorders. The apparatus can also be used to remotely monitor patients and subjects without physical contact.

Provided is a system for displaying a 3D thermal image by using two thermal imaging cameras and extracting distance/depth data in the thermal images. The system includes two thermal imaging cameras where one thermal imaging camera is used as a master camera serving as a reference and the other is used as a slave camera to correct gain and offset of the thermal images and ensure uniformity. In addition, provided is an apparatus and method for correcting gain and offset of the thermal images to be identical to each other and ensuring uniformity by using a process module separately from two thermal imaging cameras.

Therefore, since temperature data is overlaid on the 3D thermal image or the thermal imaging data from which disparity from two cameras is extracted, it is possible to provide more accurate and diverse subject recognition information in comparison to an existing device which provides just a 3D image or an infrared image solely.

In addition, since temperature data is overlaid on a 3D thermal image or the thermal imaging data from which disparity from two cameras is extracted by processing only data about a partial area of interest (temperature area, image area) among the entire thermal image for the purpose of high-speed frame processing, it is possible to rapidly provide more accurate and diverse subject recognition information in comparison to an existing device which provides just a 3D image or an infrared image solely.

The present invention relates, in general, to thermography and, in particular, to a method of using infrared thermography to monitor physiological and molecular events that elicit a thermogenic response in animals (including humans), plants, tissues, cells and cell-free systems. The present method can be used for screening, identifying, and ranking drug candidates for multiple diseases, disorders and conditions.

A method for characterizing an anomaly in a material comprises (a) extracting contrast data; (b) measuring a contrast evolution; (c) filtering the contrast evolution; (d) measuring a peak amplitude of the contrast evolution; (d) determining a diameter and a depth of the anomaly, and (e) repeating the step of determining the diameter and the depth of the anomaly until a change in the estimate of the depth is less than a set value. The step of determining the diameter and the depth of the anomaly comprises estimating the depth using a diameter constant C_D equal to one for the first iteration of determining the diameter and the depth; estimating the diameter; and comparing the estimate of the depth of the anomaly after each iteration of estimating to the prior estimate of the depth to calculate the change in the estimate of the depth of the anomaly.

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 for acquiring battery temperature measurements using stereographic thermal imaging sensors or a simple single thermal imaging sensor which can detect increases in battery heat within the field of view of any single thermal sensor, or any combination of a plurality of thermal imaging sensors is presented. Infrared Detection (ID) using the thermal imaging sensor (pyrometer) is used to focus on certain parts of a housing thereby providing an ability to “see through” or “partially see through” the battery housing to battery cells enclosed by the battery housing. Advantageously, this affords the unique capability of measuring the battery temperature before heat propagates from an individual battery cell or a plurality of battery cells to the battery housing, allowing faster heat gradient detection. Moreover, universality of battery temperature monitoring is achieved by elimination of proprietary communication between the manufacturer of the battery and the charger.

The invention is a thermal imaging camera lens that has an LCD display mounted on the opposing side of the camera, which is integrated into a fire mask visor. The fire mask visor is used in conjunction with an oxygen mask. The thermal imaging lens is directed along the same line of sight as the user's, which provides for greater ease of use in hazardous situations. However, the thermal imaging lens can be rotated to a desired angle and line of sight of the end user. A sealant can be applied to the perimeter of the thermal imaging system housing and the visor to prevent the introduction of smoke and/or hazardous gases from entering the interior side of the visor.

An inspection system is provided to examine internal structures of a target material. This inspection system includes a generation laser, an ultrasonic detection system, a thermal imaging system, and a processor/control module. The generation laser produces a pulsed laser beam that is operable to induce ultrasonic displacements and thermal transients at the target material. The ultrasonic detection system detects ultrasonic surface displacements at the target material. The thermal imaging system detects thermal transients at the target material. The processor analyzes both detected ultrasonic displacements and thermal imagery of the target material to yield information about the target material's internal structure.

To increase inspection throughput, the field of view of an infrared camera can be moved over the sample at a constant velocity. Throughout this moving, a modulation can be provided to the sample and infrared images can be captured using the infrared camera. Moving the field of view, providing the modulation, and capturing the infrared images can be synchronized. The infrared images can be filtered to generate the time delay lock-in thermography, thereby providing defect identification. This filtering can account for the number of pixels of the infrared camera in a scanning direction. For the case of optical modulation, a dark field region can be provided for the field of view throughout the moving, thereby providing an improved signal-to-noise ratio during filtering. Localized defects can be repaired by a laser integrated into the detection system or marked by ink for later repair in the production line.