Hand-held Acoustic Camera Smoke Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In emergency situations like fires, optical imaging is hindered by smoke, making it difficult for rescue personnel to determine hazards and trapped persons within burning buildings, and infrared imaging may be impractical due to the fire itself.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held acoustic camera with a piezoelectric transmitter and multiple receivers that emit and detect acoustic energy, processed to generate a visual representation of the environment, allowing for imaging through smoke and haze.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If optical imaging tools (lights and cameras) are used in smoke-filled environments, then visual determination of the situation is attempted, but the smoke obscures the view making visual determination difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical imaging systems with acoustic imaging systems. Instead of using light-based cameras and illuminators that are blocked by smoke, the system uses acoustic transmitters and receivers to detect objects through smoke-filled environments. Acoustic waves can penetrate smoke effectively, allowing rescue personnel to visualize hazards and trapped persons despite the obscuring smoke conditions.
2Loss of information
If infrared or heat sensitive imaging is used in fire situations, then thermal detection is attempted, but the fire itself makes this approach impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes thermal imaging with acoustic imaging. Rather than relying on infrared detection that is compromised by the intense heat and fire conditions, the system uses acoustic wave propagation to detect objects. Acoustic energy can traverse fire-filled environments more effectively than thermal imaging, providing usable information about hazards and persons in the fire zone.
3Loss of information
If a hand-held acoustic camera is designed with multiple acoustic receivers spaced laterally from the housing, then imaging capability through smoke is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic camera system is divided into multiple discrete acoustic receivers positioned at spaced locations around the housing. Each receiver captures acoustic information from different spatial positions, and the signal processor integrates these segmented signals to reconstruct a complete acoustic image. This segmentation enables the system to achieve three-dimensional acoustic imaging capability while maintaining a relatively compact hand-held form factor.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective imaging and object detection in smoke-filled environments, allowing users to locate hazards and persons, with the ability to distinguish between different objects through audible signals.
Implementation Method 1
An acoustic camera includes an acoustic transmitter disposed at one longitudinal end of a housing. The transmitter has a convex radiating surface.
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of acoustic receivers is disposed at spaced positions in a pattern extending laterally from the housing
Data Source
AI summary
An acoustic camera includes an acoustic transmitter disposed at one longitudinal end of a housing. The transmitter has a convex radiating surface. A diameter of the transmitter is about four times a wavelength of acoustic energy emitted by the transmitter. A plurality of acoustic receivers is disposed at spaced locations in a pattern extending laterally from the housing. A signal processor is in signal communication with the acoustic receivers. The signal processor is configured to cause the acoustic receivers to be sensitive along steered beams. The signal processor is configured to cause an end of the steered beams to move through a selected pattern within a beam width of the acoustic energy emitted by the acoustic transmitter. The signal processor is configured to operate a visual display device to generate a visual representation corresponding to acoustic energy detected by the acoustic receivers. A visual display device is in signal communication with the signal processor.