Environmental Chamber Test Synchronization Using Thermal Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for checking air conditioning conditions in climate chambers are unreliable, laborious, and prone to errors, particularly in large volumes like vehicles, due to lack of automated documentation and early fault detection, leading to uncertainty in climatic condition homogeneity and deformation observation.
Innovation Solution
A method that synchronizes sensor data and image data with time values, storing them for comparison with target data to ensure reliable and automated documentation of air conditioning conditions, enabling early fault detection and precise evaluation of changes over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual inspection methods are used to check air conditioning conditions, then the complexity of the system is low, but the reliability of detection is poor and faults are detected late
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated optical measurement system using cameras and image processing algorithms. The system automatically captures images of the test object at different times, processes them to detect deformations, and correlates them with environmental parameters, eliminating the need for continuous manual inspection while significantly improving detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary evaluation system that processes images and sensor data to detect air conditioning condition faults. This intermediary layer (image processing and data correlation system) bridges the gap between simple visual data and reliable fault detection, allowing automated analysis without requiring complex direct sensing of all environmental parameters.
2Reliability
If sporadic visual checks are performed, then the cost of the system is low, but the timing and completeness of fault detection are uncertain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous automated monitoring by capturing images at multiple time points throughout the air conditioning test. The system continuously records the state of the test object and environmental parameters, ensuring that faults are detected at the earliest possible moment rather than through sporadic checks, thereby improving both timing reliability and overall inspection efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-inspection by automatically capturing images, processing them to detect deformations, and correlating findings with environmental data without requiring human intervention. This self-service capability ensures consistent timing of detections and eliminates the inefficiency of manual inspection scheduling.
3Measurement precision
If conventional inspection methods are used in large volume chambers, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision of air conditioning homogeneity is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large volume chamber into multiple observation zones by positioning cameras at different locations. Each camera captures images of specific regions, allowing the system to assess air conditioning homogeneity across different segments of the chamber. This segmentation approach enables precise measurement of spatial variations without requiring a single complex omnidirectional sensing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical measurement devices (such as temperature probes and humidity sensors distributed throughout the chamber) with optical measurement systems. By using cameras to capture visual changes in the test object and correlating them with environmental parameters, the system achieves precise measurement of air conditioning homogeneity without the complexity of deploying numerous physical sensors throughout the large volume chamber.
4Productivity
If manual evaluation of photos is performed, then the system complexity is low, but the labor requirement is high and evaluation is error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual photo evaluation with automated image processing algorithms. The system automatically compares images taken at different times, detects deformations of the test object, and correlates them with environmental parameters. This substitution eliminates manual labor entirely while improving efficiency and eliminating human error, with the added complexity of automated processing being justified by the significant gains in productivity and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary automated evaluation system that processes images and sensor data to determine changes in the test object. This intermediary layer replaces manual evaluation by automatically analyzing image differences, detecting deformations, and correlating them with environmental conditions, thereby eliminating labor-intensive manual photo assessment while improving both efficiency and accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
The method involves correlating measurement values e.g. temperature values and/or humidity data, recorded in an environmental chamber by using a sensor e.g. temperature sensor (6) and/or humidity sensor (8), with time values. Image data correlated with the time values are detected by using a camera (24) e.g. IR camera or thermal image camera. The time values and the image data are synchronized with one another and stored in a memory in a retrievable manner. The image data is compared with reference image data, where the measurement values and the image data are represented on a display. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for determination of effects of climatic conditions on a test body in an environmental chamber (2) a device for executing a method for testing climatic conditions in an environmental chamber.