Disposable Temperature Reference Units for Thermal Imaging Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
IR thermal imaging cameras face inaccuracies in measuring human body temperatures due to inherent errors in their elements, and conventional black bodies provide reference temperatures that are not close to human body temperatures, especially in the narrow range of 36.5°C to 42°C, which is critical for detecting fever or hyperthermia, and they are often bulky or expensive.
Innovation Solution
The development of temperature reference systems that provide accurate, inexpensive, and disposable reference temperatures within the range of 34°C to 42°C, which can be adjusted to match human body temperatures, using temperature reference units with heating and cooling mechanisms to maintain precise reference temperatures, and can be integrated with IR cameras for calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional black bodies are used to provide reference temperatures, then the reference temperature can be maintained, but the reference temperature is not close to human body temperatures and the device is bulky or expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable temperature reference elements that are inexpensive and single-use, eliminating the need for expensive, bulky conventional black bodies. These disposable elements provide accurate reference temperatures within the human body temperature range (36.5°C to 42°C) and can be discarded after use, reducing cost and complexity for each measurement operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter range of the reference source to specifically cover human body temperatures (36.5°C to 42°C) rather than using conventional black bodies that operate at fixed, non-physiological temperatures. This parameter adjustment enables accurate fever detection while using simpler, more compact reference elements tailored to the specific measurement range needed.
2Reliability
If conventional black bodies are used to provide reference temperatures, then the reference temperature can be maintained, but they are often bulky or expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces bulky, expensive conventional black bodies with disposable temperature reference elements that are compact and lightweight. These single-use elements maintain reliable reference temperatures throughout their service life and are discarded afterward, eliminating the need for large, heavy stationary reference sources while ensuring measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential function of temperature reference provision from the bulky conventional black body structure and implements it through compact, disposable elements. This extraction removes unnecessary complexity and size while retaining the core functionality of providing stable reference temperatures for calibration.
3Measurement precision
If temperature reference systems with heating and cooling mechanisms are used, then accurate reference temperatures can be provided, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses disposable temperature reference elements that come pre-calibrated to specific human body temperatures. These elements eliminate the need for complex heating and cooling mechanisms, as each disposable unit is manufactured to provide its reference temperature passively, reducing system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature reference elements are designed to self-regulate or self-maintain their reference temperatures through passive thermal properties or integrated temperature control circuits that operate autonomously. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external complex heating and cooling systems, simplifying the overall device structure while ensuring accurate reference temperatures.
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
These systems enable accurate calibration of IR cameras, allowing them to measure human body temperatures reliably and cost-effectively, even in varying ambient conditions, by providing reference temperatures closer to human body temperatures, thus improving the accuracy of fever detection.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit may generate heat, deliver the heat to the sensing unit, and increase the temperature of the sensing unit
Implementation Method 2
a cooling unit may absorb heat from the sensing unit, and decrease the temperature of the sensing unit
Implementation Method 3
The IR camera may detect a first amount of first IR rays which are emitted by the sensing unit
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to various temperature reference systems capable of generating at least one reference temperature. Such systems may provide the reference temperature to an IR camera which may then use the reference temperature in measuring a temperature of a target who has an unknown temperature. More particularly, this disclosure discloses various temperature reference units or their pink bodies of which temperature is to be detected and used as the reference temperature by the IR camera, and various configurations and methods of preventing or minimizing inherent errors which are caused by thermal conduction as well as thermal convection on and across such a temperature reference unit. This disclosure also relates to various methods of fabricating, installing, and using the pink bodies, temperature reference units, and temperature reference systems, in conjunction with an IR camera, a processor or other thermal imaging equipment.