Motorized Thermal Screening Calibration for Small-Footprint Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal imaging systems for screening elevated skin temperature have a large footprint, which compromises accuracy and is inefficient for individuals of varying heights, especially when wearing glasses, and often fail to meet FDA and ISO standards for thermal imaging precision.
Innovation Solution
A motorized thermal imaging system that moves between a calibration position to obtain a reference temperature from a blackbody and an image-taking position to measure an individual's skin temperature, minimizing the system's footprint while maintaining accuracy by using a blackbody outside the field of view and adjusting distance and orientation for precise measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the blackbody is placed in the thermal camera's field of view at a predetermined distance, then the system can perform thermal imaging, but the system footprint becomes large and accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the thermal imaging function from the calibration function by using a motorized platform that moves the thermal camera between a calibration position (facing the blackbody) and an imaging position (facing the subject). This segmentation allows each function to be optimized independently while reducing the overall footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal camera is mounted on a motorized platform that can dynamically reposition between calibration and imaging positions. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt its configuration based on the operational requirement, maintaining accuracy without requiring a large static footprint.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the subject is positioned further away to meet height requirements, then the field of view increases, but the accuracy of temperature measurement decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized platform enables the thermal camera to dynamically adjust its position and orientation. During calibration, the camera is positioned close to the blackbody for accurate reference measurements. During imaging, the camera can be positioned at optimal distances for subjects of varying heights, maintaining accuracy through precise positioning rather than relying on a fixed large field of view.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the thermal imaging system uses a fixed configuration, then the device complexity is low, but it cannot accurately measure individuals of varying heights
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized platform serves multiple functions: it positions the thermal camera for calibration with the blackbody, positions the camera for imaging subjects of various heights, and enables accurate temperature measurement. This multi-functionality achieves adaptability for varying heights while keeping the overall system relatively simple by using a single motorized mechanism.
4Area of stationary object
If the blackbody is placed far from the thermal camera, then the system footprint is reduced, but the calibration accuracy and reference temperature precision decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a motorized platform to bring the thermal camera close to the blackbody during calibration operations, ensuring high calibration accuracy. The platform then moves the camera to the imaging position for subject measurement. This dynamic repositioning allows the system to achieve both small footprint and high calibration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs calibration with the blackbody before imaging subjects. By establishing an accurate reference temperature through preliminary calibration at optimal distance, the system ensures measurement precision is maintained even when the operational footprint is minimized.
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
The system reduces the thermal imaging system's footprint and enhances accuracy by allowing precise temperature measurements for individuals of varying heights, including those wearing glasses, while meeting FDA and ISO standards for thermal imaging precision.
Implementation Method 1
A blackbody is an object with a known emissivity of 1, which theoretically means that it absorbs and radiates all thermal energy
Implementation Method 2
thermal imaging cameras to screen individuals for elevated skin temperature
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discusses various systems and methods for screening individuals for an elevated skin temperature, including substantially reducing the footprint of conventional thermal imaging system. The footprint of the currently available thermal imaging system is reduced in part because rather than having a blackbody and a person being screened simultaneously located within the thermal camera's field of view, the present disclosure discusses a unique thermal imaging system that provides a reference temperature to the system for subsequent comparison to the thermal camera, using a blackbody, prior to the thermal scanning and imaging the person.