Portable Multi-Band Black Body Simulator Using Xenon Arc Lamp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current black body calibrant sources for thermal imaging are either too large and time-consuming or produce inconsistent black body spectra, making them impractical for calibration over a wide temperature range, especially above 1500°C.
Innovation Solution
A portable optical apparatus using a broadband light source, light guide, bandpass filters, and adjustable optical attenuators to simulate a black body spectrum over two wavelength ranges, allowing user-adjustment of spectrum and intensity to calibrate two-band thermal cameras or pyrometers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a resistive furnace black body source is used to achieve accurate calibration, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an optical copy of the black body radiation spectrum using a xenon arc lamp combined with bandpass filters. Instead of physically heating a furnace to high temperatures, the system captures the broad spectrum emission from the xenon lamp and selectively transmits specific wavelength bands (780-850nm and 940-1050nm) that replicate the spectral characteristics of a true black body at various temperatures. This optical copying approach achieves calibration accuracy without requiring a large, complex resistive furnace system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the light source and filtering system to simulate black body radiation at different temperatures. By adjusting the intensity of the xenon lamp and selecting different bandpass filter combinations, the system can replicate the spectral distribution of black body radiation across a wide temperature range (500K to 3000K). This allows accurate calibration without physically changing the temperature of a large furnace system.
2Temperature
If a resistive furnace black body source operates above 1500°C, then temperature range for calibration is improved, but time to reach operating temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary spectral selection through the optical system. The xenon arc lamp is designed to emit a broad spectrum that inherently contains all the wavelength bands needed for calibration across the entire temperature range. The bandpass filters are pre-configured to select the specific wavelength ranges corresponding to different black body temperatures. This preliminary preparation of the optical path eliminates the need for gradual heating and waiting for thermal equilibrium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal-mechanical heating system with an optical-electrical system. Instead of using electrical resistance to heat a furnace to high temperatures (a slow thermal process), the system uses electrical excitation of a xenon gas discharge lamp to produce immediate broadband radiation. The desired spectral characteristics are achieved through optical filtering rather than thermal control, reducing warm-up time from hours to seconds.
3Ease of operation
If an incandescent lamp is used to produce black body spectrum, then portability is improved, but spectral consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the light source universal by using a xenon arc lamp that can replicate black body radiation characteristics across a wide temperature range (500K to 3000K) through spectral filtering. The same xenon lamp, combined with different bandpass filter configurations, can simulate black body spectra at any temperature within this range. This multi-functionality allows a single portable device to replace multiple temperature-specific calibration sources, maintaining spectral consistency through optical selection rather than relying on the inherent limitations of incandescent filaments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces bandpass filters as an intermediary between the xenon lamp and the calibration target. These filters selectively transmit specific wavelength bands (780-850nm and 940-1050nm) while blocking other wavelengths, thereby shaping the xenon lamp's broad spectrum into the precise spectral distribution required for simulating black body radiation at various temperatures. This intermediary optical element ensures spectral consistency and reliability, overcoming the limitations of direct incandescent emission.
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 accurate and reliable calibration of thermal imaging systems over an arbitrary temperature range from 1000 K to 10,000 K, providing a precise and portable solution for industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
Thermal imaging, sometimes referred to pyrometry, relies on the inherent black body emission of hot objects
Implementation Method 2
a light guide configured to receive light generated by the light source and to generate first and second optical signals
Implementation Method 3
A first signal processing subsystem may be used to enable adjustment of both a signal spectrum and an intensity of the first optical signal
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for simulating a black body spectrum. The apparatus makes use of a broadband light source and a light guide configured to receive light generated by the light source and to generate first and second optical signals. A first signal processing subsystem may be used to enable adjustment of both a signal spectrum and an intensity of the first optical signal. A second signal processing subsystem may be used to enable adjustment of both a signal spectrum and an intensity of the second optical signal. A beam cube may be used to combine the first and second optical signals to produce a final light output signal having a desired signal spectrum and a desired intensity.