Non-Contact Surface Temperature Estimation via Thermal Radiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for determining the heat penetration coefficient of materials in the motor vehicle industry require large-scale machines and are destructive, contact-dependent, and surface-design-specific, making them unsuitable for non-destructive, mobile, and surface-design-independent characterization.

Innovation Solution

A method involving non-contact heating and measurement of surface temperature change over time, using technologies like halogen or infrared light, with clocked heating and surface modifications to standardize results, allowing for the estimation of temperature felt when touching a surface without altering it, and a device comprising a heat source, thermometer, and evaluation unit for determining a characteristic parameter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional methods are used to determine heat penetration coefficient, then measurement can be performed, but the method is destructive, contact-dependent, and requires large-scale machines

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoidsurface damage and contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical contact-based heating and measurement systems with optical systems. A laser heats the surface contactlessly, and an infrared camera measures temperature distribution without physical contact, eliminating mechanical damage and contamination while maintaining measurement reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces optical fields (laser for heating, infrared radiation for measurement) as intermediaries between the measurement system and the test surface. This allows energy transfer and temperature measurement without direct mechanical contact, resolving the contradiction between reliable measurement and surface protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If conventional contact-based measurement methods are used, then temperature can be measured, but the method depends on surface design and color

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidsurface design independence

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces contact-based temperature sensors with infrared thermography that detects thermal radiation emitted by the surface. This optical measurement method is independent of surface color, texture, or design, allowing accurate temperature measurement across diverse surfaces without mechanical contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent measures thermal radiation in the infrared spectrum rather than visible light, making the measurement process independent of the surface's visible color or appearance. The infrared detection captures thermal energy emission that occurs regardless of surface optical properties in the visible range

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Measurement precision

If large-scale machines are used for measurement, then accurate heat penetration coefficient can be determined, but the device is not mobile and cannot be handled by measuring robots

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat penetration coefficient accuracyVSAvoiddevice size and mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the measurement system into separate functional components: a laser heating unit, an infrared camera for temperature detection, and a control/evaluation system. This modular segmentation allows the core measurement functions to be implemented in a compact, mobile format that can be integrated into measuring robots while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces large-scale mechanical heating apparatus with a compact laser system and bulky contact sensors with lightweight infrared cameras. This substitution of mechanical systems with optical systems dramatically reduces device size and complexity, enabling mobility and integration with robotic systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 reliable, non-destructive, and mobile estimation of temperature perception across various surfaces, independent of surface design, facilitating comparative studies and benchmarking with objective, standardized results.

Implementation Method 1

non-contact heating of the surface... the use of halogen light, infrared light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

non-contact measurement of the temperature change over time of the surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP2343525B1Method and device for estimating the temperature sensed upon contact with a surface

Publication Date: 2016.09.21 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a device for estimating the temperature perceived when touching a surface. A method according to the invention comprises the following steps: non-contact heating of the surface, non-contact measurement of the temperature change of the surface over time, and estimation of the temperature perceived when touching the surface based on this temperature change over time.