Thermal Inspection Route GUI with Visual Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for defining equipment inspection routes using infrared thermal imaging instruments are unintuitive and difficult to use, lacking guidance for users to identify inspection locations accurately.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface (GUI) system that allows users to capture, organize, and annotate thermographic images on a base computer, enabling the creation and management of inspection routes, which can be transferred to portable imaging devices for intuitive navigation and data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a base computer system is used to define inspection routes, then the route can be stored and transferred to portable devices, but the system becomes unintuitive and difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses visual copying by displaying captured thermal images on the base computer screen and allowing users to select images by visually identifying them. The selected images are then copied to define route locations, eliminating the need for complex coordinate input or memorization while maintaining automation benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The base computer acts as an intermediary between the portable imaging device and the user. It receives images from the portable device, displays them for visual selection, and processes the route definition. This intermediary role simplifies the user interface by providing a larger display and more versatile input methods while maintaining the portability benefits
2Device complexity
If the system provides only component names for inspection, then the route definition is simple, but users lack guidance to accurately identify the appropriate components
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying captured thermal images on the base computer after each capture. Users can verify whether the captured image shows the correct component before confirming it as a route location. This immediate feedback loop ensures accurate component identification while maintaining a simple操作流程
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary capture of thermal images at potential inspection locations before finalizing the route definition. These pre-captured images serve as visual references that users can review and select from, ensuring that only accurate component locations are included in the final route while keeping the overall process simple
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
Facilitates easier and more accurate equipment inspections by visually comparing previous and current thermographic images, providing location information and other data to ensure correct imaging of equipment components, thereby improving usability and efficiency of the inspection process.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor for detecting infrared emissions and configured to generate thermal data corresponding to the detected emissions
Data Source
AI summary
A graphical user interface for creating and organizing equipment inspection routes is provided. The interface can be used to retrieve thermographic images from a portable infrared imager. Viewed as thumbnails, these images can be annotated and placed in a user-specified linear order defining an inspection route. The route information can be transferred to portable infrared imager and displayed on the imager as thermographic image data with annotations.