Thermal Imaging Sensor Base Unit Protocol Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional temperature sensors only report thermal values at their specific location, failing to cover an area, whereas thermal imaging sensing technology can measure temperature across a field of view, necessitating a new method to integrate thermal imaging data into existing monitoring systems.
Innovation Solution
A thermal imaging sensor connects to a base unit and converts thermal images into digital temperature values, enabling communication through industrial protocols like SNMP, Modbus TCP, and IP-based protocols, allowing seamless integration with monitoring applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If thermal imaging sensing technology is used to measure temperature across a field of view, then area coverage is improved, but compatibility with existing monitoring systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a base unit as an intermediary device that receives thermal image data from the thermal imaging sensor and converts it into numeric temperature values. This base unit acts as a mediator between the thermal imaging technology and existing monitoring systems, translating the data into a format compatible with industrial protocols like SNMP, Modbus TCP, Bacnet, and Scada, thereby maintaining compatibility while enabling area-wide monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms thermal image data into numeric temperature values through processing in the sensor and/or base unit. This parameter transformation converts visual thermal data into standardized numerical formats that existing monitoring applications can interpret, enabling seamless integration without requiring system changes
2Area of stationary object
If thermal imaging sensors are deployed to cover an area, then monitoring coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal imaging sensor is designed to connect to standard base units through wired or wireless connections, allowing a single device to serve multiple functions: capturing thermal images, converting data to numeric values, and communicating through multiple industrial protocols. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for different monitoring needs
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual representation of multiple temperature measurement points by processing a single thermal image into multiple numeric temperature values corresponding to different areas. This allows one physical sensor to effectively monitor multiple locations simultaneously, reducing the number of physical sensors needed
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 area-wide temperature monitoring by converting thermal imaging data into numeric values, facilitating its use in traditional temperature sensor applications and enhancing monitoring capabilities without the need for multiple sensors.
Implementation Method 1
thermal imaging sensing technology measures temperature in the field of view of the thermal camera
Data Source
AI summary
A Thermal Imaging Sensor for providing a new innovative way for monitoring temperature in critical facilities. The thermal imaging sensor(s) connect to base units using wired or wireless connectivity. The thermal image data is transformed into numeric temperature data either by the sensor or the base unit. This image into numeric temperature data conversion allows for thermal data integration with monitoring, management and or automation applications using SNMP, Modbus, Bacnet, XML, JSON, HTTP, Serial over IP, any other IP based protocol or serial protocol so that the sensor can be used by monitoring and/or automation systems. With the present invention, a thermal imaging sensor is automatically recognized by applications as any other temperature sensor while having all the benefits from thermal imaging compared to traditional temperature sensors. It also connects to a base unit like any other regular sensor. The thermal imaging sensor in the present invention is not a standalone unit.