Tunable Infrared Illuminator for Broad Gas Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal imaging devices have low sensitivity for detecting gas concentrations, are complex, large, heavy, and costly, with high power consumption, and are limited to specific gas types due to narrow spectral range filters and cryogenic cooling requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a controllable illuminator system to emit infrared radiation at multiple wavelengths, allowing for improved gas detection and quantification with uncooled detectors, reducing complexity, size, weight, and power consumption, while enabling detection of a wide range of gases without hardware reconfigurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional thermal imaging devices use filters and cryogenic cooling to improve gas detection sensitivity, then gas detection sensitivity is improved, but device complexity, size, weight, and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by switching from passive thermal detection to active infrared illumination at specific wavelengths. The system uses a tunable infrared source that can be adjusted to match the absorption spectrum of target gases, and processes the reflected light through image processing algorithms to enhance detection sensitivity without requiring cryogenic cooling or complex filtering hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/cryogenic cooling system with an electronic/optical solution. Instead of using physical cooling mechanisms to reduce thermal noise, the system uses digital image processing and wavelength-selective illumination to achieve gas detection sensitivity, thereby eliminating the need for complex cryogenic hardware.
2Measurement precision
If conventional thermal imaging devices use narrow spectral range filters, then gas detection specificity is improved, but adaptability to detect different gas types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamically tunable infrared illuminator that can adjust its emission wavelength in real-time based on the target gas type. The system includes a controllable infrared source with adjustable wavelength and an image processing unit that adapts its processing parameters according to the selected wavelength, enabling the same hardware to detect multiple gas types with different infrared absorption characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal gas detection system where a single infrared imaging device can detect multiple gas types by tuning the illuminator wavelength to match the absorption spectrum of each gas. The system eliminates the need for separate filters for different gases, allowing one device to serve multiple detection functions.
3Measurement precision
If conventional thermal imaging devices operate at cryogenic temperatures, then detection sensitivity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the cryogenic cooling system with an active illumination approach. Instead of cooling the detector to reduce thermal noise, the system actively illuminates the scene with tunable infrared light and uses image processing to enhance the signal, thereby achieving high detection sensitivity without the high power consumption of cryogenic cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic or pulsed infrared illumination to enhance detection sensitivity. The tunable infrared source can be activated in periodic pulses, allowing the detector to integrate signals during the illumination periods while remaining in a lower-power state between pulses, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining detection sensitivity.
4Reliability
If conventional thermal imaging devices use specialized hardware configurations, then gas detection performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal gas detection system using standard infrared imaging hardware that can be configured for different gas types through software control of the illuminator wavelength and image processing algorithms. This eliminates the need for expensive specialized hardware for each gas type, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining detection performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves gas detection performance through parameter changes in the illuminator (wavelength, intensity) and image processing parameters rather than through specialized hardware. This allows the same hardware platform to detect different gases by adjusting control parameters, thereby reducing manufacturing costs associated with producing multiple specialized devices.
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
Enhances gas concentration sensitivity and reduces costs and power consumption, allowing for effective detection and quantification of gases using low-complexity, low-weight IR imaging systems without the need for cryogenic cooling or specific hardware configurations.
Implementation Method 1
providing an illuminator system configured to emit light onto an observed real world scene
Implementation Method 2
the ability to absorb infrared radiation depends on the wavelengths of the radiation. In other words, their degree of transparency to IR radiation varies with the wavelength of the infrared radiation
Implementation Method 3
an infrared (IR) imaging system configured to capture infrared (IR) image data values representing infrared radiation emitted from an observed real world scene
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods disclosed herein provide for detecting gas by: illuminating, with a controllable illuminator system, a scene with light including radiation within the infrared (IR) wavelength range; controlling the illuminator system to emit light at a first wavelength corresponding to a first absorption level of a gas and at a second wavelength corresponding to a second absorption level of a gas, such that an equal amount of radiant energy over a time period is emitted onto the scene for each of said first and second wavelengths; and capturing a first IR image of the scene being illuminated with light at said first wavelength and a second IR image of the scene illuminated with light at said second wavelength, and comparing said first and second IR images to determine whether a characteristic for at least one specific gas is represented in said first and/or second IR images.