Imaging system employing fixed, modular mobile, and portable infrared cameras with ability to receive, communicate, and display data and images with proximity detection

• US 10,271,020 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Stuart, Michael D., Schoch, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aghevli, Reza
• Application Number:
  US14/921,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20160119592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/20 for generating image signals from infrared radiation only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Systems can include a tool configured to generate a first set of data representative of an object and a control station configured to receive the first set of data from the tool. A mobile device in communication with the control station can receive data from the control station including information regarding the object based on the data received from the tool. A user of the mobile device, such as a technician, can travel to the location of the tool, and, when the mobile device is within a predetermined proximity of the tool, the tool can communicate directly with the mobile device. The technician can use the mobile device to communicate with and control the tool in order to safely perform equipment analysis.

Claims

1. A system including:

a first imaging tool having a first field of view such that the first imaging tool generates image data representative of one or more characteristics of a first object under test located at a first location;

a second imaging tool having a second field of view such that the second imaging tool generates image data representative of one or more characteristics of a second object under test located at a second location; and

a mobile device configured to;

receive a first set of data associated with data generated by the first imaging tool, the first set of data including at least location data representative of the location of the first imaging tool and/or the first object under test and one other signal representative of one or more characteristics of the first object under test and wherein when the mobile device is brought to within a first predetermined proximity of the first imaging tool, the mobile device receives a second set of data from the first imaging tool, the second set of data comprising at least one of a live or previously captured image data representative of the first object under test; and

receive a third set of data associated with data generated by the second imaging tool, the third set of data including at least location data representative of the second location and one other signal representative of one or more characteristics of the second object under test, and wherein when the mobile device is brought to within a second predetermined proximity of the second imaging tool, the mobile device receives a fourth set of data from the second imaging tool, the fourth set of data including at least one of live or previously captured image data representative of the second object under test.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first imaging tool is positioned within one of:

an electrical cabinet, a mechanical cabinet, or an intrinsically safe environment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises at least one of a smartphone, tablet, mini-tablet, PC, or wearable smart device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a test and measurement tool.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control station in communication with the first imaging tool and the mobile device, and wherein the control station is configured to receive alert data from the first imaging tool and to communicate the first set of data to the mobile device based on the alert data received from the first imaging tool.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the alert data received by the control station is the same data as the first set of data communicated to the mobile device.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the first imaging tool is configured to communicate alert data to the control station in the event that the image data satisfies a predetermined condition.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first imaging tool includes an infrared (IR) camera, the alert data comprises at least one of a temperature reading or a temperature alarm, and the predetermined condition comprises a temperature meeting a threshold.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein when the mobile device is brought to within a predetermined proximity of the first imaging tool, the mobile device receives a notification from the first imaging tool that data is available for viewing.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device enables viewing of image data from the first imaging tool in response to the received notification.

34. The system of claim 5, wherein the first imaging tool is integrated into a combination tool including a test and measurement tool configured to generate measurement data representative of at least one parameter of an object under test;

and wherein the at least one other signal in the first set of data representative of one or more characteristics of the first object under test comprises measurement data associated with the first object under test.

11. A system for monitoring the operation of at least one object comprising:

a tool configured to generate a first set of data representative of an object, the tool comprising an infrared (IR) imaging tool, and the first set of data including identification data identifying the object and object data representative of at least one property of the object, the object data comprising temperature information associated with the temperature of the object;

a control station in communication with the tool and configured to receive the first set of data from the tool; and

a mobile device in communication with the control station;

wherein

in the event that the object data corresponding to the object meets a predetermined condition, the control station communicates a second set of data to the mobile device, the second set of data including identification data identifying the objet for which the corresponding object data satisfies the predetermined condition; and

when the mobile device is within a predetermined proximity of the tool, the tool communicates a third set of data to the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the infrared imaging tool is capable of generating infrared image data representative of a corresponding object such that the first set of data comprises infrared image data, and wherein the third set of data communicated from the tool to the mobile device comprises a live video or a still image of the object.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the tool further comprises a test and measurement tool configured to generate measurement data representative of at least one parameter of the object such that the first set of data comprises measurement data, and the object data representative of at least one property of the object is based on measurement data from the first tool.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the tool is configured to process the first set of data to determine if the first set of data satisfies a predetermined condition, and, in the event that the first set of data satisfies at least one predetermined condition the object data comprises alarm data communicated from the tool to the control station.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the second set of data communicated from the control station to the mobile device comprises infrared image data, measurement data, or alarm data.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the tool comprises a first tool and the object comprises a first object, and further comprising:

a second tool configured to generate a fourth set of data representative of a second object, the fourth set of data including identification data identifying the second object and object data representative of at least one property of the second object;

wherein

the control station is in communication with the second tool;

in the event that the object data corresponding to the second object meets a predetermined condition, the control station communicates a fifth set of data to the mobile device, the fifth set of data including identification data identifying the second objet; and

when the mobile device is within a predetermined proximity of the second tool, the second tool communicates a sixth set of data to the mobile device.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the tool and the object are located within an enclosure.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the enclosure is an electrical cabinet, and wherein the tool comprises a test and measurement tool configured to generate measurement data representative of an electrical property of the object.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the object comprises mechanical equipment located within the enclosure, and wherein the tool comprises a test and measurement tool configured to generate measurement data representative of a mechanical property of the object.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the enclosure defines an intrinsically safe volume, and wherein the tool comprises an intrinsically safe tool configured to operate safely within the volume.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein when the mobile device is within a predetermined proximity of the tool, the mobile device is capable of controlling the tool.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein, when the mobile device is within a predetermined proximity of the tool, the mobile device is capable of adjusting the field of view of the infrared imaging tool.

23. The system of claim 11, wherein the mobile device comprises a test and measurement tool.

24. The system of claim 11, wherein the tool further comprises a visible light (VL) imaging tool.

25. The system of claim 11, wherein the tool and the object are located in a hazardous volume, and wherein the tool comprises an intrinsically safe tool configured to safely operate within the hazardous volume.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the hazardous volume comprises an explosive atmosphere.

27. A method for monitoring equipment at a remote facility comprising:

generating, with a first tool, a first set of data representative of at least one parameter of an object under test, the object under test being located at a first location and the first tool comprising an infrared (IR) imaging tool configured to generate IR image data of the object under test and compare the IR image data to one or more predetermined conditions;

communicating the first set of data to a remote facility;

communicating a second set of data from the remote facility to a mobile device, the second set of data being based on the first set of data; and

in the event that the mobile device comes within a predetermined proximity of the first tool, communicating a third set of data from the first tool to the mobile device;

wherein

if IR image data generated by the IR imaging tool satisfies one or more predetermined conditions, the first set of data comprises information representative of the one or more satisfied predetermined conditions.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the third set of data comprises IR image data.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein communicating the third set of data from the first tool to the mobile device comprises receiving, via the mobile device, an indication that the third set of data is available from the first tool and accessing the available third set of data.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the first set of data communicated to the remote facility comprises text-based data indicative of the at least one parameter of the object under test.

31. The system of claim 27, further comprising a test and measurement tool configured to generate measurement data representative of at least one parameter of the object under test;

and wherein the first set of data or the third set of data includes measurement data generated from the test and measurement tool.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the first tool comprises a combination tool that includes the IR imaging tool and the test and measurement tool.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein, when the mobile device comes within a predetermined proximity of the first tool, the mobile device automatically displays the third set of data received from the first tool.