Handheld infrared camera

• US 20040129881A1
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flir Systems AB (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Tomas Lannestedt, Torbjorn Hamrelius
• Inventors: Hamrelius, Torbjorn, Lannestedt, Tomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,157,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049

Abstract

A handheld infrared camera having a lens assembly, an electric energy source and a handling elements for recording and handling information received via the lens assembly has an essentially elongate housing. The lens assembly is mounted at one end of the housing, the other end portion of which is formed as a user handle, the longitudinal axis of which preferably is inclined relative to the optical axis of the lens assembly to form an angle (αalpha) with the optical axis. There are provided manual control elements for allowing single hand operation of the camera, and a visual control elements is intended to be viewed when holding and operating the camera away from the eye and the body of a user. The camera is advantageously provided with elements for wireless transmission of information from the camera.

Claims

1. A handheld infrared camera, comprising a lens assembly (2) supported by a housing (3), which is arranged to hold an electric energy source (5) and a handling means (6) for recording and handling information received via the lens assembly, said housing (3) being provided with user control means for visual and manual control of the apparatus, characterized in that the housing (3) is essentially elongate, having the lens assembly (2) mounted at one end portion and having the opposite end portion formed as a user handle (4), there being provided on one side of the housing a set (8) of manual control means intended to be operated via the thumb of the user, and also a visual control means (7) located between said set (8) of manual control means and the lens assembly (2) and being adapted to be viewed when holding the camera away from the eye and the body of a user, and that the camera is intended for single hand operation.

2. A camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal axis (21) of the user handle (4) forms an angle (α

) with the optical axis (22) of the lens assembly (2), said angle being within the range 0-90°

, and preferably being less than 45°

.

3. A camera according to claim 2, characterized in that the angle (α

) between the optical axis (22) of the lens assembly (2) and the longitudinal axis (21) of the handle portion (4) is within the range 15-30°

, and preferably is about 20°

.

4. A camera according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the set (8) of manual control means comprises a joystick button (13) and a set of push buttons (9-12) spread out on a circular arc, the center of which is intended to essentially coincide with the location of the inner joint of the thumb of a user gripping the handle portion (4).

5. A camera according to claim 4, characterized in that the set (8) of manual control means is adapted to control the handling unit (6), for selecting and controlling an operating mode of the camera.

6. A camera according to claim 4, characterized in that there are four push buttons (9-12) included in the set of buttons, two push buttons to each side of the joystick button (13).

7. A camera according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the electrical energy source (5) is located in the handle portion (4) for providing a good balance of the camera.

8. A camera according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that at the free end of the handle portion (4) there are provided electrical connectors (18) for contact with corresponding electrical connectors in a docking station, said contacts preferably being protected by an openable closure (19).

9. A camera according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that there is provided an alarm device adapted to give an acoustic signal when the value of a controlled parameter falls outside a predetermined range.

10. A camera according to any of claims 1-9, characterized in that the camera (1) is an infrared inspection camera for thermal imaging.

11. A camera according to any of claims 1-10, characterized in that there is included a laser in the camera for facilitating aiming of the camera, and that said laser is adapted to be activated and deactivated by control means.

12. A camera according to any of claims 1-11, characterized in that on the housing (3) there is provided a trigger means (15) intended to be operated by the forefinger of a user holding the camera, for controlling and selecting functions to be performed by the camera.

13. A camera according to claim 12, characterized in that the trigger means (15) is intended to activate and deactivate the laser, and to initiate saving of information relating to an object at which the camera is pointed.

14. A camera according to any of claims 1-13, characterized in that there is provided means for wireless transmission of information from the camera.

15. A camera according to any of claims 1-14, characterized in that the lens assembly (2) is interchangeable.

16. A camera according to any of claims 1-15, characterized in that on the housing (3) there is provided a holder (20) for hanging the camera.

17. A camera according to any of claims 1-16, characterized in that the housing (3) is sturdy and shock proof.

18. A camera according to any of claims 1-17, characterized in that the camera also is adapted for measuring temperatures.