Method and apparatus for ir camera inspections

• US 20040245467A1
• Filed: 03/30/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Flir Systems AB (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Flir Systems AB (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lannestedt, Tomas
• Application Number:
  US10/491,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20040245467A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/72 Investigating presence of flaws
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• 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

Abstract

A file format for storing IR images together with other types of data, such as camera settings, text information, and sound is disclosed. An apparatus and a method for bundling and analyzing data obtained via an IR camera and for determining actions to be taken based on the data are disclosed, as well as a method for gathering data.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing IR images, comprising

storage means for storing at least one ir image of an imaged object in an image data file;

instruction means for receiving an instruction to analyze the at least one image data file and, upon reception of such instruction, initiate analysis of the at least one image data file;

analyzing means for analyzing the data in the at least one image data file

action means for taking action in dependence of the result of the analysis.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

at least one recording means for registering at least one other type of data related to the imaged object in at least a first auxiliary data file;

storing means for storing the at least first auxiliary data file in association with the at least first image data file, wherein

the means for analyzing the data in the at least one image data file is also arranged to analyze the data in the at least one auxiliary data file.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing means is arranged to compare data concerning at least one object in the image to at least one threshold value defined for the object.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one template for generating a report in dependence of the analysis performed by the analyzing means.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction means is arranged to initiate analysis of the at least first auxiliary data file in association with the analysis of the image data file.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means comprises means for registering video data of the object.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means comprises means for registering sound data regarding the object.

15. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the analyzing means is arranged to compare data concerning at least one object in the image to at least one threshold value defined for the object.

8. A method of detecting the status of an object comprising the steps of

creating at least one image of the object using an IR camera,

storing said at least one image in at least one image file,

Instructing an analysis means to analyze the content of the at least one IR image file

Analyzing the content of the at least one IR image file

Taking action in dependence of the result of the analysis.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising registering at least one other type of data related to the image object in at least one auxiliary data file and storing said at least one auxiliary data file in association with the image data file.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of analyzing the content of the IR image file comprises the step of comparing data concerning at least one object in the image to at least one threshold value defined for the object and taking action in dependence of the result of the comparison.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step generate a report in a preset template in dependence of the result of the analysis.

12. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of

determining if at least one threshold value is exceeded and, if it is,

sending the report to at least one receiver automatically.

13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of sending the report to printer automatically.

14. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of automatically storing the report in a database.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of analyzing the content of the IR image file comprises the step of comparing data concerning at least one object in the image to at least one threshold value defined for the object and taking action in dependence of the result of the comparison.

17. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of sending the report to printer automatically.