Methods for performing inspections and detecting chemical leaks using an infrared camera system
First Claim
1. A method of visually detecting a leak of a chemical emanating from a component, comprising:
- aiming a passive infrared camera system towards the component, wherein the passive infrared camera system comprises a lens, a refrigerated portion comprising therein an infrared sensor device, and an optical bandpass filter located along an optical path between the lens and the infrared sensor device, wherein at least part of a pass band for the optical bandpass filter is within an absorption band for the chemical, and a refrigeration system adapted to cool the refrigerated portion;
filtering an infrared image with the optical bandpass filter, the infrared image being that of the leak of the chemical emanating from the component;
after the infrared image passes through the lens and optical bandpass filter, receiving the filtered infrared image of the leak with the infrared sensor device;
electronically processing the filtered infrared image received by the infrared sensor device to provide a visible image representing the filtered infrared image; and
visually identifying the leak based on the visible image representing the filtered infrared image provided by the infrared camera system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of visually detecting a leak of a chemical emanating from a component. The method includes: aiming a passive infrared camera system towards the component; filtering an infrared image with an optical bandpass filter, the infrared image being that of the leak; after the infrared image passes through the lens and optical bandpass filter, receiving the filtered infrared image with an infrared sensor device; electronically processing the filtered infrared image received by the infrared sensor device to provide a visible image representing the filtered infrared image; and visually identifying the leak based on the visible image. The passive infrared camera system includes: a lens; a refrigerated portion including therein the infrared sensor device and the optical bandpass filter (located along an optical path between the lens and the infrared sensor device). At least part of a pass band for the optical bandpass filter is within an absorption band for the chemical.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of visually detecting a leak of a chemical emanating from a component, comprising:
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aiming a passive infrared camera system towards the component, wherein the passive infrared camera system comprises a lens, a refrigerated portion comprising therein an infrared sensor device, and an optical bandpass filter located along an optical path between the lens and the infrared sensor device, wherein at least part of a pass band for the optical bandpass filter is within an absorption band for the chemical, and a refrigeration system adapted to cool the refrigerated portion;
filtering an infrared image with the optical bandpass filter, the infrared image being that of the leak of the chemical emanating from the component;
after the infrared image passes through the lens and optical bandpass filter, receiving the filtered infrared image of the leak with the infrared sensor device;
electronically processing the filtered infrared image received by the infrared sensor device to provide a visible image representing the filtered infrared image; and
visually identifying the leak based on the visible image representing the filtered infrared image provided by the infrared camera system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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8. The method of claim I, wherein the aiming of the infrared camera system towards the component is performed from a satellite, and wherein the component is located on Earth.
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21. A method of visually detecting leaks of a chemical emanating from a component, comprising:
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aiming a passive infrared camera system towards the component, wherein the passive infrared camera system comprises a lens, a refrigerated portion comprising therein an infrared sensor device, and an optical bandpass filter located along an optical path between the lens and the infrared sensor device, the optical bandpass filter having a pass band with a full width at half maximum transmittance being less than about 600 nm, wherein at least part of the pass band for the optical bandpass filter is within an absorption band for the chemical, and a refrigeration system adapted to cool the refrigerated portion; and
receiving an infrared image with the infrared sensor device of a leak of the chemical emanating from the component, after the infrared image passes through the lens and optical bandpass filter, and after the infrared image is filtered by the optical bandpass filter;
electronically processing the filtered infrared image received by the infrared sensor device to provide a visible image representing the filtered infrared image; and
visually identifying the leak based on the visible image representing the filtered infrared image provided by the infrared camera system. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of visually detecting leaks of a chemical emanating from a component, comprising:
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aiming a passive infrared camera system towards the component, wherein the passive infrared camera system comprises a lens, a refrigerated portion comprising therein an infrared sensor device, and an optical bandpass filter located along an optical path between the lens and the infrared sensor device, wherein a pass band for the optical bandpass filter is located between about 3100 nm and about 3600 nm, and a refrigeration system adapted to cool the refrigerated portion; and
receiving an infrared image with the infrared sensor device of a leak of the chemical emanating from the component, after the infrared image passes through the lens and optical bandpass filter, and after the infrared image is filtered by the optical bandpass filter;
electronically processing the filtered infrared image received by the infrared sensor device to provide a visible image representing the filtered infrared image; and
visually identifying the leak based on the visible image representing the filtered infrared image provided by the infrared camera system.
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24. A method of visually detecting leaks of a chemical emanating from a component, comprising:
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aiming a passive infrared camera system towards the component, wherein the passive infrared camera system comprises a lens, a refrigerated portion comprising therein an infrared sensor device, and an optical bandpass filter located along an optical path between the lens and the infrared sensor device, wherein a pass band for the optical bandpass filter is located between about 3200 nm and about 3500 nm, wherein the pass band has a full width at half maximum transmittance that is less than about 80 nm, and wherein the pass band has a center wavelength located between about 3320 nm and about 3440 nm, and a refrigeration system adapted to cool the refrigerated portion; and
receiving an infrared image with the infrared sensor device of a leak of the chemical emanating from the component, after the infrared image passes through the lens and optical bandpass filter, and after the infrared image is filtered by the optical bandpass filter;
electronically processing the filtered infrared image received by the infrared sensor device to provide a visible image representing the filtered infrared image; and
visually identifying the leak based on the visible image representing the filtered infrared image provided by the infrared camera system.
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Specification