Apparatus and Method for Infrared Imaging With Performance Algorithm

• US 20070087311A1
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Computational Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: CSI Technology Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Skeirik, Robert, Garvey, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 7,528,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/21
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/00 Radiation pyrometry, e.g. infrared or optical thermometry
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/07 Arrangements for adjusting the solid angle of collected radiation, e.g. adjusting or orienting field of view, tracking position or encoding angular position optical collimating elements G01J5/0806
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0859 Sighting arrangements, e.g. cameras

Abstract

A system and method for enhancing inspections using infrared cameras through in-field displays and operator-assisted performance calculations. A handheld infrared imaging system typically includes an infrared camera having a programmed computer (optionally with stored reference data from previous infrared or optical scans) and an interactive user interface suitable for displaying images and prompting response and accepting input from the infrared camera operator in the field during an inspection. The user interface may enable an operator to designate at least one thing of interest on a displayed infrared image; and the programmed computer uses a performance algorithm to estimate performance associated with the thing of interest such as one of the following: a dimensioned-measurement value or a thermal-property characteristic or an electrical-property characteristic or a cash value or a rate-of-change characteristic or an assessment of risk or danger. The programmed computer may extract information or parameters from previously measured data (either transferred down from the PC database or locally resident in the camera from previously stored measurements). The programmed computer may vary the way in which it displays new measurements, including live or continuously updated display, based on the information extracted from the stored data. Implementations may incorporate a device used for periodic measurements or an “online” device used for continuous or continuously updated monitoring. One or more of the parameters extracted from the IR image may be trended or otherwise adapted to provide an automated alert to the user regarding significant changes or important findings.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for in-field analysis of an object performing its function, the system comprising:

a. a portable computerized camera system programmed for producing analyzed infrared measured information corresponding at least in part to the object.

b. the computerized camera system being further programmed with additional information about a thing of interest regarding the object performing its function and further programmed with a performance algorithm that uses the analyzed infrared information and additional information about the thing of interest to calculate a result corresponding to a performance determination associated with the object; and

c. a user interface in communication with the computerized camera system for displaying an image, displaying at least one thing of interest on the image, and displaying the result.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user interface is further configured for accepting input from an infrared camera operator in the field during an inspection of the object, the user interface being operable to designate the thing of interest on the display.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the user interface is further configured for prompting the operator to supply some of the additional information used to calculate the result.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image is a representation of infrared measured information.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an outline around the thing of interest on the image

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said computerized infrared camera system further comprises a visible camera and said camera system produces a coordinated infrared and visual image.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the performance determination associated with the object is at least one characteristic of the object or its function selected from the group of:

a. electrical resistance,

b. mechanical friction,

c. thermal resistance,

d. monetary value,

e. rate-of-change of a parameter, or

f. physical dimension.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the camera system produces a present image of the object and stores at least one historical image of the object, and wherein the algorithm compares the historical image with the present image.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the camera system is further operable to coordinate the historical image with the present image.

10. A portable apparatus for in-field analysis of an object performing a function, the system comprising:

a. a computerized infrared camera system for producing an infrared image of the object, the infrared image containing thermal information corresponding to the object, and programmed for analyzing the thermal information to produce a result,

b. a user interface in communication with the computerized system for displaying the infrared image, for receiving user input corresponding to the object in the thermal image and for displaying the result; and

c. the computerized system being further programmed with additional information corresponding to the intended function of the object and further programmed with a performance algorithm that uses the thermal information, the user input and the additional information to calculate the result corresponding to a level of performance of the object in performing its function.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the user interface is further configured for accepting input from an infrared camera operator in the field during an inspection of the object, the user interface being operable to designate a thing of interest on the display.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the user interface is further configured for prompting the operator to supply some additional information used to calculate the result.

13. A process for analyzing the performance of an object in an image produced by a portable infrared imaging apparatus, the process comprising the following steps:

(a) determining a thermal zone in the image, the thermal zone having a boundary;

(b) determining a first image expanse between a first point and a second point on the boundary of the thermal zone, the first point and the second point being spaced apart a known reference distance;

(c) determining a second image expanse between a third point and fourth point spaced apart a first unknown distance in the image;

(d) calculating a first estimated distance between the third point and the fourth point in the image using the known reference distance and a ratio between the first image expanse and the second image expanse.

14. The process of claim 13 wherein step (a) comprises defining a thermal zone having a boundary representing at least one edge of a reference thermal object displayed in the image and wherein step (b) comprises determining a first image expanse between a first point and a second point on the boundary of the thermal zone, the first point and the second point being spaced apart a known reference distance on the reference thermal object displayed in the image.

15. The process of claim 13 further comprising

(a) determining a third image expanse between a fifth point and sixth point spaced a second unknown distance apart in the image;

(b) calculating a second estimated distance between the fifth point and the sixth point in the image using the known reference distance and a ratio between the first image expanse and the third image expanse; and

(c) calculating a physical area represented by at least a portion of the image using the first estimated distance between the third point and the fourth point in the image and the second estimated distance between the fifth point and the sixth point in the image.

16. The process of claim 13 further comprising calculating a thermal performance characteristic of the object using a thermal performance algorithm.

17. The process of claim 13 further comprising calculating an electrical resistance of an object in the image.

18. The process of claim 13 further comprising calculating a mechanical friction of an object in the image.

19. The process of claim 13 further comprising calculating an electrical resistance of an object in the image and comparing the electrical resistance with an electrical resistance alarm level to determine if an alarm should be triggered.

20. The process of claim 13 further comprising calculating a mechanical friction of an object in the image and comparing the mechanical friction with a mechanical friction alarm level to determine if an alarm should be triggered.