PORTABLE RADIOMETRY AND IMAGING APPARATUS

• US 20090121135A1
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Warner, Charles C., Krivoy, Raul, Burke, Michael W., Rae, John R., Evans, Stewart W., Foster, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US12/189,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20090121135A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted

Abstract

Systems, including devices and methods, for infrared imaging, and more particularly to systems for infrared imaging.

Claims

1. A method of producing thermal images, comprising:

providing a portable device adapted to produce images of scenes adjacent to a user using an infrared camera;

programming the portable device to identify portions of scenes within a first selected temperature range;

using the portable device to produce a first thermal image of a first scene, wherein the portions of the first image corresponding to the portions of the first scene within the first selected temperature range are displayed in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the first image;

reprogramming the portable device to identify portions of scenes within a second selected temperature range different than the first selected temperature range; and

using the portable device to produce a second thermal image of a second scene, wherein the portions of the second image corresponding to the portions of the second scene within the second selected temperature range are displayed in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the second image;

wherein the step of using the portable device to produce a first thermal image includes using the device for a rescue operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using the portable device to produce a second thermal image further includes using the device for a fire fighting operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portions of the first image corresponding to the portions of the first scene within the first selected temperature range are displayed in the same color range as the portions of the second image corresponding to the portions of the second scene within the second selected temperature range.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the portions of the first image corresponding to the portions of the first scene within the first selected temperature range are displayed in a different color range as the portions of the second image corresponding to the portions of the second scene within the second selected temperature range.

5. A method of producing thermal images, comprising:

providing a portable device adapted to produce images of scenes adjacent to a user using an infrared camera;

programming the portable device to identify portions of scenes within a first selected temperature range;

using the portable device to produce a first thermal image of a first scene, wherein the portions of the first image corresponding to the portions of the first scene within the first selected temperature range are displayed in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the first image;

reprogramming the portable device to identify portions of scenes within a second selected temperature range different than the first selected temperature range; and

using the portable device to produce a second thermal image of a second scene, wherein the portions of the second image corresponding to the portions of the second scene within the second selected temperature range are displayed in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the second image;

wherein the step of using the portable device to produce a first thermal image includes using the device for a fire fighting operation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the portions of the first image corresponding to the portions of the first scene within the first selected temperature range are displayed in the same color range as the portions of the second image corresponding to the portions of the second scene within the second selected temperature range.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the portions of the first image corresponding to the portions of the first scene within the first selected temperature range are displayed in a different color range as the portions of the second image corresponding to the portions of the second scene within the second selected temperature range.

8. A method of using a portable device adapted to display thermal images of scenes adjacent to a user using a thermal camera, comprising:

programming the portable device to have a first set of system parameters that cause the portable device to display portions of thermal images corresponding to portions of scenes within a first selected temperature range in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the image;

reprogramming the portable device to have a second set of system parameters that cause the portable device to display portions of thermal images corresponding to portions of scenes within a second selected temperature range in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the image; and

using the portable device programmed to have the first set of system parameters to display a first thermal image of a first scene;

wherein the step of using the portable device to produce a first thermal image includes using the device for a rescue operation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of using the portable device to produce a second thermal image includes using the device for a fire fighting operation.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising using the portable device reprogrammed to have the second set of system parameters to display a second thermal image of a second scene.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the portions of the first image corresponding to the portions of the first scene within the first selected temperature range are displayed in the same color range as the portions of the second image corresponding to the portions of the second scene within the second selected temperature range.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the portions of the first image corresponding to the portions of the first scene within the first selected temperature range are displayed in a different color range as the portions of the second image corresponding to the portions of the second scene within the second selected temperature range.

13. A method of using a portable device adapted to display thermal images of scenes adjacent to a user using a thermal camera, comprising:

programming the portable device to have a first set of system parameters that cause the portable device to display portions of thermal images corresponding to portions of scenes within a first selected temperature range in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the image;

reprogramming the portable device to have a second set of system parameters that cause the portable device to display portions of thermal images corresponding to portions of scenes within a second selected temperature range in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the image; and

using the portable device programmed to have the first set of system parameters to display a first thermal image of a first scene;

wherein the step of using the portable device to produce a first thermal image includes using the device for a fire fighting operation.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising using the portable device reprogrammed to have the second set of system parameters to display a second thermal image of a second scene.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the portions of the first image corresponding to the portions of the first scene within the first selected temperature range are displayed in the same color range as the portions of the second image corresponding to the portions of the second scene within the second selected temperature range.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the portions of the first image corresponding to the portions of the first scene within the first selected temperature range are displayed in a different color range as the portions of the second image corresponding to the portions of the second scene within the second selected temperature range.