Interfacing devices and systems

• US 20090238238A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: White Box Incorporated
• Original Assignee: White Box Incorporated
• Inventors: Baghai, Shahin, Hollander, Milton Bernard
• Granted Patent: US 8,153,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/121
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/026 Control of working procedures of a pyrometer, other than calibration; Bandwidth calculation; Gain control
• 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 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0806 Focusing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or concave mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0896 using a light source, e.g. for illuminating a surface

Abstract

A system combining the output of a thermal detection and imaging device with a capture and display device, such as a cordless or portable telephone/camera, is used to manage thermal information and displays.

Claims

1. A thermal detection and display system comprising the combination of (a) detector means responsive to infrared radiation on a remote surface which includes a visible light identification display pattern projected onto said surface to identify/locate the origin of infrared radiation with detector means for visible reflected light and (b) means to transfer an image of both infrared features detected and visible marking detected to a display means for image management comprising an iPhone or PDA.

2. A method of imaging a remote thermal measurement surface area comprising (a) visualizing an area of infrared emission on said remote surface by illumination of said surface with a projected aiming pattern of visible light beams, reflected therefrom together with the infrared emission, and (b) displaying an image of both the infrared and visible aiming pattern surface features, separately detected, as a combined image signal which is (c) conveyed to a management device.

3. A measuring device for measuring the temperature of a measured spot on a measured object without contacting the measured object, wherein said device comprises:

(a) a detector;

(b) an optical imaging system illuminating said detector with infrared radiation from said measured spot; and

(c) sighting means for marking the position and/or size of the measured spot on the measured object, said sighting means comprising separate sources of visible light that each provides a separate respective sighting system.

4. A measuring device according to claim 3 which includes sighting means for a radiometer for visibly marking a measuring surface, a temperature of which is measured by said radiometer, comprising at least three light sources, each of which emits a visible light beam, said light sources being arranged such that said visible light beams generate a plurality of points at an edge of said measuring surface;

and a control circuit for switching said light sources on and off, said control circuit adapted such that at most two light sources are on simultaneously.

5. A radiometer, comprising an infrared detector, a lens arranged with respect to said detector to focus infrared radiation from a measuring surface to said detector;

and a light source emitting visible light for marking said measuring surface;

said marking providing visible indication based upon a reading of said infrared detector.

6. A method for a radiometer of visibly marking a measuring surface, the method comprising:

emitting visible light beams by at least three light sources for marking said measuring surface, each light source emitting one light beam; and

switching said light sources on and off, at most two light sources being switched on simultaneously.