THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA COMPRISING A COVER PLATE

• US 20100200751A1
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Testo AG
• Original Assignee: Testo AG
• Inventors: Zahn, Patrick, Kaiser, Jorg, Stratmann, Martin, Schuler, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 8,796,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0805 Means for chopping radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/48 Thermography; Techniques using wholly visual means
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/53 Reference sources, e.g. standard lamps; Black bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/04 Hoods or caps for eliminating unwanted light from lenses, viewfinders or focusing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/043 Protective lens closures or lens caps built into cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/007 Details of energy supply or management
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/10 Blade or disc rotating or pivoting about axis normal to its plane
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/66 Means for cocking shutter separate from means for releasing shutter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• 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

This invention relates to a thermal imaging camera comprising a thermal imaging sensor and a cover plate that can be displaced between an open and a closed position by means of an electric drive. The invention is characterized in that the open and the closed position of the cover plate (1) form respectively self-locking end positions and that an electric drive is provided to switch between the end positions, said drive being supplied with no current in the self-locking end positions.

Claims

1. Infrared camera with a thermal imaging sensor and a shutter aperture adjustable between an open and a closed position by means of an electric drive (5), wherein the open position and the closed position of the shutter aperture (1) each form a self-locking end position and wherein, for changing between the two end positions, an electric drive (5) is provided that is switched to be deactivated in the self-locking end positions, wherein the shutter aperture (1) is connected to one end of a pivot arm (2) on whose other end a pivot bearing (4) is provided and on which the electric drive (5) attaches, characterized in that, a contact point (6) for a spring (7) is provided offset to the rotational axis of the pivot bearing (4), wherein, as a tipping element, the spring (7) fixes the two end positions.

2. Infrared camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the shutter aperture (1) has a bistable tipping element that can be switched over by the electric drive.

3. Infrared camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring (7) is constructed as a leg spring and has two legs of which one is mounted on the pivot arm suspension point (6) and the other is mounted on a fixed suspension point (9) on the housing.

4. Infrared camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring (7) is freed from stress in both end positions.

5. Infrared camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the electric drive (5) has a coil and a permanent magnet.

6. Infrared camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the electric drive has an electric motor (5), for example, a stepper motor, geared motor, or the like.

7. Infrared camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the bistable element has a leg spring (7).

8. Infrared camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the shutter aperture has a temperature sensor, in particular, a thermocouple.