Leak Detection and Identification System

• US 20100211333A1
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Integrated Process Resources, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Integrated Process Resources, Inc.
• Inventors: Pruet, Richard T., Cotton, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/687,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211333A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0208 using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/027 Control of working procedures of a spectrometer; Failure detection; Bandwidth calculation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/26 using multiple reflection, e.g. Fabry-Perot interferometer, variable interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 Imaging spectrometer
• 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 5/20 using resistors, thermistors or semiconductors sensitive to radiation, e.g. photoconductive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/38 by using light G01M3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3531 without instrumental source, i.e. radiometric

Abstract

A leak detection and identification system a Fabry-Perot etalon, an imaging lens, a microbolometer camera, and a computer for spectral and image data post-processing, wherein the data peaks are deconvoluted for use thus avoiding the need for bandpass filters.

Claims

1. A leak detection and localization system, comprising:

a lens for collecting radiation,

a Fabry-Perot interferometer in line with said radiation, and a focusing means for adjusting the said Fabry-Perot interferometer;

an uncooled focal plane array (FPA) inline with said radiation for detecting the temperature of said radiation, said focal plane array having a sensitivity of <

100 mK at 30°

C., at least 120×

120 pixels, and a spectral range of at least 5-14 microns;

said system including a processor operably connected to said FPA for deconvoluting a discontinuous image to a continuous image and converting said continuous image into a 2D representation of temperature; and

display means for displaying 2d temperature data in near real time.

2. The leak detection and localization system of claim 1, wherein the FPA is a microbolometer.

3. The leak detection and localization system of claim 1, wherein the processor does not use Fourier transform for said deconvoluting.

4. The leak detection and localization system of claim 1, wherein the processor uses matrix multiplication for said deconvoluting.

5. The leak detection and localization system of claim 1, wherein the resolution of said system is 0.1 μ

m.

6. The leak detection and localization system of claim 1, wherein the system scans the etalon cavity from 4.25 μ

m to 19.25 μ

m, using 61 evenly spaced steps of 0.25 μ

m.

7. The leak detection and localization system of claim 1, wherein the system does not employ bandpass filters.