CALIBRATED ASSEMBLY FOR IR THERMOMETER APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A tip assembly for an IR thermometer apparatus, said assembly comprising:
- a heat sink having a heat sink cavity;
a tip section having a fluid path defined within said tip section and at least one hydraulic port;
an IR sensor disposed within said tip section and thermally coupled to said heat sink;
a shroud overlaying at least said tip section; and
an electrical connector configured to provide electrical coupling to an electronic circuit disposed within said tip assembly, wherein a fluid having a fluid temperature is introduced into said fluid path via said hydraulic port, and said fluid causes said heat sink and said IR sensor to substantially reach one or more pre-determined temperatures by thermal conduction during calibration of said tip assembly and wherein said fluid is substantially removed after calibration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tip assembly for an IR thermometer apparatus includes a heat sink having a heat sink cavity and a tip section and a fluid path and at least one hydraulic port. The tip assembly also includes an IR sensor mechanically seated in the tip section and thermally coupled to the heat sink. The tip assembly also includes an electrical connector configured to provide an electrical connection to the tip assembly. A fluid having a fluid temperature is introduced into the fluid path via the hydraulic port. The fluid causes the heat sink and the IR sensor to substantially reach one or more pre-determined temperatures by thermal conduction during calibration of the tip assembly. Another tip assembly having an internal heat source is described. Another tip assembly having an internal heat pump is described. A method to calibrate a tip assembly is also described.
84 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A tip assembly for an IR thermometer apparatus, said assembly comprising:
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a heat sink having a heat sink cavity; a tip section having a fluid path defined within said tip section and at least one hydraulic port; an IR sensor disposed within said tip section and thermally coupled to said heat sink; a shroud overlaying at least said tip section; and an electrical connector configured to provide electrical coupling to an electronic circuit disposed within said tip assembly, wherein a fluid having a fluid temperature is introduced into said fluid path via said hydraulic port, and said fluid causes said heat sink and said IR sensor to substantially reach one or more pre-determined temperatures by thermal conduction during calibration of said tip assembly and wherein said fluid is substantially removed after calibration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34)
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31. A tip assembly for an IR thermometer apparatus comprising:
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a heat sink having a heat sink cavity; a heating element thermally coupled to said heat sink; an IR sensor mechanically seated in a tip section of said tip assembly and thermally coupled to said heat sink; a shroud mechanically covering at least a portion of said tip section; and an electrical connector configured to provide electrical coupling to an electronic circuit disposed within said tip assembly, wherein a temperature of said heat sink and said IR sensor is set to one or more pre-determined temperatures by heating caused by said heating element during calibration of said tip assembly.
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32. A tip assembly for an IR thermometer apparatus comprising:
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a heat sink having a heat sink cavity; a heat pump thermally coupled to said heat sink; an IR sensor mechanically seated in a tip section of said tip assembly and thermally coupled to said heat sink; a shroud mechanically covering at least a portion of said tip section; and an electrical connector configured to provide electrical coupling to an electronic circuit disposed within said tip assembly, wherein a temperature of said heat sink and said IR sensor is set to one or more pre-determined temperatures by heating or cooling as caused by said heat pump during calibration of said tip assembly.
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35. A method to calibrate a tip assembly, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a tip assembly to be calibrated, said tip assembly including an IR sensor, a heat sink thermally coupled to said IR sensor, and at least one fluid path disposed within said tip assembly; flowing a fluid at a pre-determined temperature though said at least one fluid path while said IR sensor is viewing a calibrated temperature target at a pre-determined target temperature to obtain a calibration data point; repeating said flowing step one or more times; calculating a set of calibration coefficients from two or more data points to calibrate said tip assembly; and storing said set of calibration coefficients on a recordable media. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method to releasably attach a tip assembly to an apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a tip assembly to be releasably attached to an apparatus, said tip assembly including an IR sensor, a heat sink thermally coupled to said IR sensor, and at least one fluid path disposed within said tip assembly; attaching said tip assembly to said apparatus; and releasing said tip assembly from said apparatus for a selected one of cleaning said tip assembly, replacing said tip assembly, and calibrating said tip assembly. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification