INFRARED CAMERA WITH INFRARED-TRANSMISSIVE DOME SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. An infrared camera system, comprising:
- a housing;
a lens coupled to the housing;
an infrared detector within the housing and configured to receive infrared energy passing through the lens; and
an infrared-transmissive dome coupled to the infrared camera system, wherein the infrared-transmissive dome comprises;
a main body providing a hollow, hemispherical-shaped dome;
wherein the main body is made of an ultra-high molecular weight or a very-high molecular weight polyethylene material; and
wherein the main body has a wall thickness equal to or less than approximately 0.012 inches to allow infrared transmittance greater than approximately sixty five percent through the main body to the lens for infrared imaging in a wavelength range of approximately three to fourteen micrometers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed that provide an infrared-transmissive dome, such as for infrared imaging applications. For example, an infrared camera system includes a housing having a lens coupled to the housing and an infrared detector within the housing configured to receive infrared energy passing through the lens. An infrared-transmissive dome, coupled to the infrared camera system, includes a main body providing a hollow, hemispherical-shaped dome, with the main body made of an ultra-high molecular weight or a very-high molecular weight polyethylene material. The main body may have a wall thickness equal to or less than approximately 0.012 inches to allow infrared transmittance greater than approximately sixty five percent through the main body to the lens for infrared imaging in a wavelength range of approximately three to fourteen micrometers.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An infrared camera system, comprising:
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a housing; a lens coupled to the housing; an infrared detector within the housing and configured to receive infrared energy passing through the lens; and an infrared-transmissive dome coupled to the infrared camera system, wherein the infrared-transmissive dome comprises; a main body providing a hollow, hemispherical-shaped dome; wherein the main body is made of an ultra-high molecular weight or a very-high molecular weight polyethylene material; and wherein the main body has a wall thickness equal to or less than approximately 0.012 inches to allow infrared transmittance greater than approximately sixty five percent through the main body to the lens for infrared imaging in a wavelength range of approximately three to fourteen micrometers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An infrared camera system, comprising:
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a lens coupled to the infrared camera system; an infrared-transmissive dome coupled to the infrared camera system; and an image capture component configured to receive infrared energy passing through the infrared-transmissive dome and the lens and provide infrared thermal image data; wherein the infrared-transmissive dome comprises; a main body providing a hollow, hemispherical-shaped dome, the main body made of an ultra-high molecular weight or a very-high molecular weight polyethylene material; and wherein the main body has a wall thickness equal to or less than approximately 0.012 inches to allow infrared energy transmittance greater than approximately sixty five percent through the main body to the lens for infrared thermal imaging in a wavelength range of approximately three to fourteen micrometers. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of forming an infrared-transmissive dome to enclose at least a portion of an infrared camera system, the method comprising:
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providing an ultra-high molecular weight or a very-high molecular weight polyethylene material within a compression mold to form the infrared-transmissive dome; increasing a temperature of the compression mold; applying pressure to the ultra-high molecular weight or very-high molecular weight polyethylene material via the compression mold; decreasing the temperature of the compression mold; and removing the ultra-high molecular weight or very-high molecular weight polyethylene material from the compression mold, wherein the ultra-high molecular weight or very-high molecular weight polyethylene material has been formed to provide a hollow, hemispherical-shaped dome having a main body with a wall thickness equal to or less than approximately 0.012 inches and having an infrared transmittance greater than approximately sixty five percent through the main body for thermal infrared imaging by the infrared camera system in a wavelength range of approximately three to fourteen micrometers. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification