Differential Infrared Imager for Gas Plume Detection
First Claim
1. An system for autonomously detecting a chemical plume comprising:
- a lens,a first detector,a second detector,a first bandpass filter that passes a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed or emitted by a chemical species and rejects frequencies outside that range, anda second bandpass filter that passes a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is similar in magnitude and offset from wavelength passed by the first bandpass filter and rejects frequencies outside that range.at least one beam splitter configured to split a beam passing through the lens into at least two beams wherein a first beam sasses through the first bandpass filter to the first detector and a second beam passes through the second bandpass filter to the second detector.
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Abstract
Apparatus, systems, and methods autonomously detect a chemical plume. The system includes an apparatus for splitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation and feeding the split beam to at least two detectors, which are operably connected to a first bandpass filter and a second bandpass filter that passes a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is similar in magnitude but offset from the wavelengths passed by the first bandpass filter. The system further comprises an analysis system configured to analyze images from the at least two detectors, a processor, and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising code configured to direct the processor to perform functions. Exemplary functions include comparing a plurality of deterministic features, a plurality of probabilistic features of objects, or both, from the at least two detectors and determining if a difference between the compared images represents a chemical plume.
72 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An system for autonomously detecting a chemical plume comprising:
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a lens, a first detector, a second detector, a first bandpass filter that passes a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed or emitted by a chemical species and rejects frequencies outside that range, and a second bandpass filter that passes a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is similar in magnitude and offset from wavelength passed by the first bandpass filter and rejects frequencies outside that range. at least one beam splitter configured to split a beam passing through the lens into at least two beams wherein a first beam sasses through the first bandpass filter to the first detector and a second beam passes through the second bandpass filter to the second detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for autonomously detecting a chemical plume comprising the steps of:
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splitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation into at least two beams, which are directed to corresponding at least two detectors, obtaining a first plurality of images from a first detector at least at a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation selected to be absorbed or emitted by a chemical species; obtaining a second plurality of images from a second detector at a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation offset from the wavelength of the first detector; comparing the first plurality images to the second plurality of images to identify differences in a deterministic feature, changes in a probabilistic feature, or both; and recognizing a chemical plume based, at least in part, on the differences. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification