MEASUREMENT DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20140104415A1
• Filed: 09/23/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teledyne FLIR LLC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fox, Michael, Nussmeier, Mark, Kurth, Eric A., Hoelter, Theodore R., Strandemar, Katrin, Boulanger, Pierre, Sharp, Barbara, Hgasten, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 9,716,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/135
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• 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

Techniques are disclosed for measurement devices and methods to obtain various physical and/or electrical parameters in an integrated manner. For example, a measurement device may include a housing, an optical emitter, a sensor, a distance measurement circuit, a length measurement circuit, an electrical meter circuit, a display, an infrared imaging module, and/or a non-thermal imaging module. The device may be conveniently carried and utilized by users to perform a series of distance measurements, wire length measurements, electrical parameter measurements, and/or fault inspections, in an integrated manner without using multiple different devices. In one example, electricians may utilize the device to perform installation of electrical wires and/or other tasks at various locations (e.g., electrical work sites). In another example, electricians may utilize the device to view a thermal image of one or more scenes at such locations for locating potential electrical faults.

Claims

1. A measurement device comprising:

a housing adapted to be hand-held by a user;

a logic device adapted to determine a physical parameter associated with an external article;

an infrared imaging module adapted to capture an infrared image of a scene; and

a display fixed relative to the housing and adapted to overlay information indicative of the physical parameter onto a user-viewable image, converted from the captured infrared image, to display the information and the user-viewable image for viewing by the user.

2. The measurement device of claim 1, wherein:

the physical parameter comprises an electrical parameter; and

the logic device comprises an electrical meter circuit adapted to be electrically connected to the external article to determine the electrical parameter.

3. The measurement device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor adapted to generate a sensor signal indicative of the physical parameter, wherein the logic device is adapted to determine the physical parameter in response to the sensor signal.

4. The measurement device of claim 3, wherein:

the physical parameter comprises an electrical parameter;

the sensor comprises a non-contact electrical sensor adapted to sense the electrical parameter associated with the external article without making electrical contact; and

the logic device is adapted to determine the electrical parameter in response to the sensor signal from the non-contact electrical sensor.

5. The measurement device of claim 4, wherein the non-contact electrical sensor comprises a clamp adapted to at least partially encircle the external article for sensing the electrical parameter.

6. The measurement device of claim 4, wherein the non-contact electrical sensor is detachable from the housing and adapted to wirelessly transmit the sensor signal to the logic device, the measurement device further comprising a wireless communication module adapted to facilitate wireless communication between the non-contact electrical sensor and the logic device.

7. The measurement device of claim 3, wherein:

the physical parameter comprises a humidity level;

the sensor comprises a moisture sensor that is responsive to moisture; and

the logic device is adapted to determine the humidity level in response to the sensor signal from the moisture sensor.

8. The measurement device of claim 1, further comprising a non-thermal imaging module adapted to capture a non-thermal image of the scene, wherein:

the infrared image captured by the infrared imaging module is a thermal image; and

the logic device is adapted to combine the thermal and the non-thermal images to generate the user-viewable thermal image.

9. The measurement device of claim 8, further comprising:

an optical emitter configured to transmit a laser beam to a target in the scene;

a sensor configured to detect the laser beam as reflected from the target and to generate a detection signal in response to the detected laser beam, wherein the logic device is adapted to determine a distance to the target based on the detection signal, and wherein the logic device is further adapted to;

derive high spatial frequency content from the non-thermal image, and

combine the thermal and the non-thermal images by adding the high spatial frequency content to the thermal image to improve contrast and edge detail in the user-viewable image.

10. A measurement device comprising:

a housing configured to be hand-held by a user;

an optical emitter configured to transmit an optical beam to a target in a scene;

a sensor configured to detect the optical beam as reflected from the target and to generate a detection signal in response to the detected optical beam;

a distance measurement circuit configured to determine a distance to the target based on the detection signal;

an electrical meter circuit configured to be electrically connected to an external article and to determine an electrical parameter associated with the external article; and

a display configured to present information indicative of the distance and/or the electrical parameter for viewing by the user.

11. The measurement device of claim 10, further comprising a length measurement circuit configured to be electrically connected to a wire and to determine a length of the wire, wherein the display is further configured to present information indicative of the length of the wire for viewing by the user.

12. The measurement device of claim 10, further comprising an infrared imaging module configured to capture an infrared image of the scene, wherein the display is further configured to:

present the infrared image for viewing by the user; and

overlay the information indicative of the distance and/or the electrical parameter onto the infrared image.

13. The measurement device of claim 12, wherein the infrared image comprises an image of the optical beam.

14. The measurement device of claim 12, further comprising a non-thermal imaging module configured to capture a non-thermal image of the scene, wherein:

the infrared image is a thermal image; and

the display is further configured to combine the thermal and the non-thermal images to generate a combined image for viewing by the user.

15. The measurement device of claim 14, wherein:

the infrared imaging module comprises a focal plane array (FPA) configured to capture the infrared image of the scene;

the FPA comprises an array of microbolometers adapted to receive a bias voltage selected from a range of approximately 0.2 volts to approximately 0.7 volts; and

the display is further configured to derive high spatial frequency content from the non-thermal image and to combine the thermal and the non-thermal images by adding the high spatial frequency content to the thermal image to improve contrast and edge detail in the combined image.

16. A method comprising:

transmitting an optical beam to a target using an optical emitter of a measurement device configured to be hand-held by a user, wherein the optical beam is aimed at the target by the user;

detecting the optical beam as reflected off the target using a sensor of the device;

generating a detection signal in response to the detected optical beam;

determining, by a distance measurement circuit of the device, a distance to the target based on the detection signal;

presenting, for viewing by the user on a display of the device, information indicative of the distance to the target;

determining, by an electrical meter circuit of the device, an electrical parameter of an external article electrically connected to the electrical meter circuit; and

presenting, for viewing by the user on the display, information indicative of the electrical parameter.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining, by a length measurement circuit of the device, a length of a wire electrically connected to the length measurement circuit; and

presenting, for viewing by the user on the display, information indicative of the length of the wire.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

capturing, at an infrared imaging module of the device, an infrared image of a scene associated with an environment of the user;

overlaying the information indicative of the electrical parameter and/or the distance onto the captured infrared image; and

presenting the infrared image and the overlaid information on the display for viewing by the user.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the infrared image comprises an image of the optical beam.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the infrared image is a thermal image, the method further comprising:

capturing, at a non-thermal imaging module of the device, a non-thermal image of the scene; and

combining the thermal and the non-thermal images to generate a combined image for viewing by the user.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the combining the thermal and the non-thermal images comprises:

deriving high spatial frequency content from the non-thermal image; and

adding the high spatial frequency content to the thermal image to improve contrast and edge detail in the combined image.