Thermal imaging device with selectively replaceable telescopic lenses and automatic lens identification
First Claim
1. A thermal imaging device comprising:
- a device housing sealingly defining a chamber therein, said device housing having at least a portion which is magnetically-permeable to allow penetration of an external magnetic field into said chamber; and
said device housing defining an optical aperture allowing admission of infrared thermal radiation into said chamber, said optical aperture being sealingly closed by a window member which is transparent to thermal radiation;
a lens assembly having an optical axis, and a respective lens housing removably attachable to said device housing at said optical aperture to align said optical axis with said optical aperture, thus to direct infrared thermal radiation from a viewed scene into said chamber via said optical aperture, said lens assembly including a movable power-adjustment portion movement of which changes a power of telescopic magnification for said lens assembly;
a magnet fixedly positioned on said lens housing, when said lens housing is attached to said device housing said magnet being in juxtaposition to said magnetically-permeable portion of said device housing;
a second magnet moving between a first position and a second position dependent upon position of said power-adjustment portion, said second magnet in only one of said first and second positions providing a magnetic field which penetrates into said chamber via said magnetically-permeable portion of said device housing;
a magnetically-responsive sensor disposed within said chamber in juxtaposition to said magnetically permeable portion of said device housing;
whereby said magnetically-responsive sensor indicates the presence of said lens assembly at said optical aperture; and
another magnetically-responsive sensor responding to said magnetic field of said second magnet in said one of said first and second positions to uniquely identify the power setting of said lens assembly.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal imaging device (10) provides for its use with a variety of accessory telescopic lenses (12). Each of the accessory telescopic lenses (12) and the thermal imaging device (10) include cooperating physical features allowing the lenses (12) to be mated with the device (10) in a single relative position. Each lens (12) also carries a uniquely positioned magnet (176), and the thermal imaging device (10) includes a plurality of magnetically-responsive sensors (178) responding to the magnets (176) of the various lenses (12) to identify which (if any) of the accessory lens (12) is installed on the device (10). Some of the accessory lenses (12) also include a variable-power feature. These variable-power lenses (12) have an additional magnet (182) moving between an effective position and an ineffective position in response to a user-selected power setting for the lens (12). The thermal imaging device (10) includes an additional magnetically-responsive sensor (178) affected by the additional magnet (182) in its effective position, but not effected in the ineffective position of this additional magnet (182). Thus, the thermal imaging device (10) also identifies the power setting of an installed variable-power lens (12). The thermal imaging device (10) is provided with internal adjustments and operational options which are automatically implemented dependent upon which of the accessory lenses (12) a user installs on the device (10).
17 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A thermal imaging device comprising:
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a device housing sealingly defining a chamber therein, said device housing having at least a portion which is magnetically-permeable to allow penetration of an external magnetic field into said chamber; and
said device housing defining an optical aperture allowing admission of infrared thermal radiation into said chamber, said optical aperture being sealingly closed by a window member which is transparent to thermal radiation;a lens assembly having an optical axis, and a respective lens housing removably attachable to said device housing at said optical aperture to align said optical axis with said optical aperture, thus to direct infrared thermal radiation from a viewed scene into said chamber via said optical aperture, said lens assembly including a movable power-adjustment portion movement of which changes a power of telescopic magnification for said lens assembly; a magnet fixedly positioned on said lens housing, when said lens housing is attached to said device housing said magnet being in juxtaposition to said magnetically-permeable portion of said device housing; a second magnet moving between a first position and a second position dependent upon position of said power-adjustment portion, said second magnet in only one of said first and second positions providing a magnetic field which penetrates into said chamber via said magnetically-permeable portion of said device housing; a magnetically-responsive sensor disposed within said chamber in juxtaposition to said magnetically permeable portion of said device housing; whereby said magnetically-responsive sensor indicates the presence of said lens assembly at said optical aperture; and another magnetically-responsive sensor responding to said magnetic field of said second magnet in said one of said first and second positions to uniquely identify the power setting of said lens assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification