Imaging pyrometer
First Claim
1. A method for simultaneously determining surface temperature distributions (x,y)) and images of remote objects, comprising the steps of:
- generating one single image of said objects, sensing said image essentially simultaneously in a first infrared spectral range, in a second infrared spectral range, which is different from said first infrared spectral range, and in at least one further spectral range, which is different from said first and second infrared spectral ranges, and determining a surface the temperature distribution ((x,y)) from said images sensed in said first and second infrared spectral ranges, wherein a visual image (l(x,y)) is determined from said image or images sensed in said at least one further spectral range without being influenced by images sensed in said first and second infrared spectral ranges.
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Abstract
In the imaging pyrometer, at least three types of pixels (L, S, V) for sensing electromagnetic radiation in at least three different spectral ranges are arranged in a mosaic pattern. In a neighborhood, there are two types of pixels with relatively narrow spectral sensitivity ranges in the infrared (IR), a first one (L) for sensing longer IR wavelengths and the other one (S) for shorter IR wavelengths. Additionally, there is a third pixel type (V) present for receiving electromagnetic radiation in a broader band such as the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. This is preferably realized by placing a mosaic filter pattern directly on pixels of an appropriate optoelectronic image sensor, for example by evaporation and photolithographic definition. The pyrometer makes it possible to measure two images of a scene simultaneously and in perfect geometric registration: a reliable temperature map, based on the two-wavelength pyrometric measurement technique, and a high-resolution picture of the scene, for example in the visible spectral range. The dynamic range for the temperature map measurement and the simultaneous picture acquisition are be increased compared to the prior art, so that both images are acquired under favorable signal-to-noise conditions, and the measurable temperature range between about 350° C. and several 1000° C. is accessible without additional neutral density filters or aperture stops.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for simultaneously determining surface temperature distributions (x,y)) and images of remote objects, comprising the steps of:
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generating one single image of said objects, sensing said image essentially simultaneously in a first infrared spectral range, in a second infrared spectral range, which is different from said first infrared spectral range, and in at least one further spectral range, which is different from said first and second infrared spectral ranges, and determining a surface the temperature distribution ((x,y)) from said images sensed in said first and second infrared spectral ranges, wherein a visual image (l(x,y)) is determined from said image or images sensed in said at least one further spectral range without being influenced by images sensed in said first and second infrared spectral ranges. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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3. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least two images are sensed in two successive readouts and an exposure, a readout window, a readout speed and/or a dynamic range are varied from one readout to the other.
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9. An imaging pyrometer for simultaneously determining surface temperature distributions ((x,y)) and images of remote objects, comprising:
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an optoelectronic sensor (1) with a plurality of pixels of at least three different types (L, S, V) for sensing electromagnetic radiation whereof a first pixel type (L) is designed for sensing in a first infrared spectral range a second pixel type (S) is designed for sensing in a second infrared spectral range, which is different from said first infrared spectral range, and, at least one further pixel type (V) is designed for sensing in at least a further spectral range, which is different from said first and said second infrared spectral range, means (5) for determining a temperature distribution ((x,y)) from output signals of pixels of said first (L) and second (S) type, wherein the imaging pyrometer comprises means (5) for determining a visual image (l(x,y)) from output signals of pixels of said at least one further pixel type (V) without being influenced by the output signals of the pixels of said first (L) and second (S) pixel types, and the first, second and at least one further pixel types (L, S, V) are arranged in a mosaic pattern on said optoelectronic sensor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification