Portable radiometry and imaging apparatus

• US 6,849,849 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2000
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Teledyne FLIR LLC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Warner, Charles C., Krivoy, Raul, Burke, Michael W., Rae, John R., Evans, Stewart W., Foster, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANIG, RICHARD E
• Application Number:
  US09/561,266
• Time in Patent Office: 1,741 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330, 250/332, 250/339.04, 250/339.14, 250/339.15, 250/341.8, 250/342, 348/64, 348/164, 359/815, 345/8, 345/9
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted

Abstract

An infrared (IR) camera and associated electronics including power are integrated into portable, self-contained, vision-enhancement apparatus useful in environments of dense air-borne particulate and thermal extremes such as encountered in fire fighting situations, in accordance with the invention. The IR camera is integral with a self-contained power supply so that the system is portable and requires no umbilical cord or other external connections. The camera includes an imager that is preferably an un-cooled focal plane array, and associated imaging, storing, processing and displaying electronics that are cooled in the extreme thermal environment using an integral plural phase heatsink.

Claims

1. A method of representing a thermal image in a portable device, comprising:

generating an electronic signal representative of a scene adjacent a user using an infrared camera;

identifying selected portions of the electronic signal that represent portions of the scene that are within an identified temperature range selected to highlight target portions of the scene near hurnan body temperature; and

mapping the electronic signal to display an image of the scene, wherein the selected portions of the electronic signal are mapped to the image in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portions of the electronic signal that do not represent the selected portions are mapped to the image in a neutral color range.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the neutral color range is monochrome.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the neutral color range is shades of gray.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected portions of the electronic signal are displayed in at least one color, and the portions of the electronic signal that do not represent the selected portions are displayed in monochrome or a relatively fixed color markedly different from the at least one color, such that a user viewing the image can readily distinguish the portions of the scene that are within the identified temperature range.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of mapping includes:

producing a multicolor signal representative of the image; and

emphasizing at least one color of the multicolor signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the multicolor signal is an RGB signal.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of mapping further includes de-emphasizing other colors of the multicolor signal so that the relative luminance of the selected portions of the image remain approximately equivalent to the relative luminance of portions of the image that represent portions of the scene that are near to the identified temperature range.

9. The method of claim 1, the selected portions of the electronic signal being first selected portions, and the identified temperature range being a first identified temperature range, further comprising:

identifying second selected portions of the electronic signal that represent portions of the scene that are within a second identified temperature range; and

mapping the second selected portions of the electronic signal to the image in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the image.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first selected portions correspond to target portions of the scene, and the second selected portions correspond to avoidance portions of the scene.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the target portions correspond to a human target.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the avoidance portions correspond to excessive heat.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the portions of the electronic signal that do not correspond to the target or avoidance portions are mapped to the color image in a neutral color range.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the neutral color range is shades of gray.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the mapped image to distinguish between a human target and excessive heat.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device is a firefighting device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising adding a numerical temperature readout capability to the portable device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the scene is in front of the user.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the infrared camera generates pixel data representative of the temperature of corresponding points in the scene.

20. A method of representing a thermal image in a portable device, comprising:

generating an electronic signal representative of a scene adjacent a user using an infrared camera;

identifying selected portions of the electronic signal that represent portions of the scene that are within an identified temperature range that includes temperatures that represent a threat to the user of the portable device; and

mapping the electronic signal to display an image of the scene, wherein the selected portions of the electronic signal are mapped to the image in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the image.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the portions of the electronic signal that do not represent the selected portions are mapped to the image in a neutral color range.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the neutral color range is monochrome.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the neutral color range is shades of gray.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the selected portions of the electronic signal are displayed in at least one color, and the portions of the electronic signal that do not represent the selected portions are displayed in monochrome or a relatively fixed color markedly different from the at least one color, such that a user viewing the image can readily distinguish the portions of the scene that are within the identified temperature range.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of mapping includes:

producing a multicolor signal representative of the image; and

emphasizing at least one color of the multicolor signal.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the multicolor signal is an RGB signal.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of mapping further includes deemphasizing other colors of the multicolor signal so that the relative luminance of the selected portions of the image remain approximately equivalent to the relative luminance of portions of the image that represent portions of the scene that are near to the identified temperature range.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the identified temperature range includes temperatures between about 25°

C. and about 100°

C.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the identified temperature range is selected to highlight portions of the scene near human body temperature.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the identified temperature range includes temperatures higher than about 550°

C.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein the identified temperature range includes temperatures that correspond to excessive heat.

32. The method of claim 20, the selected portions of the electronic signal being first selected portions, and the identified temperature range being a first identified temperature range, further comprising:

identifying second selected portions of the electronic signal that represent portions of the scene that are within a second identified temperature range; and

mapping the second selected portions of the electronic signal to the image in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the image.

33. The method of claim 20, wherein the portable device is a firefighting device.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising adding a numerical temperature readout capability to the portable device.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising identifying different levels of combustion using the mapped image.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising identifying hotspots within walls or other structure using the mapped image.

37. The method of claim 20, wherein the scene is in front of the user.

38. The method of claim 20, wherein the infrared camera generates pixel data representative of the temperature of corresponding points in the scene.

39. The method of claim 20, wherein the system has a thermal dynamic range and the identified temperature range covers less than half of this range.

40. A method of representing a thermal image in a portable device, comprising:

generating an electronic signal representative of a scene adjacent a user using an infrared camera;

identifying first selected portions of the electronic signal that represent portions of the scene that are within a first identified temperature range; and

identifying second selected portions of the electronic signal that represent portions of the scene that are within a second identified temperature range; and

mapping the electronic signal to display an image of the scene, wherein the first and second selected portions of the electronic signal are mapped to the image in color ranges that are visually distinct from each other and from all other portions of the image.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the first selected portions correspond to target portions of the scene, and the second selected portions correspond to avoidance portions of the scene.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the target portions correspond to a human target.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the avoidance portions correspond to excessive heat.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the avoidance portions correspond to temperatures higher than about 550°

C.

45. The method of claim 41, further comprising using the mapped image to distinguish between a human target and excessive heat.

46. The method of claim 40, wherein the portions of the electronic signal that do not represent the selected portions are mapped to the image in a neutral color range.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the neutral color range is monochrome.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the neutral color range is shades of gray.

49. The method of claim 40, wherein the first and second selected portions of the electronic signal are displayed in at least one color, and the portions of the electronic signal that do not represent the selected portions are displayed in monochrome or a relatively fixed color markedly different from the at least one color, such that a user viewing the image can readily distinguish the portions of the scene that are within the first and second identified temperature ranges.

50. The method of claim 40, wherein the step of mapping includes:

producing a multicolor signal representative of the image; and

emphasizing at least one color of the multcolor signal.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the multicolor signal is an RGB signal.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the step of mapping further includes de-emphasizing other colors of the multicolor signal so that the relative luminance of the selected portions of the image remain approximately equivalent to the relative luminance of portions of the image that represent portions of the scene that are near to the identified temperature range.

53. The method of claim 40, wherein the portable device is a firefighting device.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising adding a numerical temperature readout capability to the portable device.

55. The method of claim 53, further comprising identifying different levels of combustion using the mapped image.

56. The method of claim 53, further comprising identifying hotspots within walls or other structure using the mapped image.

57. The method of claim 40, wherein the scene is in front of the user.

58. The method of claim 40, wherein the infrared camera generates pixel data representative of the temperature of corresponding points in the scene.

59. A method of representing a thermal image in a portable firefighting device, comprising:

generating an electronic signal representative of a scene adjacent a user using an infrared camera;

identifying selected portions of the electronic signal that represent portions of the scene that are within an identified temperature range;

mapping the electronic signal to display an image of the scene, wherein the selected portions of the electronic signal are mapped to the image in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the image; and

identifyng different levels of combustion using the mapped image.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the portions of the electronic signal that do not represent the selected portions are mapped to the image in a neutral color range.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the neutral color range is monochrome.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the neutral color range is shades of gray.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein the selected portions of the electronic signal are displayed in at least one color, and the portions of the electronic signal that do not represent the selected portions are displayed in monochrome or a relatively fixed color markedly different from the at least one color, such that a user viewing the image can readily distinguish the portions of the scene that are within the identified temperature range.

64. The method of claim 59, wherein the step of mapping includes:

producing a multicolor signal representative of the image; and

emphasizing at least one color of the multicolor signal.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the multicolor signal is an RGB signal.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the step of mapping further includes de-emphasizing other colors of the multicolor signal so that the relative luminance of the selected portions of the image remain approximately equivalent to the relative luminance of portions of the image that represent portions of the scene that are near to the identified temperature range.

67. The method of claim 59, wherein the identified temperature range includes temperatures higher than about 550°

C.

68. The method of claim 59, wherein the identified temperature range includes temperatures that correspond to excessive heat.

69. The method of claim 59, further comprising adding a numerical temperature readout capability to the portable device.

70. The method of claim 59, further comprising identifying hotspots within walls or other structure using the mapped image.

71. The method of claim 59, wherein the scene is in front of the user.

72. The method of claim 59, wherein the infrared camera generates pixel data representative of the temperature of corresponding points in the scene.

73. The method of claim 59, wherein the system has a thermal dynamic range and the identified temperature range covers less than half of this range.

74. A method of representing a thermal image in a portable firefighting device, comprising:

generating an electronic signal representative of a scene adjacent a user using an infrared camera;

identifying selected portions of the electronic signal that represent portions of the scene that are within an identified temperature range;

mapping the electronic signal to display an image of the scene, wherein the selected portions of the electronic signal are mapped to the image in a color range that is visually distinct from all other portions of the image; and

identifying hotspots within walls or other structure using the mapped image.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the portions of the electronic signal that do not represent the selected portions are mapped to the image in a neutral color range.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the neutral color range is monochrome.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the neutral color range is shades of gray.

78. The method of claim 74, wherein the selected portions of the electronic signal are displayed in at least one color, and the portions of the electronic signal that do not represent the selected portions are displayed in monochrome or a relatively fixed color markedly different from the at least one color, such that a user viewing the image can readily distinguish the portions of the scene that are within the identified temperature range.

79. The method of claim 74, wherein the step of mapping includes:

producing a multicolor signal representative of the image; and

emphasizing at least one color of the multcolor signal.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the multicolor signal is an RGB signal.

81. The method of claim 79, wherein the step of mapping further includes de-emphasizing other colors of the multicolor signal so that the relative luminance of the selected portions of the image remain approximately equivalent to the relative luminance of portions of the image that represent portions of the scene that are near to the identified temperature range.

82. The method of claim 74, wherein the identified temperature range includes temperatures between about 25°

C. and about 100°

C.

83. The method of claim 74, wherein the identified temperature range includes temperatures higher than about 550°

C.

84. The method of claim 74, wherein the identified temperature range includes temperatures that correspond to excessive heat.

85. The method of claim 74, further comprising adding a numerical temperature readout capability to the portable device.

86. The method of claim 74, wherein the scene is in front of the user.

87. The method of claim 74, wherein the infrared camera generates pixel data representative of the temperature of corresponding points in the scene.

88. The method of claim 74, wherein the system has a thermal dynamic range and the identified temperature range covers less than half of this range.

89. Portable apparatus for infrared imaging, comprising:

an infrared camera for detecting and imaging a scene; and

a display operatively connected to the camera for producing an image representing a detected and imaged scene, wherein the image is color coded to represent those portions of the scene that are within an identified temperature range in a color that is visually distinct from all other portions of the image, the identified temperature range being selected to highlight target portions of the scene near human body temperature.

90. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the identified temperature range is selected to highl ight avoidance portions of the scene corresponding to dangerously high temperatures.

91. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the image is color coded such that the all other portions of the image are displayed in a neutral color range.

92. Portable apparatus for infrared imaging, comprising:

an infrared camera fordetecting and imaging a scene; and

a display operatively connected to the camera for producing an image representing a detected and imaged scene, wherein the image is color coded to represent those portions of the scene that are within an identified temperature range in a color that is visually distinct from all other portions of the image, the identified temperature range being selected to highlight avoidance portions of the scene corresponding to dangerously high temperatures.

93. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein the image is color coded such that the all other portions of the image are displayed in a neutral color range.