Dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system

• US 7,453,064 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unimems Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Unimems Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Tzong-Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baker; David S
• Application Number:
  US11/260,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330, 250/353
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/04 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0846 having multiple detectors for performing different types of detection, e.g. using radiometry and reflectometry channels

Abstract

A dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system is described. The dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system includes a reflective infrared thermal imager and a refractive visible light video camera. The refractive visible light video camera is configured at the central axis of the reflective infrared thermal imager so that the refractive visible light video camera and the reflective infrared thermal imager can synchronously and coaxially capture the images. The reflective infrared thermal imager further includes a reflective optical module and an infrared imaging sensor. The infrared images are focused on the infrared imaging sensor by way of the reflective optical module.

Claims

1. A dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system, comprising:

an infrared thermal imager; and

a visible light video camera disposed at a central axis of the infrared thermal imager, so that the infrared thermal imager and the visible light video camera take infrared images and visible light images coaxially, wherein the infrared thermal imager further comprises;

a reflective optical module further comprising a first reflector with a first infrared reflective layer and a second reflector with a second infrared reflective layer;

an infrared imaging sensor for capturing the infrared images reflected by the reflective optical module and focused on the infrared imaging sensor; and

a focusing module further comprising;

a fixing plate for fixing the visible light video camera and the second reflector;

steel balls coupling the fixing plate to a shell of the infrared thermal imager so that the fixing plate is able to move on the shell; and

a fixing device fixing the fixing plate on the shell.

2. The dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a dust cover fixed on a shell of the infrared thermal imager to prevent the infrared thermal imager and the visible light video camera from contamination.

3. The dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system of claim 2, wherein the dust cover is made of a polyethylene (PE) material.

4. The dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system of claim 3, wherein the shell is made of a metal material or a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material.

5. The dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control module for processing the infrared images and the visible light images taken by the infrared imaging sensor and the visible light video camera; and

a signal output module to output the infrared images and the visible light images.

6. The dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system of claim 5, wherein the control module further comprises a first control module for processing the infrared images and a second control module for processing the visible light images, wherein the first control module further eliminates distortions of the infrared images;

and

the signal output module further comprises a first signal output module for outputting the infrared images and a second signal output module for outputting the visible light images.

7. The dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system of claim 1, wherein the first infrared reflective layer and the second infrared reflective layer are composed of coated metal layers.

8. The dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first reflector and the second reflector is made of a glass material.

9. The dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first reflector and the second reflector is made of a plastic material.

10. The dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first reflector and the second reflector is made of aluminum.

11. The dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a power module to provide a power for the visible light video camera and the infrared thermal imager.

12. The dual-band reflective infrared thermal imaging system of claim 1, wherein the visible light video camera is a refractive visible light video camera.