Imaging temperature sensing system

• US 8,201,997 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Software Defined Technologies, Inc. (IPITEK, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IPITEK, Inc.
• Inventors: Salour, Michael M.
• Primary Examiner(s): KAPLAN VERBITSKY, GAIL
• Application Number:
  US12/475,044
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 374/100, 374/131, 374/132, 374/120, 374/137, 374/161, 356/43, 600/473, 600/474, 600/478, 600/101
• US Class Current: 374/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00097 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/3213 using changes in luminescence, e.g. at the distal end of the fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/24 Instruments or systems for viewing the inside of hollow bodies, e.g. fibrescopes

Abstract

An imaging temperature sensing system having at least one imaging component and at least one temperature sensing component, thus providing means for implementing temperature sensing and imaging within a single device.

Claims

1. An imaging temperature sensing system comprising:

first means for propagating electromagnetic radiation at a first optical wavelength band and electromagnetic radiation at a second optical wavelength band;

means for generating said electromagnetic radiation at said first optical wavelength band;

means for absorbing said electromagnetic radiation at said first optical wavelength band and emitting said electromagnetic radiation at said second optical wavelength band;

said electromagnetic radiation at said second optical wavelength band incorporating features therein dependent upon the temperature of said absorbing means;

means for separating said electromagnetic radiation at said second optical wavelength band and said electromagnetic radiation at said first optical wavelength band;

means for detecting said electromagnetic radiation at said second optical wavelength band and providing an output after passing through said first propagating means;

means for receiving said output and processing said features dependent upon the temperature of said absorbing means to substantially determine said temperature;

second means for propagating electromagnetic radiation at a third optical wavelength band transmitted to and received from an object;

means for generating said electromagnetic radiation at said third optical wavelength band;

means for substantially separating transmitted and received said electromagnetic radiation at said third optical wavelength band passing through said second propagating means;

means for detecting said electromagnetic radiation at said third optical wavelength band after passing through said second propagating means;

means for processing said electromagnetic radiation at said third optical wavelength band received from said object in order to yield image data of said object.

2. The imaging temperature sensing system of claim 1 wherein:

said electromagnetic radiation comprises light.

3. The imaging temperature sensing system of claim 2 with means for imaging said object.

4. The imaging temperature sensing system of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of said propagating means comprises an optical fiber.

5. The imaging temperature sensing system of claim 1 wherein:

said first propagating means and said second propagating means are contained within a common structure.

6. An imaging temperature sensing system comprising:

means for propagating electromagnetic radiation at a first optical wavelength band and electromagnetic radiation at a second optical wavelength band, as well as propagating electromagnetic radiation at a third optical wavelength band transmitted to and received from an object;

means for generating said electromagnetic radiation at said first optical wavelength band;

means for absorbing said electromagnetic radiation at said first optical wavelength band and emitting said electromagnetic radiation at said second optical wavelength band;

said electromagnetic radiation at said second optical wavelength band incorporating features therein dependent upon the temperature of said absorbing means;

means for generating said electromagnetic radiation at said third optical wavelength band;

means for combining said electromagnetic radiation at said first optical wavelength band and, said electromagnetic radiation at said third optical wavelength band and separating said electromagnetic radiation at said second optical wavelength band and said third optical wavelength band;

means for detecting said electromagnetic radiation at said second optical wavelength band and providing a first output after passing through said propagating means;

means for receiving said first output and processing said features dependent upon the temperature of said absorbing means to substantially determine said temperature at substantially said absorbing means;

means for detecting said electromagnetic radiation at said third optical wavelength band after passing through said propagating means, and providing a second output; and

means for receiving said second output and processing said electromagnetic radiation at said third optical wavelength band received from said object yielding image data of said object.

7. The imaging temperature sensing system of claim 6 wherein:

said electromagnetic radiation comprises light.

8. The imaging temperature sensing system of claim 7 with means for imaging said object.

9. The imaging temperature sensing system of claim 6 wherein:

at least one of said propagating means comprises an optical fiber.