Method for displaying a thermal image in an IR camera and an IR camera

• US 8,289,372 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flir Systems AB (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Flir Systems AB (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hamrelius, Torbjörn, Ahlström, Mats
• Primary Examiner(s): Ustaris, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAILEY, FREDERICK D
• Application Number:
  US11/549,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20080265162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,192 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330, 348/32
• US Class Current: 348/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/10 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/48 Thermography; Techniques using wholly visual means

Abstract

The invention is achieved by using a method for displaying a thermal image in an infrared (IR) thermal camera, comprising the steps of registering an outdoor temperature value, registering an indoor temperature value, calculating an isotherm level by using the registered temperature values and a temperature color alarm level, imaging a surface area to create an image of the temperature distribution in at least a part of the surface area, comparing the surface area temperature in at least one image point of the thermal image to the isotherm level, adjusting the color of the at least one image point in dependence of the relation between the surface area temperature in said at least one image point and the isotherm level and displaying the colored thermal image.

The invention allows you to determine immediately, on-site, if a building is well insulated or not. It presents an easily interpreted and understandable thermal image which instantly draws a users attention to an identified critical area.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a colored thermal image in an infrared (IR) thermal camera to detect thermal transmission through a partition separating an outside and an inside of a construction, the method comprising:

registering a first air temperature value (T_A) on the outside of the construction;

registering a second air temperature value (T_B) on the inside of the construction;

calculating a temperature level value (T_ISO) based on the registered first air temperature value (T_A), the registered second air temperature value (T_B), and a temperature color alarm level value (T_CAL);

imaging a surface area of the partition located between the outside and the inside of the construction, to create the thermal image of a temperature distribution in at least a part of the surface area;

comparing a surface area temperature in at least one image point of the thermal image to the temperature level value (T_ISO);

adjusting a color of the at least one image point in dependence of the relation between the surface area temperature in the at least one image point and the temperature level value (T_ISO), to create a colored version of the thermal image; and

displaying the colored version of the thermal image.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature color alarm level value (T_CAL) is registered in the IR camera manually.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising calculating thermal transmission coefficients of the partition in the colored version of the thermal image using the registered first air temperature value (T_A) and the registered second air temperature value (T_B).

4. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

registering an air humidity level when registering the first air temperature value (T_A) and/or the second air temperature value (T_B); and

compensating for the registered air humidity level when displaying the colored version of the thermal image.

5. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

registering a distance between the partition and the IR camera as the IR camera captures the thermal image; and

compensating for the registered distance when displaying the colored version of the thermal image.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature color alarm level value (T_CAL) defines an accepted percentage of a maximum amount of heat transfer for the partition between the inside of the construction and the outside of the construction.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature level value (T_ISO) defines a lowest accepted surface temperature of the partition.

8. An infrared (IR) thermal camera, comprising:

a lens configured to focus incoming IR radiation from an object, representing a portion of a structure, for the IR camera to generate an image signal corresponding to the incoming IR radiation;

a processor configured to perform signal conditioning for the image signal, the signal conditioning comprising corrections for inherent offset and gain to provide a conditioned image signal output;

a color adjusting unit, which in dependence of temperature values registered via temperature input means and processed by the processor, is configured to display a thermal image via a display;

wherein the processor is configured to calculate, on the basis of at least a first registered air temperature value (T_A) for outside the structure, a second registered air temperature value (T_B) for inside the structure via the temperature input means, and a temperature color alarm level value (T_CAL), a temperature level value (T_ISO); and

wherein the color adjusting unit is configured to compare a surface area temperature in at least one image point of the thermal image to the temperature level value (T_ISO) and adjust the color in the at least one image point of the thermal image in dependence of the relation between the surface area temperature in the at least one image point and the temperature level value (T_ISO), to create a colored version of the thermal image.

9. An infrared (IR) thermal camera according to claim 8, comprising receiving means for receiving a temperature color alarm level value (T_CAL) manually.

10. An infrared (IR) thermal camera according to claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to calculate, on the basis of the first and second registered air temperature values (T_A, T_B), thermal transmission coefficients of the object in the colored version of the thermal image.

11. An infrared (IR) thermal camera according to claim 8, comprising humidity input means—

for receiving at least one atmospheric humidity value, and wherein the processor is configured to compensate for the atmospheric humidity value when determining the temperature level value (T_ISO).

12. An infrared (IR) thermal camera according to claim 8, further comprising distance input means for receiving an object distance value, and wherein the processor is configured to compensate for the object distance value when determining the temperature level value (T_ISO).

13. An infrared (IR) thermal camera according to claim 8, wherein the temperature color alarm level value (T_CAL) defines an accepted percentage of a maximum amount of heat transfer for the object between the inside and the outside of the structure.

14. An infrared (IR) thermal camera according to claim 8, wherein the temperature level value (_ISO) defines the lowest accepted surface temperature of the object.