System and method for analyzing multiple thermal images

• US 8,300,981 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Praly, Sebastien, Warnke, Stefan H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Jingge
• Application Number:
  US11/711,887
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330, 382/100, 382/105, 382/103, 382/284, 348/164, 348/369, 702/183, 702/185, 702/187
• US Class Current: 382/284
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0003 for sensing the radiant heat transfer of samples, e.g. emittance meter
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/485 Temperature profile

Abstract

A graphical user interface for analyzing multiple thermal images is provided. The interface can be used to identify the temperatures at multiple points defined on multiple images. In some embodiments, the interface can simultaneously display temperature cursors overlaid on multiple images and provide simultaneous numerical identification of the temperatures corresponding to the area under the temperature cursors.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing images received from a thermal imaging device, comprising:

receiving data at a base computer from the imaging device, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of thermal images of objects;

displaying a plurality of images corresponding to the downloaded data on the base computer; and

displaying a plurality of temperature cursors overlaid on the plurality of displayed images so that at least two images are displayed with overlaid temperature cursors at the same time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising simultaneously displaying a plurality of numerical temperature values corresponding to the plurality of overlaid temperature cursors.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user command to associate at least one displayed image with an alarm parameter.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing a perceptible indication that a temperature identified by an overlaid temperature cursor has met or exceeded the associated alarm parameter.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user command indicating a position for a temperature cursor to be overlaid on an image; and

propagating a plurality of temperature cursors to the indicated position on the plurality of displayed images.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user command to define a displayed image as a parent image; and

receiving a user command to define a displayed image as a child image.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a user input repositioning a displayed temperature cursor overlaid on the parent image; and

automatically repositioning a displayed temperature cursor overlaid on the child image based on the user input repositioning the temperature cursor on the parent image.

8. A non-transitory machine-readable medium to be executed by a processor for analyzing images received from a thermal imaging device, the non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising:

an instruction for receiving data at a base computer from the imaging device, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of thermal images of objects;

an instruction for displaying a plurality of images corresponding to the downloaded data on the base computer; and

an instruction for displaying a plurality of temperature cursors overlaid on the plurality of displayed images so that at least two images are displayed with overlaid temperature cursors at the same time.

9. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions for simultaneously displaying a plurality of numerical temperature values corresponding to the plurality of overlaid temperature cursors.

10. A system for analyzing images received from a thermal imaging device, the system comprising:

a means for receiving data at a base computer from the imaging device, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of thermal images of objects;

a means for displaying a plurality of images corresponding to the downloaded data on the base computer; and

a means for displaying a plurality of temperature cursors overlaid on the plurality of displayed images so that at least two images are displayed with overlaid temperature cursors at the same time.

11. A method for analyzing images received from a thermal imaging device, comprising:

receiving data at a base computer from the imaging device, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of thermal images;

displaying a plurality of images corresponding to the data on the base computer;

displaying a plurality of temperature cursors overlaid on the plurality of displayed images such that at least two images are concurrently displayed with overlaid temperature cursors;

receiving a first command to define a displayed image as a parent image;

receiving a second command to define a displayed image as a child image;

receiving a third command to reposition a displayed temperature cursor overlaid on the parent image; and

automatically repositioning a displayed temperature cursor overlaid on the child image based on the repositioning of the temperature cursor on the parent image.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying a plurality of numerical temperature values corresponding to the plurality of overlaid temperature cursors.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a command indicating a position for a temperature cursor to be overlaid on an image.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising propagating a plurality of temperature cursors on the plurality of displayed images based on the indicated position.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a user command to associate at least one image with an alarm.

16. A method for analyzing images received from a thermal imaging device, comprising:

receiving data at a base computer from the imaging device, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of thermal images;

displaying a plurality of images corresponding to the data on the base computer; and

displaying temperature information of a plurality of points such that temperature information is shown on least two images that are concurrently displayed.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying a movable temperature cursor at each of the plurality of points.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving a command indicating a position for a temperature cursor to be overlaid on an image.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising propagating a plurality of temperature cursors on the plurality of images based on the indicated position.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving a command to associate at least one image with an alarm.