Laser indicator for remote measuring devices and methods therefor

• US 8,468,874 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radiaulics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Radiaulics, Inc.
• Inventors: Komninos, Nikolaos I.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROGERS, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US12/027,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20090193875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 73/52, 73 40- 498
• US Class Current: 73/40
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/026 Control of working procedures of a pyrometer, other than calibration; Bandwidth calculation; Gain control
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/07 Arrangements for adjusting the solid angle of collected radiation, e.g. adjusting or orienting field of view, tracking position or encoding angular position optical collimating elements G01J5/0806
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0859 Sighting arrangements, e.g. cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0896 using a light source, e.g. for illuminating a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/04 by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/205 Accessories or associated equipment; Pump constructions

Abstract

Provided is a device for use in locating the origin of a phenomenon of interest, including a sensor capable of detecting the presence of the phenomenon of interest and generating a detection signal in response thereto. The device also includes a phenomenon origin locator to monitor the detection signal and project light toward the origin when the detection signal satisfies a selected criteria level, thereby indicating the origin of the phenomenon of interest.

Claims

1. A device for use in locating the origin of a phenomenon of interest, comprising:

a) a sensor having a field of detection extending along a sensor axis, said sensor capable of detecting presence of the phenomenon of interest and generating a detection signal in response thereto;

b) a phenomenon origin locator to monitor the detection signal and project light along a projection axis that is generally parallel to said sensor axis when the detection signal satisfies a selected criteria level, thereby indicating the origin of the phenomenon of interest;

c) a first level indicator to monitor the detection signal and project light along a first indicator axis when the detection signal satisfies a selected first threshold level of said selected criteria; and

d) a second level indicator to monitor the detection signal and project light along a second indicator axis when the detection signal satisfies a selected second threshold level for said selected criteria.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said first and second indicator axis are parallel.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said projection axis and said first and second indicator axis are parallel.

4. In a portable radiation measurement instrument having an instrument housing, a radiation sensor supported relative to said instrument housing that is operative upon exposure to a radiation source to produce a corresponding radiation detection signal, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of radiation source locators each being associated with a selected threshold criteria and operative to monitor the radiation detection signal and project light toward the origin of the radiation source when the radiation detection signal satisfies the radiation source locator'"'"'s selected threshold criteria.

5. The improvement according to claim 4 wherein said radiation is infrared (IR) radiation.

6. The improvement according to claim 4 wherein said radiation is radio frequency (RF) radiation.

7. The improvement according to claim 4 wherein said portable radiation measurement instrument is a handheld radiation measurement instrument.