Thermal imaging camera with graphical temperature plot

• US 9,413,988 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2012
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Heinke, Thomas, Pickett, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Verbitsky, Gail Kaplan
• Application Number:
  US13/556,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20140028854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 374/121, 374/102, 374/141, 374/170, 374/104, 374/103, 374/124, 374/130, 250/338.1, 250/330, 702/130, 702/135, 600/473, 600/474, 600/549
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2005/0077 Imaging
• 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 5/0806 Focusing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or concave mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/084 Adjustable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0846 having multiple detectors for performing different types of detection, e.g. using radiometry and reflectometry channels
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0859 Sighting arrangements, e.g. cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/02 Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/23 from thermal infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for monitoring a temperature of an object over time using a thermal imaging camera. The methods and apparatus may gather infrared temperature data from a selected source of temperature data within a scene at a selected time interval and display a graphical plot of the gathered temperature data on a digital display.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a temperature of an object over time using a thermal imaging camera comprising:

positioning the thermal imaging camera with the thermal imaging camera focused on a scene, the thermal imaging camera comprising a digital display and a memory;

displaying an infrared image of the scene on the digital display;

selecting a source of temperature data from the infrared image on the digital display;

selecting a time interval for gathering temperature data from the selected source of temperature data;

gathering temperature data from the selected source of temperature data at a plurality of times in the selected time interval;

capturing an infrared image associated with at least one, but fewer than all, of the times of the plurality of times of gathering temperature data, such that for one or more of the plurality times, no associated infrared image is captured;

displaying a graphical plot of the gathered temperature data over time on the digital display; and

storing the graphical plot of the gathered temperature data and at least one of the captured infrared images in the memory of the thermal imaging camera.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting a source of temperature data comprises defining a portion of the infrared image which is less than all of the infrared image, and wherein defining a portion of the infrared image comprises positioning a shape overlying or surrounding a portion of the infrared image.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising adjusting a size of the shape.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying an infrared image of the scene on the digital display comprises displaying a combined infrared and visible light image.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a duration for gathering temperature data from the source.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a plot of the gathered temperature data over time on the digital display comprises displaying the gathered temperature data as data points on the graphical plot and connecting the data points to create one or more lines representing temperature over time.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the one or more captured infrared images is stored in a video format.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a type of temperature data to be used for the graphical plot.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the type of temperature data comprises one or more of the average, the maximum, or the minimum temperature from the source of temperature data.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a graphical plot of the gathered temperature data on the digital display comprises displaying a plot of one or more of an actual temperature, an average temperature, a maximum temperature, or a minimum temperature.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a graphical plot of the gathered temperature data on the digital display comprises displaying the graphical plot and the infrared image of the scene on the digital display simultaneously.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the graphical plot is displayed continuously as additional temperature data is gathered for use in the graphical plot.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the type of temperature data comprises a combination of the average, the maximum, and the minimum temperatures from the source of temperature data.

14. A method of monitoring a temperature of an object over time using a thermal imaging camera comprising:

positioning the thermal imaging camera with the thermal imaging camera focused on a scene, the thermal imaging camera comprising a digital display and a memory;

displaying an infrared image of the scene on the digital display;

selecting a source of temperature data from the infrared image comprising selecting all of the infrared image, selecting a portion of the infrared image which is less than all of the infrared image, or selecting a discrete point on the infrared image;

selecting a time interval for gathering temperature data from the selected source of temperature data;

gathering temperature data from the selected source of temperature data at a plurality of times within the selected time interval, the gathered temperature data including a minimum temperature, a maximum temperature, and an average temperature;

capturing an infrared image of the scene at fewer than all of the plurality of times within the selected time interval;

displaying a graphical plot of the gathered temperature data on the digital display, wherein the gathered temperature data is displayed as data points at the selected time intervals to create lines representing the minimum, maximum, and average temperatures over time; and

storing the graphical plot of the gathered temperature data and at least one of the captured infrared images in the memory of the thermal imaging camera.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein selecting a source of temperature data from the infrared image comprises selecting a portion of the infrared image which is less than all of the infrared image by positioning a shape overlying or surrounding a portion of the infrared image.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting a size of the shape.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the at least one of the captured infrared images comprises an infrared image captured at either the first of the plurality of times or the last of the plurality of times within the selected time interval. plot or the gathered temperature data.