System to adapt an optical device to calculate a condition value

• US 9,745,059 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2014
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infrared cameras, inc.
• Original Assignee: Infrared cameras, inc.
• Inventors: Strahan, Gary Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Huan
• Application Number:
  US14/194,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20150268154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0125 with stored program or instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0137 with PC or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0143 with internal and external computer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/015 Apparatus with interchangeable optical heads or interchangeable block of optics and detector
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/01 Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 22/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more G01N3/00 - G01N17/00, G01N24/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/56 by investigating moisture content
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/66 by investigating dew-point
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/26 by measuring the direct influence of the streaming fluid on the properties of a detecting optical wave
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/00 Meteorology

Abstract

A system usable to adapt an optical device to calculate a condition value. The system utilizes data from an optical device about a field of vision to calculate a condition value such as temperature for a target within the field of vision. The system makes use of an adapter connected to the optical device for transmitting adapter output data and a converter that accesses the adapter output data to calculate the condition value. The adapter components can weigh less than 3 ounces, and encompass a volume of less than 4 cubic inches, making it suitable for deployment on a drone, or remotely operated vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for adapting an optical device to calculate a condition value for a target within a field of vision, wherein the system comprises:

a. the optical device, wherein the optical device transmits or stores optical device data about the field of vision;

b. an adapter in communication with the optical device for receiving the optical device data, comprising;

(i) an adapter support;

(ii) an adapter power supply connected to the adapter support or an external power supply in communication with the adapter;

(iii) at least one adapter sensor in communication with the adapter;

(iv) at least one adapter data input port connected to the adapter support for receiving the optical device data and receiving adapter sensor data;

(v) an adapter data gate in communication with the adapter data input port for at least one of;

combining the optical device data and the adapter sensor data, or throughputting the optical device data and the adapter sensor data;

(vi) at least one adapter data output port connected to the adapter support for transmitting adapter output data to an adapter nonvolatile data storage or to a converter, wherein the adapter output data comprises;

1. the adapter sensor data; and

2. the optical device data; and

c. the converter, wherein the converter;

(i) calculates a condition value by at least one of;

1. accessing the adapter output data from the adapter nonvolatile data storage; and

2. directly receiving the adapter output data; and

(ii) outputs the condition value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the converter outputs the condition value directly or via a network to a plurality of client devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the adapter further comprises an adapter synchronizer connected to the adapter support for synchronizing the adapter sensor data with the optical device data, wherein the adapter synchronizer is at least one of:

a. a circuit board with a hardwired instruction for time synchronizing the optical device data and the adapter sensor data;

b. an electronic component for selectively delaying the optical device data or the adapter sensor data; and

c. computer instructions in a synchronizer nonvolatile data storage instructing a synchronizer processor to correlate the adapter sensor data with the optical device data using a time identifier of the adapter sensor data and a time identifier of the optical device data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical device is at least one of:

a. a visible spectrum detector or camera;

b. an infrared detector or camera;

c. an ultraviolet radiation detector or camera;

d. a terahertz camera;

e. a ground penetrating radar device;

f. an x-ray detector or camera;

g. a gamma ray detector or camera;

h. a cosmic ray detector or camera;

i. a microwave detector or camera;

j. a radio wave detector or camera;

k. a lidar detector or camera; and

l. a laser imaging detector or camera.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the adapter sensor comprises at least one of:

a. a case surface temperature sensor;

b. a lens temperature sensor;

c. a shutter temperature sensor;

d. a detector temperature sensor;

e. a resistive type device temperature sensor;

f. an ambient air temperature sensor;

g. an air pressure sensor;

h. a relative humidity sensor;

i. a dew point sensor;

j. a precipitation sensor;

k. a wind speed sensor;

l. a wind direction sensor; and

m. a cloud cover sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the adapter data input port and the adapter data output port are each a serial data port or a parallel data port.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the adapter data input port and the adapter data output port are each at least one of:

a. a wireless port;

b. a camera serial interface port;

c. a camera parallel interface port;

d. an Ethernet port;

e. a port complying with IEEE 1394 standards;

f. a port complying with IEEE 1284 standards;

g. a PS/2 port;

h. a port complying with RS-232 standards;

i. a universal serial bus (USB) port;

j. a video graphics array (VGA) port;

k. a digital visual interface (DVI) port;

l. a small computer system interface (SCSI) port;

m. a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port; and

n. a tip/ring/sleeve (TRS) port.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the converter comprises a computer, wherein the computer further comprises:

a. a computer processor;

b. a computer data input port for receiving the adapter output data;

c. a computer nonvolatile data storage in communication with the computer processor and the computer data input port, wherein the computer nonvolatile data storage comprises a conversion module to use the adapter output data to calculate the condition value; and

d. a computer data output port.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the converter further comprises a calibration module comprising calibration data, wherein the calibration data comprises:

a. adapter sensor calibration data, or similar sensor calibration data; and

b. optical device calibration data or similar device calibration data; and

wherein the adapter sensor calibration data, the similar sensor calibration data, the optical device calibration data, and the similar device calibration data are acquired from the optical device in a controlled environment.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controlled environment comprises:

a. a controlled ambient condition; and

b. a controlled environment field of vision comprising;

(i) at least one controlled target; and

(ii) at least one known controlled target condition value.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the conversion module comprises:

a. a conversion algorithm used for calculating the condition value, wherein the condition value has a mathematical relationship to the adapter output data;

b. computer instructions instructing the computer processor to receive a field of vision data, wherein the field of vision data comprises at least one of;

(i) the adapter output data;

(ii) data stored in the adapter nonvolatile data storage;

(iii) manually inputted data; and

(iv) historical data for the optical device;

c. computer instructions instructing the computer processor to time synchronize the adapter output data if necessary;

d. computer instructions instructing the computer processor to allow a user to select a target for which the condition value is calculated, wherein the target is selected from the field of vision data;

e. computer instructions instructing the computer processor to compare the field of vision data with the conversion algorithm to calculate the condition value;

f. computer instructions instructing the computer processor to adjust the condition value based upon the calibration data; and

g. computer instructions instructing the computer processor to output the condition value.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the adapter support is a circuit board.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the adapter support, the adapter power supply, the adapter data input port, the adapter data gate, and the adapter data output port have a combined weight of less than or equal to 3 ounces.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the adapter support, the adapter power supply, the adapter data input port, the adapter data gate, and the adapter data output port have a combined volume of less than or equal to 4 cubic inches.

15. A drone, wherein the drone is an unmanned vehicle comprising:

a. a drone body for supporting a drone power supply, an optical device, and an adapter;

b. the drone power supply;

c. the optical device; and

d. the adapter, wherein the adapter comprises;

(i) an adapter support;

(ii) an adapter power supply connected to the adapter support or an external power supply in communication with the adapter;

(iii) at least one adapter sensor in communication with the adapter;

(iv) at least one adapter data input port connected to the adapter support for receiving optical device data and receiving adapter sensor data;

(v) an adapter data gate in communication with the adapter data input port for at least one of;

combining the optical device data and the adapter sensor data, or throughputting the optical device data and the adapter sensor data; and

(vi) at least one adapter data output port connected to the adapter support for transmitting an adapter output data to an adapter nonvolatile data storage, to a drone data storage, to a drone wireless connection, or to a converter, wherein the adapter output data comprises;

1. the adapter sensor data; and

2. the optical device data.

16. The drone of claim 15, wherein the converter:

a. calculates a condition value by at least one of;

(i) accessing the adapter output data from the drone data storage or the adapter nonvolatile data storage; and

(ii) directly receiving the adapter output data; and

b. outputs the condition value.

17. The drone of claim 16, wherein the converter comprises a computer, wherein the computer further comprises:

a. a computer processor;

b. a computer data input port for receiving the adapter output data;

c. a computer nonvolatile data storage in communication with the computer processor and the computer data input port, wherein the computer nonvolatile data storage comprises a conversion module to use the adapter output data to calculate the condition value; and

d. a computer data output port.

18. The drone of claim 17, wherein the calibration data comprises:

a. adapter sensor calibration data, or similar sensor calibration data; and

b. optical device calibration data or similar device calibration data; and

wherein the adapter sensor calibration data, the similar sensor calibration data, the optical device calibration data, and the similar device calibration data are acquired in a controlled environment with known condition values.

19. The drone of claim 18, wherein the controlled environment comprises:

a. a controlled ambient condition; and

b. a controlled environment field of vision comprising;

(i) at least one controlled target; and

(ii) at least one known controlled target condition value.

20. The drone of claim 19, wherein the conversion module comprises:

a. a conversion algorithm used for calculating the condition value, wherein the condition value has a mathematical relationship to the adapter output data;

b. computer instructions instructing the computer processor to receive a field of vision data, wherein the field of vision data comprises at least one of;

(i) the adapter output data;

(ii) data stored in the adapter nonvolatile data storage;

(iii) manually inputted data; and

(iv) historical data for the optical device;

c. computer instructions instructing the computer processor to time synchronize the adapter output data if necessary;

d. computer instructions instructing the computer processor to allow a user to select a target for which the condition value is calculated, wherein the target is selected from the field of vision data;

e. computer instructions instructing the computer processor to compare the field of vision data with the conversion algorithm to calculate the condition value;

f. computer instructions instructing the computer processor to adjust the condition value based upon the calibration data; and

g. computer instructions instructing the computer processor to output the condition value.