Apparatus and method for thermal detection

• US 20060067378A1
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taylor, Ronald M., Rege, Siddharth S., Harter, Joseph E. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,828,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/120
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0022 for sensing the radiation of moving bodies
• 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 5/04 Casings
• 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 5/0806 Focusing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or concave mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0808 Convex mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0831 Masks; Aperture plates; Spatial light modulators
• 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 5/0893 Arrangements to attach devices to a pyrometer, i.e. attaching an optical interface; Spatial relative arrangement of optical elements, e.g. folded beam path G01J5/049 takes precedence

Abstract

A thermal detecting device for sensing temperature at multiple locations proximate to the detecting device is provided. The detecting device has a pair of infrared detectors each configured to measure temperature of two locations by receiving infrared energy of the two locations. A housing encloses the pair of infrared detectors. The housing is configured with an aperture to allow the infrared energy of the two locations to be received by the pair of infrared detectors. A reflective mirror or two mirrors focus the infrared energy of the two locations towards the pair of infrared detectors. The detecting device may be configured to determine if there is a temperature differential at a location as the housing moves with respect to the location.

Claims

1. A thermal radiation detecting device for sensing temperature at multiple locations proximate to the detecting device, the detecting device comprising:

a first infrared detector configured to measure temperature of a first location by receiving the infrared radiation of the first location;

a second infrared detector configured to measure temperature of a second location by receiving the infrared radiation of the second location;

a housing for said housing first and second infrared detectors, said housing being configured to allow the infrared radiation of first and second locations to be received therein; and

a reflector for directing the infrared radiation of the first location towards said first infrared detector and for directing the infrared radiation of the second location towards the second infrared detector.

2. The detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said reflector comprises is a compound reflective mirror comprising first and second reflective portions.

3. The detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises first and second reflective mirrors.

4. The detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an aperture for allowing the infrared radiation from the first and second locations to be received therein.

5. The detecting device as defined in claim 4 further comprising a limiting aperture for receiving infrared radiation received from one of said first and second locations.

6. The detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second infrared detectors are infrared thermopiles.

7. The detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second infrared detectors are passive infrared devices.

8. The detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said detecting device is configured to determine if there is a temperature differential at said first and second locations as said housing moves with respect to a common location.

9. The detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein the detecting device is employed on a vehicle.

10. A thermal radiation detecting device for sensing temperature at multiple locations proximate to the detecting device, the detecting device comprising:

a first infrared detector configured to measure temperature of a first location by receiving the infrared radiation of the first location;

a second infrared detector configured to measure temperature of a second location by receiving the infrared radiation of the second location;

a housing for housing said first and second infrared detectors, said housing being configured to allow the infrared radiation of first and second locations to be received therein;

a first reflector for directing infrared radiation of the first location towards the first infrared detector; and

a second reflector for directing infrared radiation of the second location towards said second infrared detector.

11. The detecting device as defined in claim 10, wherein the housing comprises an aperture for allowing the infrared radiation from the first and second locations to be received therein.

12. The detecting device as defined in claim 11 further comprising a limiting aperture for receiving infrared radiation received from one of said first and second locations.

13. The detecting device as defined in claim 10, wherein the first and second reflectors each comprises a reflective mirror.

14. The detecting device as defined in claim 10, wherein said first and second infrared detectors are infrared thermopiles.

15. The detecting device as defined in claim 10, wherein said first and second infrared detectors are passive infrared devices.

16. The detecting device as defined in claim 10, wherein said detecting device is configured to determine if there is a temperature differential at said first and second locations as said housing moves with respect to a common location.

17. The detecting device as defined in claim 10, wherein the detecting device is employed on a vehicle.

18. A method for determining a temperature differential at a location after a device has moved in position with respect to the location, the method comprising:

determining a temperature of the location using a pair of infrared sensors each receiving infrared energy from a reflective mirror;

comparing the measured temperature of the location by said pair of infrared temperature sensors; and

providing an indication of a temperature differential between the measured temperature of the location by said pair of infrared temperature sensors.

19. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein the step of determining a temperature comprises determining temperature of two locations.

20. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein the device is located on a vehicle.