THERMOGRAPHIC AUGMENTED REALITY DISPLAY IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20120184252A1
• Filed: 01/17/2011
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hirsch, Alexander Samson
• Application Number:
  US13/007,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20120184252A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• 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 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

An electronic device is configured to capture thermal information of objects and subjects in real-time utilizing a camera or infrared sensors or utilizing a camera and infrared sensors. The electronic device comprises a display which can depict thermal or temperature information regarding objects or subjects overlaid or layered on image data of objects or subjects. Displayed temperature or thermal information can include numeric information corresponding to discrete or bounded or partially bounded areas of objects or subjects. Thermal information or temperature information can be combined with augmented-reality applications in an electronic device and shared with other electronic devices via one or more networks.

Claims

1. A method for displaying temperature on a device, the method comprising:

receiving visual information from an object;

capturing radiation in the infrared range based on the object;

calculating temperature based on the captured radiation, and

displaying a numerical representation of the calculated temperature on a visual depiction of the object.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a thermogram based on the captured radiation and receiving information regarding emissivity of the object;

and

wherein calculating temperature is accomplished utilizing an averaging function based the captured radiation, the thermogram, and the received information regarding emissivity of the object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying a numerical representation of the calculated temperature occurs in real time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying a numerical representation of the calculated temperature on a visual depiction of the object further comprises:

displaying areas which are at least partially bounded and which are differentiated by color.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the areas which are differentiated by color correspond to numbers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing radiation in the infrared range from the object comprises:

receiving radiation in the form of a near infrared range, a short-wave infrared range, and a mid-wave infrared range.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing radiation in the infrared range based on the object comprises:

maintaining a datastore relating each of a plurality of material descriptions to the emissivity of the described material;

presenting a list of the material descriptions;

receiving input selecting a material description; and

assigning the emissivity related to the material description as the emissivity of the object.

8. A computer program product for displaying temperature on a device, the computer program product comprising:

at least one computer readable media, capable of storing and receiving instructions;

instructions stored on the media, that when executed by a processor are operative to;

receive radiation in the infrared range from an object;

determine a thermogram from the received radiation;

receive information regard emissivity of the object;

calculate temperature as a function of received radiation, as a function of the thermogram, and as a function of the received information regarding emissivity of the object, utilizing an averaging function, and

cause to be displayed a numerical representation of the calculated temperature as a layer on a visual display of the object.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein radiation in the infrared range from an object comprises radiation in one of:

a near infrared range, a short-wave infrared range, and a mid-wave infrared range.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein radiation in the infrared range from an object comprises radiation in one of:

a long-wave infrared range, and a very-long mid-wave infrared range.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein display of the numerical representation of the calculated temperature as a layer on a visual display of the object occurs in real time.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein instructions on the media, that when executed by a processor, are further operative to:

cause to be displayed a real-time numerical representation of the calculated temperature as at least one layer comprising at least one partially bounded area on a visual display of the object.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein instructions on the media, that when executed by a processor, are further operative to:

display at least one real-time numerical representation of the calculated temperature as a layer comprising at least one fully bounded area on a visual display of the object.

14. The computer program produce of claim 8, wherein instructions on the media, that when executed by a processor, are further operative to:

display at least one real-time numerical representation of the calculated temperature as a layer comprising at least one fully bounded area corresponding to a color on a visual display of the object.

15. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the media maintains a datastore relating each of a plurality of material descriptions to the emissivity of the described material and wherein the instructions on the media, when executed by a processor are further operative to:

present a list of the material descriptions;

receive input selecting a material description; and

assign the emissivity related to the material description as the emissivity of the object.

16. An electronic device, the device comprising:

a display;

processor resources;

at least one computer readable media, capable of receiving and storing information, in communication with the processor resources;

instructions on the media, that when executed by the processor resources are operative to;

receive radiation in the infrared range from an object;

determine a thermogram from the received radiation;

receive information regard emissivity of the object;

estimate temperature as a function of received radiation, as a function of the thermogram, and as a function of the received information regarding emissivity of the object, utilizing an averaging function, and

display a numerical representation of the calculated temperature as a layer on a visual display of the object.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the radiation comprises one of near infrared radiation, short-wave infrared radiation and mid-wave infrared radiation.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the radiation comprises one of long-wave infrared radiation and very long-wave infrared radiation.

19. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the instructions on the media, that when executed by the processor resources, are further operative to:

cause to be displayed a real-time numerical representation of the calculated temperature as a layer on a visual display of the object comprising at least one bounded area.

20. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the instructions on the media, that when executed by the processor resources, are further operative to:

cause to be displayed a real-time numerical representation of the calculated temperature as a layer on a visual display of the object comprising at least one bounded area which is differentiated by color.