| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
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| 20080197284 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING OBJECTS USING FAR INFRARED IMAGES - An object detection system is disclosed in at least one embodiment. The system includes a far IR sensor operable to sense thermal radiation of objects and surroundings in a field of view and to generate a far IR image in response thereto, and an image processing device operable to receive and process the far IR image to detect the presence of one or more objects in the field of view. The image processing device can be configured to process the far IR image by generating an initial threshold image based on the far IR image and an initial threshold value, iteratively obtaining a number of successive threshold images based on the far IR image and a number of successively increased threshold values, and determining the presence of one or more objects in the field of view based on the threshold images and threshold values. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080210870 | Active Night Vision Image Intensity Balancing System - A vision system ( | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080224041 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUBSURFACE ANOMALY DETECTION AND IMAGE PROJECTION - A method of detecting subsurface anomalies that includes the steps of utilizing a detector to determine the existence of a subsurface anomaly at a location behind the surface, and generating a signal representative of the anomaly. The signal is transmitted to a projector mounted in image alignment with the detector. The signal is converted into a visual representation of the anomaly; and the visual representation of the anomaly is projected onto the surface at the location on the surface behind which the subsurface anomaly is present. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080237466 | Apparatus and Method for Analyzing Relative Outward Flow Characterizations of Fabricated Features - An apparatus and method for characterizing gas flow through features fabricated in a hollow part. A pressure regulated cooled gas is applied to an interior of the part to the features fabricated in the part. At the same time, a pressure regulated heated gas is applied to an exterior part skin; and the heated gas has a controlled temperature differential from the pressure regulated cooled gas applied to the part interior. An infrared signature of escaping gas and the surrounding part skin is analyzed by a classification method to identify acceptable and unacceptable fabricated features. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080245966 | LONG-WAVELENGTH INFRA-RED NIGHT VISION GOGGLES - A night vision apparatus and method comprising employing a detector operating in the 7 to 14 microns wavelength region, converting via electronics and/or photonics the received light to the region visible to the human eye, and displaying the visible light on a display, wherein a housing contains the detector, the electronics and/or photonics, and the display. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080258062 | Infrared Wavelength Converter for Imaging Applications Based On Quantum Well Devices - A mid-infrared (MIR) and/or far-infrared (FIR) to near-infrared (NIR) converter ( | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080265162 | Method for displaying a thermal image in a IR camera and an IR camera - The invention is achieved by using a method for displaying a thermal image in an infrared (IR) thermal camera, comprising the steps of registering an outdoor temperature value, registering an indoor temperature value, calculating an isotherm level by using the registered temperature values and a temperature color alarm level, imaging a surface area to create an image of the temperature distribution in at least a part of the surface area, comparing the surface area temperature in at least one image point of the thermal image to the isotherm level, adjusting the color of the at least one image point in dependence of the relation between the surface area temperature in said at least one image point and the isotherm level and displaying the colored thermal image. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080265163 | OPTICAL IMAGING PEN HAVING A FORCE SENSOR - Provided is an optical imaging pen configured to detect information encoded with infrared ink on a page. The pen includes a housing with an ink pen cartridge and a stylus. The ink cartridge and stylus are configured to be individually brought forward through an open end of the housing by rotation of a pen top rotatably mounted on an end of the housing. The pen also includes an infrared LED inside the housing for providing infrared radiation for projection onto the page, and an image sensor for receiving reflected radiation from the surface. Also included is a radio frequency circuit having a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver, and a controller for controlling operation of the LED, sensor and radio frequency circuits. The controller includes a force sensor configured to detect displacement of the stylus or cartridge to enable a determination of a force being applied to a nib of either the cartridge or stylus. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080290278 | VISIBLE PLUS NON-VISIBLE FIELD SEQUENTIAL COLOR - A circuit for implementing a registration-free, contiguous conductive plane. A circuit may include a plurality of conductive structures in a first plane. The circuit may further include a contiguous conductive equipotential surface in a second plane parallel to the first plane. The circuit may further include activation means configured to adjust an electric field between the first and second planes thereby activating one or more structures in the first plane by increasing a potential difference between the first and second planes to a threshold level deemed to constitute an active state. The circuit may further include deactivation means configured to adjust the electric field between the first and second planes thereby deactivating one or more structures in the first plane by decreasing the potential difference between the first and second planes below a threshold level deemed to constitute a deactivated state. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080302966 | CLIP-ON INFRARED IMAGER - A clip-on infrared imager may be coupled and decoupled to an existing night vision system to add infrared imaging to provide a fused image through at least one of the night vision system eyepieces. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080308732 | System and method for analyzing a thermal image using configurable markers - A graphical user interface for analyzing thermal images is provided. The interface can be used to identify the temperatures at multiple areas of interest defined on an image. The areas can be denoted by configurable markers of different predetermined shapes. In some embodiments, the interface simultaneously displays temperature statistics relating to the user-identified areas of interest. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080315098 | PHOTOCONDUCTIVE ELEMENT FOR GENERATION AND DETECTION OF TERAHERTZ WAVE - A photoconductive element for generating or detecting a terahertz wave comprises a carrier generation layer for generating carriers on light irradiation, a pair of conductive electrodes provided in opposition on one face of the carrier generation layer, each containing a strip line, a pair of conductive antennas placed in opposition with a gap for light irradiation onto the carrier generation layer, each being joined to the electrodes, a pair of conductive adjusting stubs for adjusting a propagation state of the terahertz wave generated or detected by the carriers, wherein each of the adjusting stubs has a length of not longer than the wavelength λ of the terahertz wave generated by the carriers, and is placed at a distance of not more than the wavelength λ from a joint between the antenna and the electrode. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090001268 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND A SWITCHING-OVER METHOD FOR THE SAME - An image pickup apparatus for outputting an image corresponding to a situation of a subject to an outside, including: a far-infrared camera for detecting an electromagnetic wave in a far-infrared radiation region; a visible-light camera for detecting a visible light, the visible-light camera including a luminance determining portion for determining the situation depending on a luminance of the detected visible light, and a lightness determining portion for determining the situation depending on lightness of the detected visible light; and a switching-over portion for switching an image captured by the far-infrared camera, and an image captured by the visible-light camera over to each other in accordance with the determination made by the luminance determining portion and the determination made by the lightness determining portion. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090001269 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus for outputting image data on an image for which image processing is executed to a computer, the image pickup apparatus including: a thermal image capturing camera for capturing a thermal image; a visible-light camera for capturing an image under a visible light; a temperature zone extracting portion for detecting and extracting a portion corresponding to a predetermined temperature zone given from an outside from the thermal image; a background image extracting portion for extracting an image of an immobile object in the image captured under the visible light by the visible-light camera as a background image; and a synthesizing/outputting portion for synthesizing the portion extracted by the temperature zone extracting portion, and the background image extracted by the background image extracting portion with each other, and outputting image data on a resulting synthetic image. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090008552 | Far-infrared radiation image processing apparatus, far-infrared radiation imaging apparatus, far-infrared radiation image processing method, and far-infrared radiation image processing program - Disclosed herein is a far-infrared radiation image processing apparatus configured to process an image taken by detecting far-infrared rays radiated from an object, the far-infrared radiation image processing apparatus including: an image signal reception section configured to receive an image signal indicative of a far-infrared radiation image taken by a far-infrared radiation camera; an area designation reception section configure to receive area designation information input to designate a specific area of the far-infrared radiation image; and a resolution conversion section configured to convert the resolution for the amount of the far-infrared rays applicable to the specific area designated by the area designation information in the far-infrared radiation image, thereby creating resolution-converted image information. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090014652 | ELECTRONIC SENSOR WITH INTEGRATED THERMAL REGULATION - A thermal image sensor comprising at least: | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090065695 | Infrared camera for locating a target using at least one shaped light source - An infrared camera including optics and a detector sensitive to infrared radiation is used in conjunction with at least one light source, such as a laser, to locate a reference point on a target. Two intersecting line segments are produced by the one light source or a combination of two light sources to locate the reference point on the target. The infrared camera would display both an infrared image as well as a visible image which can be merged onto a single display. The teaching of the present invention could also be used to determine the distance to the target as well as the area of the target. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090078870 | Infrared imaging system - The present invention relates to a long-life, low-power consumption infrared imaging system having a structure for realizing with a high reliability both the taking of an image of its surrounding environments and the detection of objects. The infrared imaging system comprises a light source section, an image pickup section, a processing section, and a monitor. For emitting SC light including a wavelength component in a near-infrared wavelength band as irradiation light, the light source section includes a seed light source emitting laser light, an optical fiber generating the SC light in response to the input of the laser light, and wavelength selecting means. The wavelength selecting means selectively limits the wavelength region of the irradiation light in accordance with imaging modes. In the mode for taking an image of a surrounding environment, the wavelength selecting means limits the irradiation light wavelength to a wavelength band excluding an absorption wavelength band of moisture and the like in the air. In the mode for detecting an object such as a frozen part on the road surface, on the other hand, the wavelength selecting means limits the irradiation light wavelength to an absorption wavelength band of water or ice. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090090864 | Thermal imager having integrated support assembly - A thermal imaging apparatus has an integrated support assembly. The apparatus comprises a housing having a main housing portion containing a thermal image camera. A display for showing thermal images as detected by the camera is also provided. The housing further includes a handle attached to the main housing portion. The support assembly includes at least one support element selectively movable between a stored position and an extended position. The support element is adapted to facilitate support of the thermal imaging apparatus when the support element is in the extended position. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090101820 | Night Vision Apparatus - A night visional apparatus is provided that can assist in enlarging the field of view at night or in bad weather, and can obtain image with high sensitivity over a range from a vicinity of the apparatus to a distant area. The night vision apparatus includes a headlamp having one or two or more light sources, to emit light ranging from a visible light region to an infrared light region, a plurality of peaks exiting in a wavelength spectrum in the visible light region; an imaging camera that received light emitted from the illuminating device; and an optical band elimination filter that blocks only a part of peaks among the plurality of peaks. An output image is obtained based on an image captured by the imaging camera through the optical band elimination filter. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090121135 | PORTABLE RADIOMETRY AND IMAGING APPARATUS - Systems, including devices and methods, for infrared imaging, and more particularly to systems for infrared imaging. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090159798 | GAS IMAGING SYSTEM - An imaging system ( | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090184244 | SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING AND/OR GUIDING PERSONS IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS - The invention provides a system and process in which more than only one category of information must be made available in an optically simultaneously recognizable form to a person in a portable system ( | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090200466 | Thermography camera configured for gas leak detection - A portable thermography camera system ( | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090206260 | Night vision technology: broad band imaging - The invention is directed to a night vision system that has an illuminator that transmits light towards a target using light outside the visible spectrum. A receive optics focuses an image on a charge coupled device. This system with an ultraviolet illuminator allows the night vision system to view images beyond 2500 meters, while present systems are limited to around 800 meters. The illuminator is generally a high peak power pulsed light source. A processor uses frame addition techniques to increase the captured light and may use binning techniques to increase the signal to noise ratio. The system may use multiple illuminators and capture images at a number of different wavelengths. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090250611 | IR CAMERA AND A METHOD FOR PROCESSING INFORMATION IN IMAGES - The invention relates to a camera having optical systems for recording both IR images and visual images and a laser pointer. A method of determining the position of the laser spot in the IR image based on the position of the laser spot in the visual image is proposed. One or more parameters related to the displacement between the visual image and the IR image are used to determine the displacement of the laser spot in the IR image compared to the position detected in the visual image. In cameras providing functions for fusion or blending of IR and visual images, such parameters are determined during calibration to enable alignment of the images captured by the different optical systems. Hence, in such cameras, the displacement parameters are already present. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090256077 | Health monitoring through a correlation of thermal images and temperature data - A method of correlating thermal sensors data with temperature sensor data is disclosed. The method may include generating one or more temperature sensor data points and receiving the one or more temperature sensor data points at a remote location. The method may also include generating one or more thermal sensor data points or images and receiving the one or more thermal sensor data points or images at the remote location. Additionally, the method may include correlating the one or more thermal sensor data points or images based on the one or more temperature sensor data points and generating a notification when a temperature of one or more correlated thermal sensor data points or images fails to maintain a determined relationship with a preset limit in one or more locations other than the location of one or more temperature sensor data point. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090289187 | OMNIDIRECTIONAL MONITORING USING NEAR-INFRARED ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION - A monitoring device includes an imaging device sensitive to visible and near-infrared electromagnetic radiation. The monitoring device is configured to concurrently direct omnidirectional visible and near-infrared electromagnetic radiation onto the imaging device without using any moving parts. The monitoring device also can include multiple sources of near-infrared electromagnetic radiation, which can be sequentially operated to illuminate regions of a monitored area to improve the imaged data. The monitoring device can acquire additional data, such as acoustic data or identification data of a target, and can process the acquired data to detect any targets that may be present and evaluate an alarm condition. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090294666 | IR Camera and Method for Presenting IR Information | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090294667 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING CONCEALED OBJECTS - Methods and systems for detecting the presence of concealed objects that can be utilized at locations where conventional methods cannot be utilized are disclosed. One embodiment of the method of these teachings for detecting the presence of concealed objects uses thermal radiation of a body as a source of radiation. Other embodiments include portable and handheld systems, devices, methods, and apparatus to determine the presence of a concealed object. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090314940 | TARGET WITH THERMAL IMAGING SYSTEM - A target with a thermal imaging system comprising one or more sections. Each section comprises at least one heater. Each heater comprises a layer of insulating material, layer of bifurcated metallic foil, layer of plastic, wire grid comprised of horizontal elements and vertical wires, at least two strips of carbon tape, and front cover sheet. The layer of metallic foil is situated on top of the layer of insulating material, the layer of plastic is situated on top of the layer of metallic foil, and the wire grid is situated on top of the layer of plastic. The strips of carbon tape are adhered to the outer edges of the wire grid so that the carbon tape comes into contact with the horizontal elements but not with the vertical wires. The front cover sheet comprises an image of a side view, front view or rear view of a vehicle. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090321636 | METHOD OF SEARCHING FOR A THERMAL TARGET - In one embodiment, an efficient method is presented for aerial searching for a small thermal target in a search area, such as a single person in open water, using two thermal imagers or “cameras” coupled with a computer which presents data from the system to a human user for inspection. One of the two thermal imagers has a very wide field of view (WFOV) fixed forward of or below the aircraft. The other, narrow field-of-view (NFOV) imager has a high zoom capability but its field of view can be reoriented to geo-point to a location on command. The WFOV thermal imager collects images rapidly so that no individual image is blurred due to changes in the field of view (FOV) on the time-scale of the image capture. The images are geo-registered using information from a global positioning receiver as well as the current altitude, roll, pitch, yaw, and velocity of the aircraft. As the aircraft moves and the FOV in the WFOV thermal imager changes, the computer averages the amplitude of the thermal radiation detected from each geo-registered position on the water below using the captured images continuously and in real time. The signal from a thermal target in the water is integrated while the background is relatively suppressed, enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio for the target as the square root of the number of images collected in which the target appears. A target which is much smaller than the area covered by a single pixel or that even has a thermal contrast below the noise equivalent temperature difference of the WFOV thermal imager can be detected. Thermal anomalies which have a signal commensurate in amplitude and spatial extent to the object of the search are selected by the system and their coordinates are relayed to the NFOV thermal imager. The NFOV thermal imager zooms into these locations sequentially and presents the image information to the human user who can then either reject or verify that the subject being imaged is the object of the search. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100001187 | HEADWEAR-MOUNTABLE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS UNIT - A headwear-mountable situational awareness unit is disclosed. The unit includes a thermal imaging camera rotatably connected to a mounting portion, the mounting portion connectable to a front portion of protective headgear. The unit further includes a heads-up display pivotally connected to the mounting portion, the heads-up display portion arranged to pivot between a mounted position and a handheld position and configured to display information captured by the thermal imaging camera. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100006757 | DUAL-WAVELENGTH THERMAL INFRARED SENSOR - A dual-wavelength thermal infrared sensor includes a first and a second type pixels that detect infrared in different wavelength ranges. The pixels of both types include a diaphragm supported by beams, an eave formed to spread outward from the diaphragm, and reflection film on the substrate. The diaphragm includes a thermoelectric conversion material thin film, an electrode, and protective films. The protective films and eaves are made of a material having larger absorption coefficient for infrared in the first wavelength range and a smaller absorption coefficient for infrared in second wavelength range. First-type pixels further have metal thin films formed on the top of the diaphragm and eaves. First-type pixels have sensitivity to infrared in a first wavelength range and in a second wavelength range defined by optical interference occurring between the metal thin films and the reflection film. Second-type pixels have sensitivity to first wavelength range infrared. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100012840 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THERMAL IMAGING HAVING A SELECTIVE TEMPERATURE IMAGING MODE - The present invention is a method for operating a thermal imaging camera for selective temperature imaging, and a thermal imaging system having a selective temperature imaging mode. When first entering the selective temperature imaging mode of operation, the system and method automatically determine the hottest area in a scene and display it in a predetermined hue. The remainder of the scene is displayed in grayscale. The method and system allow further adjustment of the set point of the selective temperature imaging mode, and display portions of the scene as hot as or hotter than the set point value in gradient shades of the predetermined hue. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100019151 | NIGHT VISION APPARATUS - A night vision image processing unit (night vision apparatus) separates an input field image that a field separating unit has acquired from a near-infrared camera into an odd-numbered field image and an even-numbered field image. A region segmenting unit segments an image into a plurality of regions (a luminous region, a high-reflection region, a low-luminance region) based on luminance value of each pixel included in the odd-numbered field image and the even-numbered field image. A luminous region processing unit, a high-reflection region processing unit, and a low-luminance region processing unit correct the luminance value according to characteristics of the regions. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100051808 | Imaging System Using Infrared Light - An imaging system is disclosed for imaging buried structure, typically vasculature, below the surface of an object which can be skin, fat deposits, or other material and for projecting an image of the buried structure onto the surface of the object. Scanning lasers are used both to illuminate the object and to project an image onto it. One or more photodiodes measure the intensity of scattered and reflected light to create an image in conjunction with one or more of the scanning lasers. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100059677 | Aspheric Lenses for Imaging - A lens for Terahertz imaging that has a transparent body defining at least a first and a second lens surface. The lens body is arranged such that light incident to the lens refracts at the first lens surface, propagates through the body to the second lens surface and refracts at the second lens surface. The angle of deviation of light at the first lens surface substantially equals the angle of deviation of light at the second lens surface. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100102228 | Image Recording Apparatus And Control Method Thereof - Disclosed is an image recording apparatus comprising a temperature sensing module, a detecting module, an image capture module and a control unit. The control unit acquires an appropriate high threshold and an appropriate low threshold corresponding to an ambient temperature sensed by a temperature sensing module. The control unit outputs a high threshold voltage and a low threshold voltage to the detecting module for adjusting the sensitivity of the image recording apparatus to suit a variable ambient temperature properly. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100127171 | IR CAMERA WITH ADJUSTABLE VIEW PARAMETER SETTINGS - The invention relates to an IR camera for capturing thermal images of an imaged view, the IR camera comprising an IR camera display arranged to display the captured thermal images to a user of the IR camera according to a view parameter setting. The IR camera is characterized in that it further comprises a display control unit arranged to automatically adjust the view parameter setting in the IR camera display based on a temperature reference area in the captured thermal images, wherein the temperature reference area is obtained using an indication means when a manual indication is performed by the user of the IR camera. The invention further relates to a method for adjusting view parameter settings in an IR camera and a computer program product. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100148066 | THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA FOR TAKING THERMOGRAPHIC IMAGES - In a thermal imaging camera for acquisition of thermographic images of a measurement object, an electronic evaluation unit is integrated into the thermal imaging camera; it is designed for recognition of corresponding partial regions of the acquired thermographic images, and with it, the acquired images can be assembled into an overall image by overlapping the corresponding partial regions and displayed. The acquisition of the images preferably takes place during the swiveling of the thermal imaging camera over the solid angle region of the desired overall image. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100181483 | Through-substrate optical imaging device and method - A through-substrate optical imaging device for through-imaging of translucent work objects, includes a radiation source outputting radiation that will be transmissive through the work object and an imaging system configured for capturing inspection information from the radiation source through the work object. The radiation source is configured such that the radiation impinges on the surface of the work object under various angles of incidence. A method for through-substrate optical imaging of a translucent work object includes irradiating the translucent work object by radiation from a radiation source; capturing inspection information from the radiation source through the translucent work object, the inspection information being captured by an imaging system; and irradiating the translucent work object. The translucent work object is irradiated by radiation which impinges on the surface of the translucent work object under one of various angles of incidence and orientations. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100187417 | NIGHT VISION INSTRUMENT FOCUS DEVICE - Provided is a device for improving the focus of an object viewed using a night vision instrument. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100187418 | INFRARED LENS, INFRARED CAMERA, AND NIGHT VISION - An infrared lens | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100200751 | THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA COMPRISING A COVER PLATE - This invention relates to a thermal imaging camera comprising a thermal imaging sensor and a cover plate that can be displaced between an open and a closed position by means of an electric drive. The invention is characterized in that the open and the closed position of the cover plate ( | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100200752 | IMAGE SENSOR CAPABLE OF JUDGING PROXIMITY TO SUBJECT - An image sensor is capable of judging proximity to a subject. The image sensor judges the distance to the subject using a change in output voltage value by the presence or absence of a specific band of wavelengths of infrared (IR) measured by optical sensors such as proximity pixels. Thereby, the image sensor enables an ordinary image sensor to easily realize a proximity function, and makes it possible to minimize damage to a quality of image when the image is picked up in a night photography mode or in a proximity photography mode. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100207024 | THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA - A thermal imaging camera ( | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100207025 | ACTIVE ADAPTIVE THERMAL STEALTH SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a thermal vision countermeasure system to enable concealment of objects from identification by thermal imaging night vision systems, including a screen made of thermoelectric modules, disposed between the target object and an IR detector. The screen, formed of at least one thermoelectric unit, is coupled to the target object, and the thermoelectric unit includes a Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) module coupled to a plate formed of a material selected from aluminum, copper, or aluminum with copper, the plate being substantially larger than the TEC module. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100207026 | ENHANCED VISION SYSTEM SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION - An enhanced vision system and method for use with vision systems with an imager sensitive to infrared radiation of less than 2-microns in wavelength, to produce a first image signal. Another imager sensitive to infrared radiation at least 3-microns in wavelength may be used to produce a second image signal. Preferably, the first image signal represents sensed electric light sources, and the second image signal represents sensed background such as terrain, runways, structures, and obstacles. A signal processor combines an image signal representing locally maximum values of the first image signal with the second image signal to create a displayed image. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100230593 | Compact handheld non-laser detector for greenhouse gasses - Techniques are disclosed relating to gas leak detection. The techniques can be deployed, for example, in compact, handheld portable devices usable for detecting leaks in space-confined applications. The devices generally include a non-laser light source and thermal imaging camera that allow for detection of a target gas (or gasses) that absorbs at least some of the light source's wavelengths of operation. The light source can be implemented, for example, with an incoherent infrared (IR) light source, such as a resonance lamp configured with a gas cell containing a volume of a gas that, when excited by electric discharge, emits a wavelength that is absorbed by the target gas. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100237244 | CURRENT-ACTUATED-DISPLAY BACKPLANE TESTER AND METHOD - A backplane test system is provided that uses a pressed or deposited resistive film and infra-red (IR) imaging to visualize and quantify the current drive of pixels. In one form, the system is used for measuring organic light-emitting-diode (OLED) backplanes or other current-actuated-display (CAD) backplanes. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100243890 | OPTICAL BYPASS DEVICE - An optical bypass device comprises a pair of prisms. The capture apertures of the prisms are provided on either side of a projector block. The exit apertures are substantially adjacent to one another. In this manner the prisms can act to direct incident light around the projector block and into the image intensifier aperture. In the projector block is provided an OLED screen operable to display an image including text overlay information corresponding to that captured by the thermal imaging camera. The image is projected through a small opening provided where the prisms are connected. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100243891 | COMPACT MID-IR LASER - A compact mid-IR laser device utilizes a quantum cascade laser to provide mid-IR frequencies suitable for use in molecular detection by signature absorption spectra. The compact nature of the device is obtained owing to an efficient heat transfer structure, the use of a small diameter aspheric lens and a monolithic assembly structure to hold the optical elements in a fixed position relative to one another. The compact housing size may be approximately 20 cm×20 cm×20 cm or less. Efficient heat transfer is achieved using a thermoelectric cooler TEC combined with a high thermal conductivity heat spreader onto which the quantum cascade laser is thermally coupled. The heat spreader not only serves to dissipate heat and conduct same to the TEC, but also serves as an optical platform to secure the optical elements within the housing in a fixed relationship relative on one another. A small diameter aspheric lens may have a diameter of 10 mm or less and is positioned to provided a collimated beam output from the quantum cascade laser. The housing is hermetically sealed to provide a rugged, light weight portable MIR laser source. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100264310 | GANGED FOCUS MECHANISM FOR AN OPTICAL DEVICE - An optical device for viewing an image is provided. The optical device includes two optical channels, each optical channel including an image detector assembly and a complimentary objective lens assembly spaced by a respective distance from the image detector assembly. A focus mechanism is either directly or indirectly coupled to both image detector assemblies. The focus mechanism includes two threaded segments having an unequal thread pitch. Each image detector assembly includes a mating threaded segment that is threadedly coupled to a respective threaded segment of the focus mechanism such that rotation of the focus mechanism causes translation of both image detector assemblies at unequal rates by virtue of the unequal thread pitch of the threaded segments of the focus mechanism. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100270469 | LENS POSITION SENSOR FOR INFRARED CAMERAS - A lens position sensor for infrared or other types of cameras, which is particularly useful in lens assemblies that have relatively limited axial travel between near field and far field lens focus positions. The camera includes a magnet or other stimulator coupled to a rotatable lens that extends within a magnet plane where the magnet plane is not normal to the optical axis of the lens. A magnetic or other sensor senses the position of the magnet, which is indicative of the lens position. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100294933 | THERMOGRAPHIC CAMERA - Disclosed is an IR measuring instrument ( | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100301213 | OPTIC HAVING A DICHROIC REFLECTOR - Various embodiments are disclosed that are related to an optic with a dichroic coating. In one embodiment, sn optic comprises a wedge-shaped light guide having opposing first and second faces and a turning film bonded to the wedge-shaped light guide. The turning film comprises a plurality of facets oblique to the first face of the wedge-shaped light guide and supports a dichroic coating. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100314543 | IMAGE SENSOR FOR MEASURING ILLUMINATION, PROXIMITY AND COLOR TEMPERATURE - Disclosed is an image sensor for measuring illumination, proximity and color temperature, including: a light source unit configured to irradiate infrared with a wavelength of a specific band onto an object; a light source controller configured to control power supplied to the light source unit; an infrared transmission filter configured to allow only the infrared and visible ray with the wavelength of the specific band among light incident through a lens after being reflected by the object to selectively transmit therethrough; a first sensing unit provided with an image pixel for acquiring an image of the object introduced through the infrared transmission filter; and a second sensing unit configured to receive the infrared and the visible ray having passed through the infrared transmission filter and measure current illumination, proximity to the object and color temperature of the object. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110006210 | Method and Apparatus for Detecting Density and/or Thickness Variations in Materials Transparent or Partly Transparent to Infrared Radiation - The invention relates to a method and an apparatus tor detecting density and/or thickness variations in materials transparent or partly transparent to infrared radiation, in which an examination object ( | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110024624 | PHASE CONTRAST IMAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method for phase contrast imaging comprises: illuminating an object by terahertz radiation such that the terahertz radiation interacts with the object; illuminating a diffraction grating by the terahertz radiation that has interacted with the object; translating the diffraction grating along the direction of the grating wave vector, to measure, for each of different grating positions, an intensity distribution of the terahertz radiation that has interacted with the object and with the grating in a diffraction field; and retrieving a phase contrast image of the object from the intensity distributions. An apparatus for phase contrast imaging comprises: a terahertz radiation emitter for generating terahertz radiation, which illuminates an object to interact with the object; a diffraction grating, which is illuminated by the terahertz radiation that has interacted with the object; a terahertz radiation detector for measuring, for each of different grating positions, an intensity distribution of the terahertz radiation that has interacted with the object and with the grating in a diffraction field; and a data collecting and processing system for retrieving a phase contrast image of the object from the intensity distributions. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110031399 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INFRARED DETECTION AND DISPLAY - Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for infrared (IR) detection. Organic layers can be utilized to produce a phototransistor for the detection of IR radiation. The wavelength range of the IR detector can be modified by incorporating materials sensitive to photons of different wavelengths. Quantum dots of materials sensitive to photons of different wavelengths than the host organic material of the absorbing layer of the phototransistor can be incorporated into the absorbing layer so as to enhance the absorption of photons having wavelengths associated with the material of the quantum dots. A photoconductor structure can be used instead of a phototransistor. The photoconductor can incorporate PbSe or PbS quantum dots. The photoconductor can incorporate organic materials and part of an OLED structure. A detected IR image can be displayed to a user. Organic materials can be used to create an organic light-emitting device. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110036982 | IMAGE SENSING MODULE - An image sensing module includes a printed circuit board, an image sensor, and a color filter exchanging system. The image sensor positioned between the printed circuit board and the color filter exchanging system is assembled on the printed circuit board. The color filter exchanging system aligning with the image sensor fastens to the printed circuit board. The color filter exchanging system includes a stand, a driving module and a filter assembly. The stand fastening to the printed circuit board defines an opening revealing the image sensor. The driving module slides the filter assembly within the stand. The filter assembly includes a frame and a visible light bandpass filter and an infrared bandpass filter assembled to the frame. In different modes, the driving module drives the filter assembly so that the visible light bandpass filter or the infrared bandpass filter aligns with the image sensor by way of the opening. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110062329 | ELECTROMAGNETIC BASED THERMAL SENSING AND IMAGING - A novel pixel circuit and multi-dimensional array for receiving and detecting black body radiation in the SWIR, MWIR or LWIR frequency bands. An electromagnetic thermal sensor and imaging system is provided based on the treatment of thermal radiation as an electromagnetic wave. The thermal sensor and imager functions essentially as an electromagnetic power sensor/receiver, operating in the SWIR (200-375 THz), MWIR (60-100 THz), or LWIR (21-38 THz) frequency bands. The thermal pixel circuit of the invention is used to construct thermal imaging arrays, such as 1D, 2D and stereoscopic arrays. Various pixel circuit embodiments arc provided including balanced and unbalanced, biased and unbiased and current and voltage sensing topologies. The pixel circuit and corresponding imaging arrays are constructed on a monolithic semiconductor substrate using in a stacked topology. A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure provides rectification of the received signal at high terahertz frequencies. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110062330 | ELECTROMAGNETIC BASED THERMAL SENSING AND IMAGING INCORPORATING DIFFERENTIAL PIXEL TOPOLOGY - A novel pixel circuit and multi-dimensional array for receiving and detecting black body radiation in the SWIR, MWIR or LWIR frequency bands. An electromagnetic thermal sensor and imaging system is provided based on the treatment of thermal radiation as an electromagnetic wave. The thermal sensor and imager functions essentially as an electromagnetic power sensor/receiver, operating in the SWIR (200-375 THz), MWIR (60-100 THz), or LWIR (21-38 THz) frequency bands. The thermal pixel circuit of the invention is used to construct thermal imaging arrays, such as 1D, 2D and stereoscopic arrays. Various pixel circuit embodiments arc provided including balanced and unbalanced, biased and unbiased and current and voltage sensing topologies. The pixel circuit and corresponding imaging arrays are constructed on a monolithic semiconductor substrate using in a stacked topology. A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure provides rectification of the received signal at high terahertz frequencies. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110062331 | BIOIMAGING APPARATUS - To improve image quality as well as considering miniaturization. In the top surface | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110068268 | TERAHERTZ IMAGING METHODS AND APPARATUS USING COMPRESSED SENSING - A system, method and an apparatus for terahertz (THz) imaging based on compressed sensing using a unified sensing mask are provided herein. The system may include a THz radiation transmitter, a window, a unified mask, a THz radiation focusing lens, a THz radiation detector and a processor to generate an image using compressed sensing. The unified mask includes a series of individual masks for filtering radiation directed at the individual masks. Each of the individual masks defines a binary two-dimensional matrix of cells that are either a radiation blocking cell or a radiation passing cell. The unified mask has a first length in a first direction. The window has a terahertz radiation blocking border that defines a terahertz radiation passing opening. The opening has a second length aligned in the first direction and the second length is less than the first length so that the unified mask is movable relative to the window to a plurality of different positions and the opening operates to select one of the individual masks at each of the positions. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110068269 | Infrared Camera for Locating a Target Using at Least One Shaped Light Source - An infrared camera including optics and a detector sensitive to infrared radiation is used in conjunction with at least one light source, such as a laser, to locate a reference point on a target. Two intersecting line segments are produced by the one light source or a combination of two light sources to locate the reference point on the target. The infrared camera would display both an infrared image as well as a visible image which can be merged onto a single display. The teaching of the present invention could also be used to determine the distance to the target as well as the area of the target. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110079713 | UNI-AXIS TYPE LENS MODULE FOR THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA - Disclosed herein is a Uni-axis type lens module for a thermal imaging camera. The Uni-axis type lens module includes an object lens facing an object, receiving light from the object to capture an image of the object and transmitting visible rays and far infrared rays through one optical axis to integrate the visible rays and the far infrared rays; a beam splitter located behind the object lens in the direction of the optical axis, reflecting far infrared rays from lights that pass through the object lens and transmitting visible rays from the lights; a far-infrared imaging lens located in the direction of the optical axis of the far infrared rays reflected from the beam splitter, receiving the far infrared rays that reflect from a fold mirror and forming an image on a far-infrared sensor that converts an optical image into a thermal image signal; and a visible light imaging sensor located in the direction of the optical axis of the visible rays that pass through the beam splitter, arranged behind the beam splitter, receiving the visible rays that pass through the beam splitter and forming an image on a CCD sensor that converts an optical image into an actual image signal. Accordingly, images of visible rays and far infrared rays can be simultaneously captured to acquire distinct images. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110089323 | System and methods for explosives detection using SWIR - A system and method for detecting explosives and explosive residues. A region of interest is surveyed using a video capture device to thereby identify a target area wherein the target area comprises an unknown material. The target area is interrogated using SWIR spectroscopic methods to form a SWIR hyperspectral image of the target area. The SWIR hyperspectral image is analyzed to thereby identify the unknown material. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110095186 | Laser Thermal Imaging - Methods and apparatus for producing sub-diffraction limited images utilizing an exponential scaling effect. An exemplary system provides an optical source that focuses an optical beam onto a target. The focused optical beam has sufficient optical intensity to induce an exponential signal response within the target. A detection device detects the exponential signal response. A scanning device scans the focused optical source and another device records the detection of the exponential signal response for purposes of producing a sub-diffraction limited image. The system further includes a display device that displays at least a portion of the recorded detection. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110168890 | DISPLACEMENT-BASED FOCUSING OF AN IR CAMERA - An IR camera includes a first optical subsystem for generating an IR image of an object and a second optical subsystem for generating a visual light image of the object. The IR camera further includes a focusing device for focusing the first optical subsystem. The IR camera also has a processor for determining a focus distance for focusing the first optical subsystem on the object. The processor determines the focus distance based on a displacement of a feature in the visual light image. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110198498 | THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME, TEMPERATURE SENSING SENSOR, AND HEAT-SOURCE IMAGE SENSOR USING THE SAME - Provided are a thermoelectric device and a method of forming the same, a temperature sensing sensor, and a heat-source image sensor using the same. The thermoelectric device includes a first nanowire and a second nanowire, a first silicon thin film, a second silicon thin film, and a third silicon thin film. The first nanowire and a second nanowire are disposed on a substrate. The first nanowire and the second nanowire are separated from each other. The first silicon thin film is connected to one end of the first nanowire. The second silicon thin film is connected to one end of the second nanowire. The third silicon thin film is connected to the other ends of the first nanowire and the second nanowire. The first and second nanowires extend in a direction parallel to an upper surface of the substrate. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110215244 | Thermal imaging camera and method for the determination of the lens parameters of an IR interchangeable lens of a thermal imaging camera - In a thermal imaging camera ( | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110220797 | INFRARED CAMERA WITH INFRARED-TRANSMISSIVE DOME SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods are disclosed that provide an infrared-transmissive dome, such as for infrared imaging applications. For example, an infrared camera system includes a housing having a lens coupled to the housing and an infrared detector within the housing configured to receive infrared energy passing through the lens. An infrared-transmissive dome, coupled to the infrared camera system, includes a main body providing a hollow, hemispherical-shaped dome, with the main body made of an ultra-high molecular weight or a very-high molecular weight polyethylene material. The main body may have a wall thickness equal to or less than approximately 0.012 inches to allow infrared transmittance greater than approximately sixty five percent through the main body to the lens for infrared imaging in a wavelength range of approximately three to fourteen micrometers. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110240856 | TARGET MARKER HAVING QUANTUM CASCADE LASER FOR THERMALLY MARKING A TARGET - A method of marking a target includes intersecting a thermal infrared beam from a handheld housing at room temperature with the target, a portion of a beam path extending from the housing to the target being substantially optically direct. The method also includes viewing the intersected beam with a remote thermal imaging device. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110248166 | TUNABLE LASER-BASED INFRARED IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF - Methods, devices, and systems for imaging tissue and other samples or samples using infrared (IR) transmissions from coherent transmission sources, such as a wide range, tunable, quantum cascade laser (QCL) designed for the rapid collection of infrared microscopic data for medical diagnostics across a wide range of discrete spectral increments. The infrared transmissions are transmitted through, reflected from, and/or transreflected through a sample, and then magnified and/or focused prior to being detected by a detector. After detection, the sample related image data is used to assess the sample. Such methods, devices, and systems may be used to detect abnormalities in tissue, for example, before such abnormalities can be diagnosed using art cytopathological methods. The methods, devices and systems may also optionally include a visible light detection subsystem and/or a motion control subsystem to assist in control and processing of imaging. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110253894 | SYSTEM FOR NIGHT VISION FROM DISTANT OBSERVATION PLACES - System for providing an enhanced night vision of an scenario ( | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110260059 | PHOTOSENSITIVE IMAGING DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A monolithic sensor for detecting infrared and visible light according to an example includes a semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor layer coupled to the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor layer includes a device surface opposite the semiconductor substrate. A visible light photodiode is formed at the device surface. An infrared photodiode is also formed at the device surface and in proximity to the visible light photodiode. A textured region is coupled to the infrared photodiode and positioned to interact with electromagnetic radiation. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110278455 | NON-DESTRUCTIVE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY DETECTOIN OF SOLDER VOIDS - Systems and methods can produce thermal images of the mounting of a thermally-enhanced integrated circuit (IC) upon a circuit board. The system includes a thermal imaging camera that is operable to image the thermal dissipation and/or conduction through the heat sink into a mounting pad on the substrate. In testing the thermally-enhanced IC, the substrate or IC is connected to a power source, and the IC is operated such that the IC begins to generate heat. As the heat is conducted or dissipated through the heat sink into the mounting pad, a thermal imaging camera can detect the heat conduction and/or dissipation through the heat sink into the substrate. If there are voids or other types of failures in the mounting of the IC, the thermal imaging camera can detect cooler or colder spots in the image. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110284747 | VARIABLE APERTURE AND ACTUATOR ASSEMBLIES FOR AN IMAGING SYSTEM - An imaging system which includes a housing for a radiation detector having a window disposed above and in axial alignment with the radiation detector, a variable aperture assembly which includes a base ring having a first opening and mounted on the radiation detector housing such that the first opening is in axial alignment with the window, a plate having a first aperture and adapted to engage the base ring such that the first aperture is disposed over the window, at least one aperture blade each operatively coupled to the base ring, and an aperture drive mechanism having a body and an actuator coupling member extending at an angle from the body. In addition, the imaging system includes an actuator assembly having an actuator and an actuator arm, the actuator arm disposed adjacent to the radiation detector housing in proximity to the actuator coupling member. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110297828 | THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA - A thermal imaging camera is provided with at least two different sensitivities for alternating reading and with has a device for linking at least two more and less sensitive images read consecutively. The recording and displaying of thermal images makes it possible to combine images with two different dynamic ranges in a common thermal image, wherein the noise and drift of the pixel signals as well as the amount of storage needed for buffering and processing are reduced at the same time. An image buffering unit is designed as a common accumulator ( | 12-08-2011 |
| 20120006986 | TARGET MARKER HAVING QUANTUM CASCADE LASER FOR THERMALLY MARKING A TARGET - A portable target marker includes a quantum cascade laser configured to generate a thermal infrared beam. The target marker also includes a driver operably connected to the quantum cascade laser and configured to pulse the beam at a desired repetition rate. The pulsed beam intersects a target. The target marker further includes a thermal imager configured to form a visible image of the pulsed beam intersecting the target. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120025079 | INFRARED LED SOURCE FOR THERMAL IMAGING - A thermal imager has a sensor, a controller, and a flash source. The flash source is an array of IR LEDs. The thermal imager generates a thermal image of a work piece by generating an IR pulse, and sensing the IR radiation from the part. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120104255 | METHOD FOR INSPECTING A PHOTOVOLTAIC SUBSTRATE - A method for inspecting a substrate having intrinsic heterogeneous patterns for the presence of cracks comprises the steps of providing an optical device and front-side lighting on a first side of the substrate and providing near-infrared lighting on a second side of the substrate opposite to the first side. The near-infrared lighting is operable to penetrate the substrate so as to be detectable by the optical device through the substrate. One or more images are obtained by illuminating the substrate with the front-side lighting and/or the near-infrared lighting from the second side. The one or more images are thereafter processed to distinguish between the heterogeneous patterns on the substrate and any cracks present on the substrate. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120126120 | SOLAR CELL EVALUATION METHOD, EVALUATION DEVICE, MAINTENANCE METHOD, MAINTENANCE SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SOLAR CELL MODULE - A method and device for evaluating a solar cell each of which makes it possible to easily evaluate a defect of a solar cell especially in such a manner that an internal cause defect and an external cause defect are distinguished from each other. The device includes: electric current passing means for passing, in a forward direction, an electric current through a solar cell element constituting the solar cell; light emission detecting means for detecting, out of light emitted from the solar cell element due to the electric current passed by the electric current passing means, light in a first range of wavelengths from 800 nm to 1300 nm and light in a second range of wavelengths from 1400 nm to 1800 nm; and judging means for distinguishing between an internal cause defect and an external cause defect. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120132804 | THERMAL IMAGE SENSOR WITH CHALCOGENIDE MATERIAL AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME - A thermal image sensor including a chalcogenide material, and a method of fabricating the thermal image sensor are provided. The thermal image sensor includes a first metal layer formed on a substrate; a cavity exiting the first metal layer adapted for absorbing infrared rays; a bolometer resistor formed on the cavity and including a chalcogenide material; and a second metal layer formed on the bolometer resistor. The thermal image sensor includes a first metal layer formed on a substrate; an insulating layer formed on the first metal layer; a bolometer resistor formed on the insulating layer, including a chalcogenide material and having a thickness corresponding to ¼ of an infrared wavelength (λ); the thermal image sensor further includes a second metal layer formed on the bolometer resistor. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120145901 | INFRARED TRANSMISSION FILTER AND IMAGING DEVICE - There are provided an infrared transmission filter, which is inexpensive, is capable of being sufficiently made lighter and thinner, has no incident angle dependency, and is excellent in permselectivity for infrared light, and an imaging device, which employs such an infrared transmission filter. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120145902 | OPTICAL SCANNING AND IMAGING SYSTEMS BASED ON DUAL PULSED LASER SYSTEMS - The invention relates to scanning pulsed laser systems for optical imaging. Coherent dual scanning laser systems (CDSL) are disclosed and some applications thereof. Various alternatives for implementation are illustrated, including highly integrated configurations. In at least one embodiment a coherent dual scanning laser system (CDSL) includes two passively modelocked fiber oscillators. The oscillators are configured to operate at slightly different repetition rates, such that a difference δf | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120161001 | MONOLITHIC ELECTRO-OPTICAL POLYMER INFRARED FOCAL PLANE ARRAY - In one embodiment, a dual-band focal plane array includes a readout circuit (ROIC), and a plurality of electro-optical (EO) polymer pixels for absorbing visible and/or short wave infrared (SWIR) radiation, each of the EO polymer pixels electrically coupled to the ROIC. The detector further includes a plurality of microbolometers for detecting long wave infrared (LWIR) radiation, each microbolometer electrically coupled to the ROIC via contact legs disposed between adjacent microbolometers and between adjacent EO polymer pixels. A method of fabricating a focal plane array is also provided. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120168624 | MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND IMAGER COMPRISING SUCH A SYSTEM - A measurement system including a reference resistive sensor traversed by a reference current, with a reference arm having a reference resistance and being traversed by the reference current in order to produce a reference voltage between its ends, at least one measurement resistive sensor traversed by a measurement current that depends on a measurement taken by the measurement resistive sensor, a measurement mirror arm traversed by a current, and a device for measuring the difference between the measurement current and the current traversing the measurement mirror arm. The resistance of the measurement mirror arm of each measurement resistive sensor is equal to the reference resistance and the measurement system further includes a device for applying, to each measurement mirror arm, the reference voltage. The device for applying the reference voltage being designed to be isolated to a current of the measurement mirror arm when the reference voltage is applied. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120193534 | METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING AND HERMETICALLY SEALING AN ENCAPSULATING PACKAGE - A method of assembling and hermetically sealing a package including a side wall mounted on a substrate, with the space thus defined accommodating a component that operates in a controlled atmosphere, the space being closed off by a hermetic sealing cover mounted on said side wall. This method involves depositing a metallic connector element, also referred to as a brazing preform, on the upper face of the side wall; depositing the upper cover on, and in contact with, the brazing preform; subjecting the assembly thus obtained to the desired environment in terms of the kind of gas and operating pressure of the component; increasing the temperature to a value that is at least in excess of the melting temperature of the material that constitutes the brazing preform; then lowering said temperature in order to cause solidification of said brazing material and, consequently, sealing of the cover on the side wall. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20120205540 | Ultra-High Densification of ZnS For Nano-Grain Optical Windows - A method is provided for producing an article which is transparent to infrared radiation. The method includes the steps of (a) disposing a plurality of nanoparticles on a substrate, wherein said nanoparticles comprise a metal sulfide or a metal selenide; (b) subjecting the nanoparticles to spark plasma sintering, thereby producing a sintered product; and (c) removing the sintered product from the substrate as a self-supporting mass. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120211655 | Optical Arrangement of Infrared Camera - Provided is an optical arrangement of the infrared camera comprising a lens unit in which a lens is supported by a frame body, an infrared detector module in which an infrared detector for detecting amount of an infrared ray transmitted through the lens as a heat and converting the infrared rays to an image signal is sealed in a housing having a window portion, and a shutter provided between the lens and the infrared detector module. A detector surface of the infrared detector, the window portion, the shutter, and the lens are arranged such that an inclination angle of a virtual straight line which connects each corner portion of the detector surface, the window portion and a maximum aperture of the shutter, and edge portion of an effective lens area of a lens closest to the shutter against to an optical axis is 25° to 35°, is adopted. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120223229 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An apparatus visualizing internal information of an object includes a detection unit of terahertz wave, a generating unit of a time waveform of the terahertz wave, a modulation unit, an adjustment unit, and an addition unit. The modulation unit sequentially performs spatial modulation on a propagation distance for each pixel of a terahertz wave corresponding to a pixel in a horizontal direction by using a plurality of modulation patterns, and emits a plurality of terahertz waves. Based on a time amount converted from the change of the propagation distances corresponding to the modulation patterns, the adjustment unit adjusts a position on a time axis of the time waveforms of a plurality of terahertz waves and calculates a new plurality of time waveforms. The addition unit adds a new time waveform for each pixel. The apparatus can suppress reduction in signal intensity of a terahertz wave while maintaining detection sensitivity. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120223230 | Monodispersed and Spherical ZnS For Nano-Grain Optical Windows - A method is provided for producing an article which is transparent to infrared radiation. The method includes the steps of (a) disposing a population of nanoparticles on a substrate, wherein the population of spherical nanoparticles has a population variance of less than 10% in at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of diameter and maximum dimension; (b) subjecting the nanoparticles to spark plasma sintering, thereby producing a sintered product; and (c) removing the sintered product from the substrate as a self-supporting mass. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120241613 | INFRARED IMAGING DEVICE AND INFRARED IMAGING APPARATUS USING IT - One embodiment provides an infrared imaging device, including: a substrate; connection wiring portions arranged in matrix form on the substrate; a first infrared detecting portion configured to convert intensity of absorbed infrared radiation into a first signal; and a second infrared detecting portion configured to convert intensity of absorbed infrared radiation into a second signal, the second infrared detecting portion being larger in thermal conductance than the first infrared detecting portion. | 09-27-2012 |
| 20120256088 | MARKING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system for use in identifying a user includes a portable emitter transported with the user. The emitter includes a quantum cascade laser configured to emit a thermal beam identifying a location of the user in response to a command, the thermal beam having a wavelength between approximately 2 μm and approximately 30 μm. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120273680 | Chemical Leak Inspection System - A method of visually detecting a leak of a chemical emanating from a component includes aiming a passive infrared camera system towards the component; filtering an infrared image with an optical bandpass filter, the infrared image being that of the leak; after the infrared image passes through the lens and optical bandpass filter, receiving the filtered infrared image with an infrared sensor device; electronically processing the filtered infrared image received by the infrared sensor device to provide a visible image representing the filtered infrared image; and visually identifying the leak based on the visible image. The passive infrared camera system includes: a lens; a refrigerated portion including the infrared sensor device and the optical bandpass filter (located along an optical path between the lens and the infrared sensor device). At least part of a pass band for the optical bandpass filter is within an absorption band for the chemical. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120298866 | SNOWMOBILE AND METHOD FOR DRIVING A SNOWMOBILE - A snowmobile is disclosed, the snowmobile comprising a terrain visualization device. The device comprises a mounting structure fixed to the snowmobile, and a light emitting unit attached to the mounting structure. The light emitting unit is configured to project a predetermined contrast pattern onto terrain in front of the snowmobile in use. A method for driving a snowmobile across terrain is also disclosed, the method comprising projecting a predetermined contrast pattern onto the terrain using a light emitting unit while driving the snowmobile across the terrain, so that the topography of the terrain can be determined from distortion of the contrast pattern. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120305770 | ARTICLE OF APPAREL AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A MESSAGE - An article of apparel such as a necktie, hat, cap, eyeglasses, or a pendant, that has battery-powered infrared (IR) light emitter(s) such as IR-emitting LEDs, in a pattern so that the light emitted when the IR emitters are energized is not visible to the naked eye, yet displays a message that can be electronically seen by an IR detecting and display device, such as a digital camera and smart phone. The arrangement of the IR emitters can form a pattern of a text character, a sign, a mark, an image, or other message, the selection of which can be controlled by a microprocessor. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120318979 | INFRA-RED SENSOR - An infra-red sensor comprising an infra-red lens, an infra-red detector and a processing and control circuit connected to the detector and arranged to provide an output infrared image signal, a heat extraction device for dissipating excess heat from the sensor, and a passive thermal distribution system comprising at least one first heat pipe linking the processing and control circuit board thermally to the heat extraction device, and at least one second heat pipe linking the lens thermally to the processing and control circuit. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20130001421 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING SAMPLE USING TERAHERTZ WAVE - Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for analyzing a sample using terahertz waves. The method of analyzing a sample using terahertz waves includes: generating terahertz waves; simultaneously radiating two or more electromagnetic waves with different radiation angles, using the terahertz waves with a transmitting antenna; receiving the two or more electromagnetic waves transmitting the sample with a receiving antenna; and acquiring an analysis image of the sample by processing the received two or more electromagnetic waves In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to reduce the time taken to acquire an analysis image of a sample by simultaneously radiating terahertz waves with different radiation angels from one antenna. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130048855 | CAMERA, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING THERMAL RADIATION AND THERMAL RATES OF CHANGE - The present invention is directed to a camera, computer program, and method for determining and displaying temperature rates of change for objects within the camera's field of view. More specifically, the embodiments provide for the continuous, real-time temperature measurement and display of a plurality of objects within the camera's field of view, and further for the real-time processing and display of the temperature rates of change for said objects. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130134309 | NONLINEAR OPTICAL AND ELECTRO-OPTICAL DEVICES AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF FOR AMPLIFICATION OF NON-LINEAR PROPERTIES - This invention provides devices and methods for broad-band amplification of non linear properties. This invention provides devices comprising optically non linear material that is in contact with a slit array. The slit array causes enhancement of the electromagnetic field within the non linear materials. The enhancement of the electromagnetic field within the optically non linear material results in an amplified non linear response exhibited by the optically non linear materials. This invention provides detectors and imaging systems based on devices and methods of this invention. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130153765 | PHOTOCONDUCTIVE ANTENNA, TERAHERTZ WAVE GENERATING DEVICE, CAMERA, IMAGING DEVICE, AND MEASURING DEVICE - A photoconductive antenna is adapted to generate terahertz waves when irradiated by pulsed light. The photoconductive antenna includes first and second conductive layers, a semiconductor layer positioned between the first and second conductive layers, first and second electrodes, and a dielectric layer. The semiconductor layer is made of a semiconductor material having a carrier density that is lower than a carrier density of the semiconductor material of the first conductive layer or the second conducive layer. The first and second electrodes are electrically connected to the first and second conductive layers, respectively. The second electrode has an aperture through which the pulsed light passes. The dielectric layer is made of a dielectric material, and is in contact with a surface of the semiconductor layer having a normal direction extending orthogonal to a lamination direction of the first conductive layer, the semiconductor layer, and the second conductive layer. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130161513 | THERMAL IMAGER WITH PROTECTIVE GRID - A protective enclosure for a thermal imager having a window and protective grid. The protective grid is designed in relation to the lens of the thermal imaging device such that the grid pattern geometry and size accommodate the thermal imaging device's pupil size. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130168550 | PHOTOCONDUCTIVE ANTENNA, TERAHERTZ WAVE GENERATING DEVICE, CAMERA, IMAGING DEVICE, AND MEASURING DEVICE - A photoconductive antenna is adapted to generate terahertz waves when irradiated by pulsed light. The photoconductive antenna includes first and second conductive layers, a semiconductor layer, and first and second electrodes. The semiconductor layer is made of a semiconductor material having a carrier density that is lower than a carrier density of the semiconductor material of the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer. The first and second electrodes are electrically connected to the first and second conductive layers, respectively. The semiconductor layer includes an incidence surface through which the pulsed light enters the semiconductor layer, and an emission surface from which the terahertz waves are emitted. The incidence surface is positioned in a side surface of the semiconductor layer having a normal direction extending orthogonal to a lamination direction, and the emission surface is positioned in the side surface at a position different from the incidence surface. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130181128 | PHOTOCONDUCTIVE ANTENNA, TERAHERTZ WAVE GENERATING DEVICE, CAMERA, IMAGING DEVICE, AND MEASURING DEVICE - A photoconductive antenna is adapted to generate terahertz waves when irradiated by pulsed light. The photoconductive antenna includes a first conductive region, a second conductive region, and a semiconductor region. The second conductive region is spaced apart from the first conductive region to form a gap therebetween in a top plan view of the photoconductive antenna. The semiconductor region is positioned in the gap between the first conductive region and the second conductive region in the top plan view. An interfacial surface of the semiconductor region positioned in the gap is flush with first interfacial surfaces of the first and second conductive regions. Second interfacial surfaces of the first and second conductive regions positioned on an opposite side from the first interfacial surfaces are positioned on the same side with respect to the interfacial surface of the semiconductor region positioned in the gap. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130187047 | FULL-FIELD GEO IMAGER OPTICS WITH EXTENDED SPECTRAL COVERAGE - A wide field-of-view infrared optical imaging system with extended spectral coverage into the 1.0 to 2.5 μm wavelength range. In one example, an optical imaging system includes an imaging detector sensitive to light in a wavelength range of at least 1.0 μm to 5.0 μm, and a plurality of lenses optically coupled together and configured to focus incoming light onto the imaging detector, the plurality of lenses each comprised of a material that is transparent to the light in the wavelength range of at least 1.0 μm to 5.0 μm, wherein a pupil of the optical imaging system is located external to the plurality of lenses between the plurality of lenses and the imaging detector. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130206988 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INFRARED DETECTION AND DISPLAY - Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for infrared (IR) detection. Organic layers can be utilized to produce a phototransistor for the detection of IR radiation. The wavelength range of the IR detector can be modified by incorporating materials sensitive to photons of different wavelengths. Quantum dots of materials sensitive to photons of different wavelengths than the host organic material of the absorbing layer of the phototransistor can be incorporated into the absorbing layer so as to enhance the absorption of photons having wavelengths associated with the material of the quantum dots. A photoconductor structure can be used instead of a phototransistor. The photoconductor can incorporate PbSe or PbS quantum dots. The photoconductor can incorporate organic materials and part of an OLED structure. A detected IR image can be displayed to a user. Organic materials can be used to create an organic light-emitting device. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130341509 | Portable system for detecting explosive materials using near infrared hyperspectral imaging and method for using thereof - The present disclosure provides for a portable device for detecting the presence of explosive materials, including bulk explosive materials and out-gassed by products of explosive materials. The portable device may comprise a tunable filter and a NIR detector, configured so as to generate a NIR hyperspectral image representative of a target. The portable device may also comprise a RGB detector configured to generate a video image of a region of interest. The disclosure also provides for a method of detecting explosive materials using NIR hyperspectral imaging which may comprise collecting interacted photons, passing the interacted photons through a tunable filter, and detecting the interacted photons to generate a NIR hyperspectral image representative of a target. The method may also comprise surveying a region of interest using a RGB detector to identify a target for further inspection using NIR hyperspectral imaging. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140042319 | THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA WITH INTERMITTENT IMAGE CAPTURE - A thermal imaging camera that intermittently captures thermal images of a scene for long term monitoring of the scene. The thermal images may be captured after each interval of a time delay interval and/or upon detection of a threshold change in thermal energy in the scene. | 02-13-2014 |
| 20140217284 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING INFRARED RADIATION WITH GAIN - Photodetectors, methods of fabricating the same, and methods using the same to detect radiation are described. A photodetector can include a first electrode, a light sensitizing layer, an electron blocking/tunneling layer, and a second electrode. Infrared-to-visible upconversion devices, methods of fabricating the same, and methods using the same to detect radiation are also described. An Infrared-to-visible upconversion device can include a photodetector and an OLED coupled to the photodetector. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140264020 | COMPACT THERMAL AIMING SIGHT - A sight attachable to a weapon and comprising an objective lens, an image display, and a digital reticle. The objective lens focuses infrared light received from a scene onto a thermal imager, which is comprised of a focal plane array that detects infrared radiation in the scene focused by the lens. The image display is in signal communication with the thermal imager and provides an image of the received infrared light from the scene. The image rendered by the display is visible to the user. The digital reticle is rendered on the display and provides an aim point of the weapon upon a target in the scene. The image of the scene and superimposed reticle are directly viewable by a user with the aim point of the weapon upon the target being maintained constant over a range of viewing angles that depart from a viewing angle perpendicular to the display. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140353501 | NIGHT VISION ATTACHMENT FOR SMART CAMERA - A night vision attachment for a SmartPhone by which the camera of the SmartPhone is enabled to view or take digital photos of objects under very low light ambient light levels. The night vision attachment comprises a housing for receiving and locating components of the attachment and has portions adapted to mate with a wall of the camera through which the phone camera lens images object space. Located in the attachment housing are an image detector sensitive to infrared (IR), an objective lens for forming images on the image detector whereby the image detector operates to generate image output signals representative of detected images, a display arranged to receive the image output signals from the image detector and to generate a visible image; and an eyepiece for viewing images formed on the display and permitting the camera of the phone to focus on the display images when the attachment is mated to a phone. IR LEDs are used to illuminate scenes. Snap fit connectors releasably hold the attachment in mating contact with the phone so that the camera of the phone is optically aligned with the axis of the eyepiece to permit the camera to view images on the display via the eyepiece. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20150008324 | MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD, TOMOGRAPHY APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus configured to obtain a physical property of an object by time-domain spectroscopy includes: a detection unit; a delay unit configured to adjust a time difference between generation and detection; a shaping unit configured to collect the electromagnetic wave pulses; a waveform obtaining unit configured to construct a time waveform of the electromagnetic wave pulses; and a collecting position adjusting unit configured to adjust a collecting position. When the collecting position is moved, an amount of adjustment when the collecting position matches first and second reflection portions, respectively, of the object, and a difference by the delay unit required for detecting first and second pulses of the time waveform are obtained, and from an amount of change of the amount of adjustment and the difference, a thickness and a refractive index of a region between the first and second reflection portions of the object are calculated. | 01-08-2015 |
| 20150014532 | PHOTOCONDUCTIVE ANTENNA, TERAHERTZ WAVE GENERATING DEVICE, CAMERA, IMAGING DEVICE, AND MEASURING DEVICE - A photoconductive antenna includes a semiconductor layer, and first and second electrodes. The semiconductor layer includes a first conductive region and a second conductive region constituting portions of a surface of the semiconductor layer disposed on a side to which the pulsed light is irradiated, and a third conductive region disposed between the first and second conductive regions. The first conductive region contains a first conductive type impurity and the second conductive region contains a second conductive type impurity. The third conductive region has a carrier density lower than a carrier density of the first conductive region or a carrier density of the second conductive region. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed on the side to which the pulsed light is irradiated. The third conductive region is configured and arranged to be irradiated by the pulsed light. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150069236 | TERAHERTZ ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE GENERATOR, TERAHERTZ SPECTROMETER AND METHOD OF GENERATING TERAHERTZ ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE - A terahertz electromagnetic wave generator according to the present disclosure includes: a thermoelectric material layer; a metal layer which partially covers the surface of the thermoelectric material layer; and a light source system which is configured to irradiate both a surface region of the thermoelectric material layer that is not covered with the metal layer and an edge of the metal layer with pulsed light, thereby generating a terahertz wave from the thermoelectric material layer. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150136981 | DIVIDED-APERTURE INFRA-RED SPECTRAL IMAGING SYSTEM - Various embodiments disclosed herein describe a divided-aperture infrared spectral imaging (DAISI) system that is adapted to acquire multiple IR images of a scene with a single-shot (also referred to as a snapshot). The plurality of acquired images having different wavelength compositions that are obtained generally simultaneously. The system includes at least two optical channels that are spatially and spectrally different from one another. Each of the at least two optical channels are configured to transfer IR radiation incident on the optical system towards an optical FPA unit comprising at least two detector arrays disposed in the focal plane of two corresponding focusing lenses. The system further comprises at least one temperature reference source or surface that is used to dynamically calibrate the two detector arrays and compensate for a temperature difference between the two detector arrays. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150340560 | PHOTOCONDUCTIVE ANTENNA, TERAHERTZ WAVE GENERATING DEVICE, CAMERA, IMAGING DEVICE, AND MEASURING DEVICE - A photoconductive antenna is adapted to generate terahertz waves when irradiated by pulsed light. The photoconductive antenna includes a semiconductor layer, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first electrode and a second electrode. The first conductive layer is disposed on a first surface of the semiconductor layer. The second conductive layer is disposed on the first surface of the semiconductor layer with a prescribed gap being formed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. The first electrode is electrically connected to the first conductive layer. The second electrode is electrically connected to the second conductive layer. The first conductive layer contains a first conductive type impurity. The second conductive layer contains a second conductive type impurity. The semiconductor layer has a carrier density lower than a carrier density of the first conductive layer or a carrier density of the second conductive layer. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150362718 | INFRARED UP-CONVERSION TELESCOPE - There is presented to an up-conversion infrared telescope ( | 12-17-2015 |
| 20160003677 | LONG WAVE INFRARED IMAGING POLARIMETER, AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY - A long wave infrared imaging polarimeter (LWIP) is disclosed including a pixilated polarizing array (PPA) in close proximity to a microbolometer focal plane array (MFPA), along with an alignment engine for aligning and bonding the PPA and MFPA and method for assembly. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160014351 | PLAYING CARD IMAGING TECHNOLOGY WITH THROUGH-THE-CARD VIEWING TECHNOLOGY | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160054233 | SYSTEM FOR DETECTING DEFECTS ON AN OBJECT - A system and method for detecting defects on an object including forming an image representing the object from signals relating to the object, constructing subdivisions of the image according to auto-adaptive resolutions, and calculating differentials between various subdivisions in order to detect an abnormal subdivision indicating incipient failure. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160131576 | Infrared Detection and Imaging Device With No Moving Parts - A device images radiation from a scene. A detector is sensitive to the radiation in a first wavelength band. A lens forms an image of the scene on the detector. A filtering arrangement includes two sets of radiation absorbing molecules. A control unit switches the filtering arrangement between two states. In the first state, all of the radiation in the first wavelength band is transmitted to the detector. In the second state, the radiation in a second wavelength band within the first wavelength band is absorbed by the radiation absorbing molecules. The control unit synchronizes the switching of the filtering arrangement with the detector. Each pixel of the image formed on the detector includes two signals. The first signal includes information from the scene radiation in the first wavelength band. The second signal excludes information from the scene radiation absorbed by the filtering arrangement in the second wavelength band. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160168015 | GLASSES FOR THE CORRECTION OF CHROMATIC AND THERMAL OPTICAL ABERATIONS FOR LENSES TRANSMITTING IN THE NEAR, MID, AND FAR-INFRARED SPECTRUMS | 06-16-2016 |
| 20160169813 | INFRARED RADIOMETRIC IMAGING INSPECTION OF STEEL PARTS | 06-16-2016 |
| 20180024007 | DETECTING INCLUSIONS AND DISBONDS IN GREEN MATERIAL REPAIRS WITH THERMOGRAPHY | 01-25-2018 |
