1195results about "Radiation thermography" patented technology

A lamp house storing a plurality of flash lamps and a chamber storing and holding a semiconductor wafer are fitted to each other in an openable / closable manner. The lamp house and the chamber are fixed to a closed state with male screws. In order to process a semiconductor wafer, a shutter plate is drawn out to open an irradiation window. In this state, the shutter plate shields a space located above the male screws so that the male screws cannot be detached for opening the lamp house and the chamber. In order to open the lamp house and the chamber, the shutter plate must be inserted for shielding the irradiation window while opening the space located above the male screws. Thus, a thermal processing apparatus capable of preventing the lamps from breaking during maintenance thereof is provided.

A sample element includes first and second substantially parallel faces separated by an intermediate member. The parallel faces and the intermediate member at least partially define a sample chamber configured to hold a volume of fluid. The sample element further includes an optical path extending through the parallel faces and the intermediate member, such that electromagnetic radiation can propagate through the sample chamber. The sample element further includes an identifying compound disposed within or on at least one of the parallel faces. The identifying compound has at least one indexed optical absorbance feature, such that spectral analysis of electromagnetic radiation propagated through the sample chamber yields the indexed optical absorbance feature. Detection of the indexed optical absorbance feature in electromagnetic radiation propagated through the sample chamber indicates to an analyte detection system whether the sample element is configured for use with the analyte detection system.

Millimeter wave imaging apparatus for use, in articular, as an indoor security system to identify objects concealed under the clothing of a person in a background scene, including means for generating a millimetric temperature contrast between the person to be imaged and the surroundings in scene. This may be a "hot" or "cold" source for producing a flux, and a relatively smaller flux respectively, of incoherent millimeter wavelength radiation. The apparatus may also include at least one partial ellipsoid reflective enclosure for reflecting millimeter wavelength radiation emitted from the "hot" and "cold" source so as to generate non-localized and uniform illumination of the person. The enclosure may have a metallic inner surface on which a dimpled pattern may be embossed to diffuse the millimeter wavelength radiation reflected from the metallic inner surface. The apparatus also includes one or more millimeter wavelength imaging cameras for detecting the millimeter wavelength radiation at one or more millimeter wave center frequencies, which may be mounted inside or outside the reflective enclosure. An image of the objects may be generated on a television monitor from the detected radiation.

Thermal image data of at least a region of a face of a person is provided. The thermal image data is used to determine a physiological state of a person, e.g., anxiety. For example, anxiety may be determined by a comparison of the thermal image data to a baseline, or by comparison of thermal image data for one region of the person's face to another.

A system for monitoring parameters of an energy storage system having a multiplicity of individual energy storage cells. A radio frequency identification and sensor unit is connected to each of the individual energy storage cells. The radio frequency identification and sensor unit operates to sense the parameter of each individual energy storage cell and provides radio frequency transmission of the parameters of each individual energy storage cell. A management system monitors the radio frequency transmissions from the radio frequency identification and sensor units for monitoring the parameters of the energy storage system.

Temperature measurement and heat-treating methods and systems. One method includes measuring a present intensity of radiation thermally emitted from a first surface of a workpiece, and identifying a present temperature of the first surface in response to the present intensity and at least one previous thermal property of the first surface. Preferably, the workpiece includes a semiconductor wafer, and the first and second surfaces respectively include device and substrate sides thereof. The present temperature of the device side is preferably identified while the device side is being irradiated, e.g. by an irradiance flash having a duration less than a thermal conduction time of the wafer. The device side temperature may be identified in response to a previous device side temperature, which may be identified in response to a previous temperature of the substrate side unequal to the previous device side temperature, and a temperature history of the wafer.

A method and apparatus for detecting, locating, isolating and controlling variations in the manufacturing process by transient thermography. A heat source imparts heat to a surface which is radiated in the infrared region. Infrared sensors are coupled to a processor which tracks the physical characteristics of the sample, and provides feedback to a central process controller to make adjustments to the manufacturing process.

A combination fire detection and fire suppression system may include a fire detection system configured to detect an undesirably high temperature associated with an area. The fire detection system may include a temperature sensor including a temperature sensor array and a fire alerting system associated with the temperature sensor. The fire alerting system may be configured to receive information from the temperature sensor and generate a warning signal based on an undesirably high temperature associated with the area. The fire detection system may include a fire control panel configured to receive the warning signal. The system may also include a fire suppression system including a fire suppressant delivery system configured to provide at least one fire suppressant agent to the area associated with the undesirably high temperature.

A defect detection system for thermally imaging a structure that has been energized by a sound energy. The system includes a transducer that couples a sound signal into the structure, where the sound signal causes defects in the structure to heat up. In one embodiment, the sound signal has one or more frequencies that are at or near an eigen-mode of the structure. In another embodiment, an on-linear coupling material is positioned between the transducer and the structure to couple the sound energy from the transducer to the structure. A predetermined force is applied to the transducer and a pulse duration and a pulse frequency of the sound signal are selected so that the sound energy induces acoustic chaos in the structure, thus generating increased thermal energy. A thermal imaging camera images the structure when it is heated by the sound signal.

A method and apparatus for measuring the temperature and / or displacement of a glass ribbon formed in a downdraw glass forming process, and measured across width of the ribbon. Temperature and displacement measurements may advantageously be performed simultaneously with a high degree of spatial resolution by a measurement assembly which does not contact the glass ribbon. Temperature measurements may be performed across substantially the entire width of the ribbon. Data developed by the measurement assembly may be used in an automated feedback loop to control the glass ribbon forming conditions.

Methods, systems and devices are described for rapid characterization and screening of liquid samples to determine properties (e.g., particle size, particle size distribution, molar mass and / or molar mass distribution) thereof with static light scattering and / or dynamic light scattering. The liquid samples can be solutions, emulsions, suspensions or dispersions. One method, includes providing a vessel containing a liquid sample having an exposed surface that defines a gas-liquid sample interface, and analyzing the sample by light scattering methods that include transmitting light through the gas-liquid sample interface into the sample, and detecting light scattered from the sample or from a component thereof. Additional methods are directed to characterizing a plurality of liquid samples or components thereof. The methods, systems, and devices have applications in high-throughput screening, and particularly, in combinatorial materials research and in industrial process control.

A method of determining a temperature of a patient includes measuring a first temperature of the patient with a temperature device without contacting the patient with the device, and measuring a second temperature of the patient by contacting a measurement site of the patient with the device. The method also includes determining a temperature value indicative of a core temperature of the patient based on the first and second temperatures.

An infrared camera provided with a rotating lens. The exterior of the camera is also provided with a touch screen display as well as a switch device such as a 5-way switch, controlling many of the functions of the infrared camera. The rotation of the lens would allow an operator to view different objects while maintaining a single position, allowing the operator to view the material projected on the display very easily. A trigger would be used to capture a particular infrared image and to save this image as well as to transmit it, at a later time, to a personal computer.

A handheld infrared camera having a lens assembly, an electric energy source and a handling elements for recording and handling information received via the lens assembly has an essentially elongate housing. The lens assembly is mounted at one end of the housing, the other end portion of which is formed as a user handle, the longitudinal axis of which preferably is inclined relative to the optical axis of the lens assembly to form an angle (αalpha) with the optical axis. There are provided manual control elements for allowing single hand operation of the camera, and a visual control elements is intended to be viewed when holding and operating the camera away from the eye and the body of a user. The camera is advantageously provided with elements for wireless transmission of information from the camera.

A method for monitoring the operating conditions of an electric generator including the entire stator core and all winding components for conditions of mechanical strain and temperature throughout the machine by means of distributive fiber optic sensors based on both Rayleigh back scattering techniques and Brillouin frequency shift fiber optic sensor analysis both of which do not have the gaps and limitations associated with standard fiber Bragg grating fiber optic point sensors, by virtue of the fact that both Rayleigh and Brillouin scans and allow accurate strain and temperature determinations at all points along standard fiber optic cables of considerable length, approximately two kilometers in the case of the Brillouin, which effectively yields many tens of thousands of sensors throughout the entire standard fiber optic cable. Raman distributive temperature sensing also has a limited application. Single mode and polarizing maintaining fibers can both be analyzed and read with any Rayleigh or Brillouin distributive fiber optic sensor laser system allowing great flexibility in sensor spatial resolution, total sensed length, resolution and other factors not possible with conventional fiber Bragg gratings. A sealed fiber collection box located outside the electric generator permits enhanced reliability and reconfiguration into any number of desirable fiber layouts necessary for specific static and dynamic measurements in an optimal manner.

An infrared camera system is provided to detect absorption of infrared radiation in a selected spectral bandwidth. In one example, an infrared camera system includes a lens adapted to receive infrared radiation from a survey scene comprising one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes a focal plane array comprising a plurality of quantum well infrared photo detectors (QWIPs). The QWIPs are tuned to detect a limited spectral bandwidth of the infrared radiation corresponding to at least a portion of an infrared absorption band of the one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes an optical band pass filter positioned substantially between the lens and the focal plane array. The optical band pass filter is adapted to filter the infrared radiation to a wavelength range substantially corresponding to the limited spectral bandwidth of the QWIPs before the infrared radiation is received by the focal plane array.

The present invention relates to an ultraviolet radiation detector in general and more specifically to a solar blind ultraviolet radiation detector; that is, a detector insensitive to the radiation of sunlight reaching the earth's surface but sensitive to UVC wavelengths in the spectrum, defined as the interval 200 nm-280 nm. The solar blind detector is base on the use of photochromic compounds in conjunction with ultraviolet wavelength-selective chemical blocks and their incorporation into optically clear polymer matrices. The photochromic compound is selected from the group comprising spiropyran molecules spirooxazine molecules and chromene derivatives. Applications for such device are as numerous as the sources of UVC radiation. An obvious use for such Solar Blind UVC detector is monitoring the output of UVC sources used in the decontamination of water and air (water treatment and air purification) and for sterilization of medical instruments.

A calibration algorithm is provided for calibrating a machine vision system including a color camera, a framegrabber and an illumination source wherein subsequently acquired images are processed on a pixel-by-pixel basis. After framegrabber offsets are measured to obtain initial or offset calibration data, the camera is pointed at a target monotone patch of known reflectance such as pure white and the camera outputs for red, green and blue are determined while observing the monotone patch to obtain spatial calibration data. The gain for each of the output channels of the color camera is automatically determined from the initial calibration data. Applying the three gain factors to a subsequent image on the pixel-by-pixel basis allows one to end up with a color-corrected image without incurring any time performance penalty. At any time during an inspection process, a small area of white reflectance can be observed. The resulting dynamic white calibration data is used to correct for any medium to long term temporal variation in imaging conditions.

A thermal infrared detector includes a substrate; a temperature sensor having electrical characteristics changed in accordance with changes in temperature caused by infrared absorption; heat-insulating supporting legs supporting and thermally insulating the temperature sensor and serving as signal lines for reading out electrical signals from the temperature sensor; and an infrared absorption layer in thermal contact the temperature sensor. Each of the temperature sensor, the heat-insulating supporting legs, and the infrared absorption layer is in a different plane and the planes are spatially separated from each other.

A container for sunscreen having (a) an alphanumeric indication of a sun protection factor and (b) a solar detector for displaying whether accumulated ultraviolet radiation striking the skin of a user of sunscreen with the indicated sun protection factor has exceeded a threshold level. The solar detector has a sensor layer with a photochromic material that reacts to ultraviolet radiation by changing from a clear state to a colored one, and an ultraviolet absorbing or blocking material covering at least one portion of the sensor layer. The ultraviolet absorbing material covering the at least one portion being present in an amount or concentration such that, upon exposure of the solar detector means to the ultraviolet radiation striking the skin of the user of the sunscreen over the same period of time, blocks sufficient ultraviolet radiation from striking the photochromic material so as to prevent the photochromic material from changing color until the threshold level has been reached at which time the photochromic material changes from the clear state to the colored one.

A method is provided for measuring a temperature of a molten metal bath by an optical fiber surrounded by a cover. The optical fiber is immersed in the molten bath, and the radiation absorbed by the optical fiber in the molten bath is fed to a detector, wherein the optical fiber is heated when immersed in the molten bath. The heating curve of the optical fiber has at least one point P(t0, T0), wherein the increase ΔT1 in the temperature T of the optical fiber over the time Δt in a first time interval t0−Δt up to the temperature T0 is smaller than the increase ΔT2 in the temperature of the optical fiber over the time Δt in an immediately following second time interval t0+Δt.

The disclosed embodiments relate to the monitoring and control of additive manufacturing. In particular, a method is shown for removing errors inherent in thermal measurement equipment so that the presence of errors in a product build operation can be identified and acted upon with greater precision. Instead of monitoring a grid of discrete locations on the build plane with a temperature sensor, the intensity, duration and in some cases position of each scan is recorded in order to characterize one or more build operations.

Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for analyzing, sensing and measuring the concentrations of various gases, including NOx, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxygen, in a multi-component gas system using chemical sensors and chemical sensor arrays. The sensors and sensor arrays use chemo / electro-active materials to analyze and detect the presence of gases.

Disclosed is a device and method for measuring temperature with infrared array sensor. This device includes: an infrared array sensor module to take thermal picture information of a subject, including a plurality of infrared sensors arranged in an array of pixels; an on-screen display module to generate an indicator having a profile corresponding to an entire or local shape of the subject and defining a target point to be measured for temperature; a display module to express the indicator and the thermal picture information; and a controller to enable the infrared array sensor module to measure the subject's temperature if the target point displayed by the thermal picture information overlaps with the indicator while the thermal picture information is expressed on the display module along with the indicator.

PCT No. PCT / GB96 / 01805 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 9, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 9, 1998 PCT Filed Jul. 29, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97 / 05742 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 13, 1997A thermal sensing system (10) including an array of photon detectors (14) produces a detector-dependent response to irradiation. Variations in individual detector characteristics produce a fixed pattern noise which degrades an image or other response. A switchable mirror (M1) may at one position (Pcal) direct infrared radiation from a light emitting diode (20) onto the detector array (14). The diode (20) is both a negative and positive luminescent emitter, the flux emitted is current controlled to be equivalent to black body radiation at a range of temperatures both colder and hotter than ambient. Calibration relationships comprising transfer functions relating incident intensity to signal response are derived for each detector. Alternatively the mirror (M1) may be at an observation position (Pobs) and infrared radiation from a remote scene reaches the detector array (14). Resulting detector signals are converted into corrected fluxes using individual calibration relationships previously derived and an image or response with reduced fixed pattern noise is obtained.

A defect detection system for thermally imaging a structure that has been energized by a sound energy. The system includes a transducer that couples a sound signal into the structure, where the sound signal causes defects in the structure to heat up. In one embodiment, the sound signal has one or more frequencies that are at or near an eigen-mode of the structure.

A portable thermal imaging apparatus uses an ultrasonic acoustical source and an infrared camera to examine a flat or curved specimen such as the surface of the fuselage of an aircraft for defects such as subsurface disbonds, delaminations, cracks, corrosion, embedded contaminants, inclusions, and voids. The apparatus includes a base framework removably attachable to the specimen by a set of vacuum cups and a pair of guide rails along which the imaging apparatus can travel to allow multiple images to be captured without relocating the apparatus on the specimen. The acoustical signal from the ultrasonic source sweeps over a range of frequencies in order to excite defects of greatly differing size to exhibit local heating.

An infrared camera with lower dissipation power, a wide range of operating environment temperature, and a shorter warmup is provided. The infrared camera includes a plurality of device operating-temperature setting circuits setting respective device operating temperatures different from one another, a device operating-temperature setting switch for selecting one of the output of the device operating-temperature setting circuits, and a temperature sensor, and performs imaging by switching the connection target of the device operating-temperature setting switch according to a measurement by the temperature sensor, that is to say, according to the temperature inside an enclosure and selecting an operating temperature for an imaging device among a plurality of device operating-temperature settings.

At least one forward-biased semiconductor diode having a potential barrier is used as a temperature sensor whose sensitivity can be finely adjusted. An operational amplifier circuit (A1) is used to apply a bias voltage of DC or rectangular waveform to a semiconductor diode (D) having a potential barrier used as a temperature sensor. In view of the fact that the temperature sensitivity of the semiconductor diode (D) depends on the height of its potential barrier, the forward bias voltage applied from a bias circuit (2) directly to the semiconductor diode (D) is finely adjusted to obtain desired temperature sensitivity. The output voltage of the sensor is associated with a current, having an exponential temperature dependence, which flows in the semiconductor diode (D) with the forward bias being fixed.

A thermographic non-destructive inspection method of a structure, comprising the steps of: generating a modulated thermal wave in the direction of the structure; generating a temperature signal identifying a phase shift between the modulated thermal wave and a return thermal wave emitted from the structure; processing the temperature signal to obtain a first sub-signal related to the phase of the first harmonic of the temperature signal; identifying a first dimension of said defect as a function of the phase of the first harmonic of the temperature signal; calculating a first and a second intermediate parameter, ΔΦ1 for the first harmonic and ΔΦ2 for the third harmonic of the temperature signal, by calculating the difference, in degrees, between the phase value inside the zone with a defect and the phase value, absolute or mean of a plurality of points, of the undamaged zone close to the defect; and identifying a second dimension of the defect as a function of the first dimension and of the intermediate parameters ΔΦ1 and ΔΦ2.