Non-contact measurement of multi-temperature profile of an object
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRicky Lance Haney, Loyal Bruce Shawgo, Mark David Rogers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method involves determining multiple temperatures of an object from spectral data collected from the object. The spectral data covers a plurality of wavelengths. The method comprises using a computer to (a) assign an initial value for residual radiation; (b) identify a black body profile that best fits the spectral data over the plurality of wavelengths; (c) remove radiation corresponding to the identified profile from the residual radiation; and (d) return to (b) until the residual radiation reaches a termination criterion.
Claims18
A method of determining a multi-temperature profile of an object from spectral data collected from the object, the spectral data covering a plurality of wavelengths, the method comprising:
- collecting the spectral data from the object using at least one thermal sensor configured to capture spectral data over a plurality of wavelengths;
- communicating the spectral data to a computer programmed to:
- (a) initially set a current value for residual radiation to total radiation collected from the object;
- (b) identify a black body profile that best fits the spectral data over the plurality of wavelengths;
- (c) infer a temperature from the identified profile;
- (d) update the current value for residual radiation by subtracting an amount of radiation corresponding to the identified black body profile;
- and
- (e) return to (b) until the current value for residual radiation reaches a termination criterion;
- and
- outputting each temperature inferred at (c) to a display.
A method of determining multiple temperatures of an object from spectral data covering a plurality of wavelengths, the method comprising:
- collecting the spectral data from the object using at least one thermal sensor configured to capture spectral data over a plurality of wavelengths;
- communicating the spectral data to a computer programmed to:
- initially set a current value for residual radiation to total radiation in the spectral data;
- compute a black body profile for each of a plurality of temperatures for each one of the wavelengths;
- select one of the profiles that best fits the spectral data;
- infer a temperature from the selected profile;
- update the current value for residual radiation by subtracting an amount of radiation contributed by the selected profile;
- and
- return to computing the black body profile for each of a new plurality of temperatures, the new plurality not including any inferred temperature;
- and
- outputting each temperature inferred from the selected profile to a display.
Apparatus for determining a multi-temperature profile of an object, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one thermal sensor for capturing spectral data of the object over a plurality of wavelengths;
- a processor programmed to:
- initially assign a current value for residual radiation;
- identify a black body profile that best fits the spectral data of the object over the plurality of wavelengths;
- infer a temperature of the object from the identified black body profile;
- update the current value for residual radiation by subtracting an amount of radiation corresponding to the identified profile;
- and
- return to identifying a black body profile for another temperature until the current value for residual radiation reaches a termination criterion;
- and
- a display coupled to the processor and configured to display each temperature inferred from the identified black body profile.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.