# US 11,307,098 B2 · Systems and approaches for obtaining temperature measurements using thermal imaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,307,098 B2 - Document ID: US11307098B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/138,630 - Filed: 2020-12-30 - Published: 2021-09-30 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-27 - Assignees: Ecb Consulting LLC - Applicants: Ecb Consulting LLC - Inventors: Erik Bryan Beall - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307098B2 ## CPC - G01J 5/0205: {Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements} - G01J 5/53: Reference sources, e.g. standard lamps; Black bodies - G01J 5/0025: {Living bodies (ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00)} - G01J 5/10: using electric radiation detectors - G01K 15/005: {Calibration} - H04N 23/23: from thermal infrared radiation - G01J 5/80: Calibration (using comparison with reference sources G01J5/52) - G01J 2005/0077: {Imaging} - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A temperature detection system includes a housing, a thermal imaging system at least partially disposed within the housing, an arm operably coupled with and extending from the housing, and a reference illumination system operably coupled with the arm. The thermal imaging system is adapted to capture at least one thermal image of a subject. The reference illumination system includes a substrate having at least one reference calibration unit operably coupled therewith such that the substrate is at least partially constructed from a solid metal embedded therein. The at least one reference calibration unit is visible to the thermal imaging system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A temperature detection system for determining a surface temperature, the temperature detection system comprising: a housing; a thermal imaging system at least partially disposed within the housing, the thermal imaging system configured to capture at least one thermal image of a subject, the at least one thermal image including a surface temperature of the subject; an arm operably coupled with and extending from the housing; and a reference illumination system operably coupled with the arm, the reference illumination system including: a substrate having at least one reference calibration unit operably coupled therewith such that the substrate is at least partially constructed from a solid metal embedded therein, wherein the at least one reference calibration unit includes: a first metallic shim having an inner side and an outer side; a thermoelectric cooler module having a first side and a second side, the first side of the thermoelectric cooler being operably coupled with the inner side of the first metallic shim; a temperature sensor operably coupled with the first metallic shim; a second metallic shim having an inner side and an outer side, the inner side of the second metallic shim being operably coupled with the second side of the thermoelectric cooler; and an emissivity coating applied to at least one surface of the first metallic shim or the second metallic shim, wherein the at least one reference calibration unit is visible to the thermal imaging system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The temperature detection system of claim 1, further comprising a PID controller operably coupled with the temperature sensor and the thermoelectric cooler to maintain a desired temperature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The temperature detection system of claim 1, further comprising a time of flight sensor at least partially disposed within the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The temperature detection system of claim 1, further comprising at least one user interface element operably coupled with the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The temperature detection system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control operation of the thermal imaging system and the reference illumination system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The temperature detection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one reference calibration unit is intermittently exposed to the thermal imaging system via at least one of an occluding member or decoupling the at least one reference calibration unit from the arm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The temperature detection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface of the first metallic shim or the second metallic shim is plated with an Electroless-Nickel immersion Gold or an Electroless Nickel Electroless Palladium Immersion Gold material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The temperature detection system of claim 7, further comprising a polyimide film at least partially surrounding an exterior portion of the inner side of the first metallic shim. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The temperature detection system of claim 8, wherein the temperature sensor is operably coupled with the polyimide film. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The temperature detection system of claim 9, wherein the temperature sensor is operably coupled with the polyimide film via an epoxy material. ### Claim 11 A reference illumination system for use with a temperature detection system, the reference illumination system including: a substrate having at least one reference calibration unit operably coupled therewith such that the substrate is at least partially constructed from a solid metal embedded therein, wherein the at least one reference calibration unit is operably coupled to an arm extending from a housing that includes a thermal imaging system such that the at least one reference calibration unit is visible to the thermal imaging system; and wherein the at least one reference calibration unit includes: a first metallic shim having an inner side and an outer side; a thermoelectric cooler module having a first side and a second side, the first side of the thermoelectric cooler being operably coupled with the inner side of the first metallic shim; a temperature sensor operably coupled with the first metallic shim; a second metallic shim having an inner side and an outer side, the inner side of the second metallic shim being operably coupled with the second side of the thermoelectric cooler; and an emissivity coating applied to at least one surface of the first metallic shim or the second metallic shim. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The thermal imaging system of claim 11, further comprising a PID controller operably coupled with the temperature sensor and the thermoelectric cooler to maintain a desired temperature. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The thermal imaging system of claim 11, further comprising a polyimide film at least partially surrounding an exterior portion of the inner side of the first metallic shim, wherein the temperature sensor is operably coupled with the polyimide film. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The thermal imaging system of claim 13, wherein the at least one surface of the first metallic shim or the second metallic shim is plated with Electroless-Nickel immersion Gold or an Electroless Nickel Electroless Palladium Immersion Gold material. ### Claim 15 A method of preparing a reference illumination system, the method comprising: providing a substrate having at least one opening; operably coupling at least one reference calibration unit with the substrate, comprising the steps of: disposing a first metallic shim having an inner side and an outer side within the opening of the substrate; providing a thermoelectric cooler module having a first side and a second side; operably coupling the first side of the thermoelectric cooler with the inner side of the first metallic shim; operably coupling a temperature sensor with the first metallic shim; providing a second metallic shim having an inner side and an outer side; operably coupling the inner side of the second metallic shim with the second side of the thermoelectric cooler; and applying an emissivity coating to at least one surface of the first metallic shim or the second metallic shim, wherein the substrate is operably coupled to an arm extending from a housing that includes a thermal imaging system such that the at least one reference calibration unit is visible to the thermal imaging system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising surrounding an exterior portion of the inner side of the first metallic shim with a polyimide film. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the temperature sensor is operably coupled with the polyimide film via an epoxy material and one of an Electroless-Nickel immersion Gold or an Electroless Nickel Electroless Palladium Immersion Gold material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of operably coupling a PID controller with the temperature sensor and the thermoelectric cooler to maintain a desired temperature. ### Claim 19 A temperature detection system for determining a surface temperature, the temperature detection system comprising: a housing; a thermal imaging system at least partially disposed within the housing, the thermal imaging system configured to capture at least one thermal image of a subject; an arm operably coupled with and extending from the housing; and a reference illumination system operably coupled with the arm, the reference illumination system including a substrate having at least one reference calibration unit operably coupled therewith such that the substrate is at least partially constructed from a solid metal embedded therein, wherein the at least one reference calibration unit is visible to the thermal imaging system.