Infrared camera system
AssigneeFLIR Systems, Inc.
InventorsS. Tomas Lannestedt, R. Mikael Eriksson, Jonce Kotaleski, Mats A. Henriksson, Roger L. Persson
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Abstract
An IR camera comprises an IR Focal Plane Array having a number of detector elements as sensor devices, an optical system focusing an object onto the Focal Plane Array, and a signal processing system connected to the Focal Plane Array. The camera also has a modular structure comprising a camera housing provided with the Focal Plane Array and the signal processing system, an absorbent/emitting shielding device connected to the camera housing, and an optical focusing system removably mounted to the shielding device.
Claims65
An IR camera comprising:
- a. an IR Focal Plane Array comprising a number of detector elements as sensor means;
- b. an optical system focusing an object onto said Focal Plane Array;
- c. signal processing system connected to said Focal Plane Array;
- d. a modular building comprising:
- d1. a camera housing provided with said Focal Plane Array and said signal processing system;
- d2. an absorbent/emitting shielding device connected to said camera housing;
- and
- d3. an optical focusing system being removably mounted to said shielding device.
An absorbent shielding provided in front of detector sensor means in an IR camera, comprising:
- a cavity;
- a first aperture at a first end wall of said cavity turned to said Focal Plane Array;
- a second aperture at a second end wall of said cavity remote to said first end wall for the beam path from said object to said Focal Plane Array;
- said cavity having a ratio of dept to width such that all stray light outside the optical path to said Focal Plane Array has to be reflected at least three times inside said cavity before it can go through said first aperture to reach said Focal Plane Array.
A shutter for an IR camera an optical focusing system and a Focal Plane Array as detecting system for said camera, comprising:
- activating means for providing a shutter close signal;
- shutter closing means for closing the beam path from said object to said focal plane array after receiving said shutter close signal;
- and
- indicating means indicating that at least one detector element in said FPA has a steady state signal after that said shutter close signal has been provided.
An optical focusing system for an IR camera an optical focusing system and a Focal Plane Array as detecting system for said camera, comprising:
- specific means associated to said specific focusing system;
- downloading means to download a signal having relation to said specific means;
- and
- adjustment means to adjust said infrared camera making use of said downloaded signal having relation to said specific focusing system.
A method to build an IR camera comprising:
- a modular building by
- a. providing a camera housing having an IR Focal Plane Array comprising a number of detector elements as sensor means, said camera housing having signal processing system connected to said Focal Plane Array;
- b. connecting an absorbent/emitting shielding device removably to said camera housing;
- and
- c. mounting an optical focusing system focusing an object onto said Focal Plane Array removably to the combined camera housing and shielding device.
A method to detect when an optical component in a beam path from an object to a focal plane array (FPA) in an infrared camera influences said adjustment of said infrared camera, and to adjust said infrared camera, characterized by
- providing said optical component with specific means associated to said special kind of component,
- downloading a signal having relation to said specific means,
- adjusting said infrared camera making use of said signal having relation to said specific means.
A method for detecting when a shutter is provided in the beam path from an object to a focal plane array in an IR camera, characterized by
- detecting activation of a shutter close signal;
- and
- indicating when said FPA has a predetermined and/or steady state after said activation of said shutter close signal.
A method for providing shielding in an infrared camera having a focal plane array (FPA) as a recording means for an infrared beam from an object to be monitored, comprising:
- providing a cavity having an approximately cylindrical internal wall and having a first aperture at one end wall of said cavity turned to said FPA and a second aperture at another end wall of said cavity for the beam path from said object to said FPA, said cavity having a ratio of dept to radius being at least 1 to 5 and a radius being at least 3 times the width of any of said apertures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.