# US 2013/0155256 A1 · Thermal imager and transmitter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0155256 A1 - Document ID: US20130155256A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/718,703 - Filed: 2012-12-18 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: Certification Information Limited - Inventors: Antony James Holliday - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155256A1 ## CPC - G02B 7/008: {with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation} - E05F 1/10: for swinging wings {, e.g. counterbalance} - G01K 13/00: Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes - G02B 7/006: {Filter holders} - H04N 23/23: from thermal infrared radiation - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - 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 method of assessing the condition of a component through a thermal window, the method including storing information on a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the component or the thermal window and taking a thermal image of the component through the thermal window using a thermal imaging device. The method also including retrieving the information on the RFID tag using a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader on the thermal imaging device. Also, a thermal imaging system comprising a thermal imaging device including a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, and a thermal window having a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the thermal window. The RFID reader may be adapted to access information on the RFID tag. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of assessing the condition of a component through a thermal window, the method comprising storing information on a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the component or the thermal window, taking a thermal image of the component through the thermal window using a thermal imaging device, and retrieving the information on the RFID tag using a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader on the thermal imaging device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of associating the information with the thermal image. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of recording the information on the thermal image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information retrieved from the RFID tag includes a unique identifier to identify the component or the thermal window. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information retrieved from the RFID tag relates to the characteristics of the component or the thermal window. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information on the RFID tag is retrieved automatically by the RFID reader on the thermal imaging device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information retrieved from the RFID tag allows the identification of the transmission efficiency characteristics of the thermal window, and wherein the method includes the step of correcting the thermal image to allow for transmission losses of thermal energy as a result of transmission through the thermal window, and recording the corrected image on the thermal imaging device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the information retrieved from the RFID tag contains a unique identifier code associated with an algorithm stored in a memory device in the thermal imaging device, wherein the algorithm permits the transmission efficiency of the thermal window to be determined and the thermal image to be corrected for transmission losses, and wherein the method includes the step of correcting the thermal image for transmission losses, and recording the corrected image on the thermal imaging device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal imaging device has low power characteristics, to permit its use in explosive or otherwise hazardous environment, whereby the electrical and/or thermal energy associated with the thermal imaging device is below the level at which there is a risk of ignition in an explosive environment. ### Claim 10 A thermal imaging system comprising: a thermal imaging device including a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, and a thermal window having a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the thermal window, wherein the RFID reader is adapted to access information on the RFID tag. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the RFID tag is encased in a part of the thermal window. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the information on the RFID tag relates to characteristics of the thermal window. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the information on the RFID tag allows identification of the transmission efficiency characteristics of the thermal window, and wherein the system is adapted to correct a thermal image obtained by the thermal imaging device to allow for transmission losses of thermal energy as a result of transmission through the thermal window, and to record the corrected thermal image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the information on the RFID tag contains a unique identifier code associated with an algorithm stored in a memory device in the thermal imaging device, wherein the algorithm permits the transmission efficiency of the thermal window to be determined when the thermal image is obtained by the thermal imaging device, and wherein the system is adapted to record a thermal image on the thermal imaging device wherein the thermal image includes thermal energy data that has been corrected by the algorithm allowing for transmission losses of thermal energy caused by the thermal window. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein data recorded on the thermal image includes at least one of: (a) location of the thermal window; (b) material, thickness, density, or transmission efficiency of the thermal window; (c) characteristics of a component behind the thermal window, including designation, maximum and minimum operating temperatures, installation date and/or maintenance review date; (d) RFID tag unique identifier; (e) date or time of collection of thermal data; (f) window type; and (g) whether or not the thermal image recorded was transmission corrected at the time of recordal on the imaging device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the information on the RFID tag is retrievable from the RFID tag using electromagnetic radiation having a high frequency, that is a frequency of from 10 to 15 MHz. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) A system as claimed in claim 10, including a data server adapted to communicate with the thermal imaging device, the data server including earlier thermal images indexed to a particular thermal window, such that an operator of the thermal imaging device can monitor or track potential problems or low-level faults with a component behind the thermal window. ### Claim 18 A thermal imaging device having a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader adapted to access data on a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A thermal imaging device as claimed in claim 18, having a memory device containing an algorithm allowing the correction of thermal data collected by the thermal imaging device.