# US 2017/0284887 A1 · Laser scanning leak detection and visualization apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0284887 A1 - Document ID: US20170284887A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/471,549 - Filed: 2017-03-28 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc. - Applicants: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc. - Inventors: John Armando MIRANDA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284887A1 ## CPC - G01M 3/38: by using light (G01M3/02 takes precedence) - G01M 3/04: by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point - H04N 9/31: Projection devices for colour picture display {, e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]} - H04N 23/11: for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths - H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A gas detecting apparatus and method for detecting gas leaks are disclosed. The gas detecting apparatus includes an infrared (IR) detector configured to monitor a presence of one or more gases in a field-of-interest (FOI), wherein the IR detector generates IR light distribution information within the FOI; a controller configured to analyze the IR light distribution information to identify one or more locations of one or more gases in the FOI; and a visible light projector configured to project a visible image in the FOI based on the analysis by the controller, wherein the visible image depicts the one or more locations of the one or more gases in the FOI. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas detecting apparatus, comprising: an infrared (IR) detector configured to monitor a presence of one or more gases in a field-of-interest (FOI), wherein the IR detector generates IR light distribution information within the FOI; a controller configured to analyze the IR light distribution information to identify one or more locations of one or more gases in the FOI; and a visible light projector configured to project a visible image in the FOI based on the analysis by the controller, wherein the visible image depicts the one or more locations of the one or more gases in the FOI. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gas detecting apparatus according to claim 1, the visible light projector comprising: a visible light source configured to generate a beam of visible light; and a first scanner configured to scan the visible light into an area covering the FOI, wherein the controller controls at least one of the visible light source and the first scanner to project the visible image. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The gas detecting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an IR light projector comprising: an IR laser source configured to generate a beam of IR light, and a second scanner configured to scan the beam of the IR light into a two-dimensional projecting pattern covering the FOI, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of the IR laser source and the scanner to project the beam of the IR light into the two-dimensional projecting pattern in the FOI; and wherein the IR detector generates the IR light distribution information based on the beam of the IR light scanned in the two-dimensional projecting pattern. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gas detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller analyzes a gas concentration distribution within the FOI based on the IR light distribution information, and identifies the one or more locations based on the analyzed gas concentration distribution. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The gas detecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the visible image generated by the controller depicts one or more outline shapes of the one or more gases. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The gas detecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the visible image generated by the controller depicts one or more leakage sources of the one or more gases. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The gas detecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the visible image further depicts supplemental information, wherein the supplemental information comprises at least one of: one or more distances to the one or more locations of the one or more gases; one or more kinds of the one or more gases; one or more concentrations of the one or more gases; and one or more warning levels of the one or more gases. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The gas detecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a single unit of the scanner is used as both the first scanner and the second scanner. ### Claim 9 A method for detecting gas leaks, comprising: generating Infrared (IR) light distribution information within a field-of-interest (FOI); analyzing the IR light distribution information to identify one or more locations of one or more gases in the FOI; and projecting with a visible light a visible image in the FOI based on the analyzed result, wherein the visible image depicts the one or more locations of the one or more gases in the FOI. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, the projecting of the visible image comprising: generating a beam of visible light; and scanning the beam of the visible light into an area covering the FOI. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising: generating a beam of IR light, and scanning the beam of the IR light into a two-dimensional projecting pattern covering the FOI, wherein the IR light distribution information is generated based on the beam of the IR light scanned in the two-dimensional projecting pattern. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the one or more locations of the one or more gases are identified by a gas concentration distribution within the FOI obtained from the IR light distribution information. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the visible image depicts one or more outline shapes of the one or more gases. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the visible image depicts one or more leakage sources of the one or more gases. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the visible image further depicts supplemental information, wherein the supplemental information comprises at least one of: one or more distances to the one or more locations of the one or more gases; one or more kinds of the one or more gases; one or more concentrations of the one or more gases; and one or more warning levels of the one or more gases. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the scanning of the beam of the visible light into the area covering the FOI and the scanning of the beam of the IR light into the two-dimensional projecting pattern covering the FOI is from a single scanning unit.