Infrared imaging systems and methods for oil leak detection
AssigneeQuantum Ir Technologies, LLC
InventorMark Israelsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for detecting an oil leak can include: at least one infrared imaging sensor; and an imaging analysis computer operably coupled with the at least one infrared imaging sensor. The imaging analysis computer can be configured to control any infrared imaging sensor and acquire infrared images therefrom at any rate and in any duration. The imaging analysis computer can be configured to analyze the infrared images in order to detect an oil leak. The imaging analysis computer can be configured to detect oil on a surface (e.g., solid surface or water surface) where oil should not be (or is not present in a baseline) in order to determine that there is an oil leak in the vicinity.
Claims40
A system for detecting an oil leak, comprising:
- at least one infrared imaging sensor;
- an imaging analysis computer operably coupled with the at least one infrared imaging sensor, wherein the imaging analysis computer is configured to:
- obtain at least one baseline infrared image of a fixed field of view without oil being present;
- analyze all pixels in the fixed field of view for changes from the at least one baseline infrared image to at least one subsequent infrared image;
- identify variable differences in temperatures for each pixel in the field of view between the at least one baseline infrared image and the at least one subsequent infrared image;
- identify one or more first pixels in the at least one subsequent infrared image having a first variable difference in temperature that is greater than an allowable variable difference in temperature for the one or more first pixels in the at least one subsequent infrared image compared to an allowable variable difference in temperature for the one or more first pixels in the at least one baseline infrared image;
- determine the one or more first pixels as being oil based on the first variable difference in temperature of the one or more first pixels being greater than the allowable variable difference in temperature of the one or more first pixels in the fixed field of view;
- and
- generate an alert that identifies oil being present in the fixed field of view.
-5. (canceled)
-16. (canceled)
(canceled)
-23. (canceled)
(canceled)
-34. (canceled)
-44. (canceled)
(canceled)
-51. (canceled)
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.