Portable digital infrared thermography system

A digital infrared thermography unit for processing, displaying, and recording at least thermographic images as represented by thermographic image signals comprising individual frames of thermographic images, said unit comprising:

• a camera interface for receiving at least thermographic image signals produced by an infrared camera;
• a video digitizer for digitizing and multiplexing image signals received by the camera interface, producing multiplexed image signals;
• digital display means for receiving at least thermographic images as represented by said multiplexed image signals;
• a high speed path dedicated to routing at least the multiplexed image signals to said display means for display of the multiplexed image signals at a rate of at least thirty frames of images per second;
• means for displaying said multiplexed image signals on a first portion of the display while simultaneously displaying on a second portion of the display information allowing a user to perform multiple tasks;
• means for selecting individual frames of said multiplexed image signals and producing digital frame signals;
• an internal memory for storing said digital frame signals;
• an embedded computer for controlling the processing and display of the multiplexed image signal, and for controlling the storage of the selected digital frame signals in said memory;
• and
• a databus interconnecting at least the video digitizer, digital display means, means for selecting, and embedded computer.

A digital infrared thermography system for producing, processing, displaying, and recording thermographic and visible images of objects, the system comprising:

• a infrared camera for capturing thermographic images of objects and for producing an electronic thermographic image signal comprising individual frames of thermographic images corresponding to the captured thermographic images;
• a visible image camera for capturing visible images of objects and for producing an electronic visible image signal comprising individual frames of visible images corresponding to the captured visible images;
• a video data collector for receiving, processing, displaying, and recording said thermographic and visible image signals, comprising:
• a camera interface connected to said infrared and visible image cameras for receiving said thermographic and visible image signals;
• a video digitizer for digitizing and multiplexing the image signals received by said interface, producing multiplexed image signals;
• a digital video signal interface for receiving digital video signals comprised of individual frames of images;
• a programmable logic array for converting said digital video signals to a format readily useable by said data collector, producing formatted image signals;
• a touch screen display for displaying thermographic and visible images as represented by the multiplexed and formatted image signals;
• means for selecting and annotating individual frames of the multiplexed and formatted image signals, producing selected digital frame signals;
• an internal hard drive for recording the selected digital frame signals;
• and
• an embedded computer for controlling the processing and displaying of the multiplexed and formatted image signals, and for controlling the selecting, annotating, and recording of the selected digital frame signals;
• a battery for providing power to said system;
• and
• a carrying vest for supporting at least said video data collector on a person's body.