# US 7,612,799 B1 · Humidity control systems and methods for infrared cameras > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,799 B1 - Document ID: US7612799B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 11/946,805 - Filed: 2007-11-28 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2007-11-28 - Assignees: FLIR Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey D. Frank; Marcel Tremblay; James T. Woolaway - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612799B1 ## CPC - H04N 23/51: Housings - H04N 23/20: for generating image signals from infrared radiation only - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An infrared camera, in accordance with one embodiment, includes a housing having disposed therein one or more heating elements; a vent; a sensor for detecting a humidity level and providing a sensor signal indicating the humidity level within the housing; and a logic circuit configured to receive the sensor signal and determine if the humidity level within the housing should be reduced, wherein the logic circuit provides a control signal to switch on at least one of the heating elements if the humidity level should be reduced via the vent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An infrared camera comprising: a housing having disposed therein; one or more heating elements; a vent; a sensor for detecting a humidity level and providing a sensor signal indicating the humidity level within the housing; and a logic circuit configured to receive the sensor signal and determine if the humidity level within the housing should be reduced, wherein the logic circuit provides a control signal to switch on at least one of the heating elements if the humidity level should be reduced via the vent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The infrared camera of claim 1, wherein the logic circuit further determines whether the humidity level should be increased, and wherein the logic circuit provides the control signal to switch off at least one of the heating elements if the humidity level should be increased. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The infrared camera of claim 1, wherein the vent is adapted to allow moisture and/or vapor to travel out of the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The infrared camera of claim 1, wherein the logic circuit switches on all of the heating elements if the humidity level is above a certain threshold level and should be reduced. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The infrared camera of claim 1, wherein the logic circuit is a microcontroller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The infrared camera of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a capacitive humidity sensor or a resistive humidity sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The infrared camera of claim 1, wherein the one or more heating elements comprises camera electronics and an infrared window heater. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The infrared camera of claim 7, wherein the one or more heating elements further comprises an infrared lens heater. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The infrared camera of claim 7, wherein the one or more heating elements further comprises a dedicated heater. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The infrared camera of claim 1, further comprising a power supply, and wherein the logic circuit is further configured to control the power supply to switch on the one or more heating elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The infrared camera of claim 1, wherein the logic circuit is further configured to control activation of the vent. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The infrared camera of claim 1, wherein the logic circuit calculates a dew point temperature to compare to a temperature within the infrared camera to determine if the humidity level within the housing should be reduced. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The infrared camera of claim 12, wherein the logic circuit uses rate of change equations to determine whether to provide the control signal to switch on at least one of the heating elements to reduce the humidity level. ### Claim 14 A method of controlling a humidity level within an infrared camera, the method comprising: detecting the humidity level within the infrared camera; determining if the detected humidity level should be adjusted; and switching on at least one heating element within the infrared camera if the humidity level is to be reduced based on the determining. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising switching off at least one of the heating elements within the infrared camera if the humidity level is to be increased based on the determining. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising venting humidity out of the infrared camera based on the switching on of the at least one heating element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the infrared camera includes a plurality of the heating elements, and wherein the heating elements comprise an infrared window heater, an infrared lens heater, and camera electronics. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the heating elements further comprise a dedicated heater. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the determining further comprises: calculating a dew point temperature; and comparing to a measured temperature within the infrared camera. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the determining further comprises calculating a rate of change of the measured temperature and/or the humidity level. ### Claim 21 An infrared camera comprising: a housing; a vent coupled to the housing; means for detecting a humidity level within the housing; means for generating heat within the housing; means for determining if the humidity level within the housing should be adjusted based on information provided by the detecting means, wherein the determining means provides a control signal to switch on the heat generating means if the humidity level should be reduced. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The infrared camera of claim 21, wherein the determining means further provides the control signal to switch off the heat generating means if the humidity level should be increased. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The infrared camera of claim 21, wherein the vent is adapted to allow moisture and/or vapor to travel out of the housing. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The infrared camera of claim 21, wherein the heat generating means comprises an infrared lens heater, an infrared window heater, camera electronics, and a dedicated heater. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The infrared camera of claim 21, further comprising means for detecting a temperature within the housing, wherein the determining means is further adapted to adjust the humidity level within the housing based on information provided by the temperature detecting means.