Patents Assigned to Flir Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10488204
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide race route distribution and/or display for mobile structures. A race route distribution and/or display system includes a race route generator, a distribution server, a display board, various race route receivers, and/or a user interface, each of which may be used in conjunction with operation of one or more mobile structures participating in a race to receive a race route from the race route generator and/or distribution server. A race route receiver may include and/or be configured to communicate with a logic device, a memory, one or more sensors, actuators/controllers, and/or corresponding interface modules. The logic device may be adapted to receive the race route and display various portions of the race route to a user using intuitive symbols and/or adjust a directional control signal provided to an actuator of the mobile structure accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Rivers
  • Patent number: 10454425
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically controlling the bias in a pulsed power amplifier include components for measuring the current in an amplifier, comparing the measured value with the desired value, modifying the bias, and controlling the bias applied to the power amplifier. A measurement circuit converts the measured current to a voltage, and a comparator compares a measured voltage with a reference voltage to continuously indicate whether the amplifier current is less than a desired quiescent value. A circuit controls the level of the gate-bias (Vg) during a pulse, such as with a pulse width modulator. The measurement of the amplifier current is registered after the bias is enabled, but before the signal pulse. Drive control logic implements a control algorithm for adjusting the gate value in between pulses and in time to be used for the next pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Richard Jales
  • Patent number: 10453979
    Abstract: Materials and methods may be provided for short-wave infrared (SWIR) superlattice materials. The superlattice material includes a first sub-layer comprising InAs, and a second sub-layer adjacent to the first sub-layer including AlSb, AlAsSb, or InAlAsSb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEM, INC.
    Inventors: Edward K. Huang, Andrew D. Hood
  • Patent number: 10444354
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide sonar systems for mobile structures. A sonar system includes a sonar transducer assembly including a sonar transducer, a sonar receiver configured to receive acoustic returns from the sonar transducer and convert the acoustic returns into arrays of time differentiated sonar data samples, and a logic device adapted to communicate with the sonar receiver. The logic device is configured to receive the arrays of the time differentiated sonar data samples from the sonar receiver and process the received arrays to enhance the time differentiated sonar data samples substantially without enhancing sonar artifacts in the time differentiated sonar data samples Processed sonar data and/or resulting imagery may be displayed to a user and/or used to adjust a steering actuator, a propulsion system thrust, and/or other operational systems of the sonar transducer assembly and/or a mobile structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Stokes, Philip Webb
  • Patent number: 10436887
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide transmission signal shaping for transmission signal-based sensor systems, such as radar and/or sonar sensor systems. A low noise signal shaping transmitter includes a digital to analog converter configured to convert a digital shaping control signal to an analog shaping control signal, a signal shaping circuit configured to convert the analog shaping control signal into a shaped voltage, and a power amplifier configured to provide a shaped transmission signal based on the shaped voltage and a digital transmission control signal. Each element of the transmitter may be formed from relatively slow switching analog and/or digital circuitry components. Resulting shaped transmission signals may be used to excite radar antennas, sonar transducers, sound cells, and/or other elements of sensor systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Stokes, David Wellcome
  • Patent number: 10425603
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to detect pixels exhibiting anomalous behavior in captured image frames. In some examples, temporal anomalous behavior may be identified, such as flickering pixels exhibiting large magnitude changes in pixel values that vary rapidly from frame-to-frame. In some examples, spatial anomalous behavior may be identified, such as pixels exhibiting values that deviate from an expected linear response in comparison with other neighbor pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Kostrzewa, Nicholas Hogasten, Theodore R. Hoelter, Scott McNally
  • Patent number: 10425595
    Abstract: Modular infrared imaging systems and methods disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more embodiments, provide for capturing an infrared image, sensing a mode of operation, processing the captured infrared image according to the sensed mode of operation, generating a processed infrared image based on the sensed mode of operation, and displaying the processed infrared image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Frank, Yves Chappaz, Mary L. Deal, Patrick B. Richardson, Austin A. Richards, Nicholas Högasten, James T. Woolaway
  • Patent number: 10425569
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for operating a camera based the position, orientation, or motion of the camera. A system can include a firearm, a camera mounted to the firearm, a sensor that gathers sensor data associated with at least one of a position, an orientation, or a motion of the firearm, and a processor that receives the sensor data and operates the camera based on the sensor data. The system may be used to capture image data such as video image data in response to a detected ballistic event, to modify the power status of the camera in response to a detected position of the camera, or to operate a display of the camera in response to a non-ballistic motion of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Teich, Patrick B. Richardson, Nicholas Hogasten
  • Patent number: 10425559
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure may include a device comprising a vacuum package housing. The vacuum package housing comprises a base and a plurality of walls connected to the base and defining an interior cavity adapted to receive a focal plane array, wherein at least two of the walls meet to define a corner of the vacuum package housing. The vacuum package housing further comprises an aperture formed at the corner, wherein the aperture extends through the at least two of the walls to provide a channel between the interior cavity of the vacuum package and an external environment, and wherein the aperture is adapted to receive a tip-off tube configured to be changed from an open state to a closed state to maintain a vacuum within the interior cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Royce Duane Clay, Jr., William Williamson, Michael Nuttman
  • Patent number: 10416307
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide accurate and compact multichannel sonar systems for mobile structures. A compact multichannel sonar system includes a multichannel transducer and associated processing and control electronics and optionally orientation and/or position sensors disposed substantially within the housing of a sonar transducer assembly. The multichannel transducer includes multiple transmission and/or receive channels/transducer elements. The transducer assembly is configured to support and protect the multichannel transducer and associated electronics and sensors, to physically and/or adjustably couple to a mobile structure, and/or to provide a simplified interface to other systems coupled to the mobile structure. The system may additionally include an actuator configured to adjust an orientation of the transducer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Stokes, David Wellcome
  • Patent number: 10409041
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing lenses includes creating a wafer-level master, overmolding the wafer-level master to form a daughter replica, casting a polymer lens shapes onto a wafer using the daughter replica, transferring the polymer lens shapes into the wafer, and singulating the wafer to create individual dies with a lens thereon. The wafer may be silicon, e.g., silicon having a resistivity between 0.1 and 100 ?cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: David Ovrutsky, Jeremy Huddleston, Paul Elliott, David Keller, Richard Jones, Thomas Mercier
  • Patent number: 10401632
    Abstract: A planar line generator including a first planar surface extending in a first direction, a second planar surface facing the first planar surface, and a beam splitter in front of the second planar surface, the beam splitter configured to output, from light incident thereon, an undeflected beam, a first beam deflected to a first side of the undeflected beam along the first direction, and a second beam deflected to a second side of the undeflected beam along the first direction, wherein the second planar surface includes a line diffuser configured to receive the undeflected beam, and first and second diffusers having a design different from the line diffuser, the first and second diffusers being configured to receive the first and second beams, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Hutchins, Alan D. Kathman
  • Patent number: 10393575
    Abstract: Techniques are provided to perform flat field correction for infrared cameras using a liquid shutter. Devices and methods provide a focal plane array (FPA) that receives infrared radiation (e.g., thermal infrared radiation) from a scene, and infrared-opaque liquid disposed in a cavity of a liquid shutter housing, and a fluid controller that directs the liquid from a reservoir area of the cavity to a field of view area of the cavity to block the FPA from the infrared radiation. Flat field correction terms may be determined and radiometric calibration may be performed. In one example, a liquid shutter uses voltages to direct liquid. In another example, a liquid shutter uses magnetic fields from electromagnets to direct liquid such as ferrofluid. In another example, a liquid shutter uses electrowetting techniques to direct liquid such as water. In a further example, a liquid shutter uses a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Vu L. Nguyen, Theodore R. Hoelter, Pierre Boulanger, Marcel Tremblay, Robert Pietsch
  • Patent number: 10389953
    Abstract: A shutter assembly may be provided for an infrared imaging module to selectively block external infrared radiation from reaching infrared sensors of the infrared imaging module. For example, the shutter assembly may comprise a paddle situated external to an optical element (e.g., lens) and adapted to be selectively moved by an actuator to substantially block external infrared radiation from entering the optical element. The shutter assembly may be stacked relative to a housing of the infrared imaging module without excessively increasing the overall profile of the infrared imaging module. A substantially reflective low emissivity interior surface may be provided on the paddle to reflect infrared radiation originating from an infrared sensor assembly of the infrared imaging module back to the infrared sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore R. Hoelter, Joseph Kostrzewa, Pierre Boulanger, Barbara Sharp, Eric A. Kurth, Nicholas Högasten, Katrin Strandemar
  • Patent number: 10375311
    Abstract: Imaging system comprising an anti-rotation mount and an image detector. The mount may comprise a first frame member having a fixed relation to a set of mutually transverse X, Y, and Z axes, and a second frame member. The second frame member may be connected to the first frame member via a coupling assembly, such that the frame members are not permitted to rotate relative to one another. The mount also may comprise X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis coupling structures each formed at least partially by the coupling assembly and each permitting axial motion of the frame members relative to one another only substantially parallel to the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis, respectively. The image detector may be connected to the mount via the second frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen W. Zeise, Najat Hamri, James H. Weaver, Tylden Van Eeden, Robert D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 10365356
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide accurate and reliable compact sonar systems for mobile structures. A sonar system includes multiple sensor channels, each comprising a sonar transmitter and a sonar receiver, and a logic device configured to provide control signals and receive sensor signals from the sensor channels. The logic device is configured to provide transmission signals to sonar transducer assemblies, where signal patterns of the transmission signals are differentiated based at least in part on frequency content. Acoustic returns are processed using the signal patterns to reduce inter-channel pickup between the sensor channels. Resulting sonar data and/or imagery may be displayed to a user and/or used to adjust a steering actuator, a propulsion system thrust, and/or other operational systems of the mobile structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Stokes, William Sayer, Paul Muller, David Wellcome, Gordon Pope
  • Patent number: D859500
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Kai Moncino, Marcel Tremblay, John H. Distelzweig
  • Patent number: D859501
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Kai Moncino, Marcel Tremblay, John H. Distelzweig
  • Patent number: D863394
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Chaim Shain
  • Patent number: D863397
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Chaim Shain