Infrared-to-visible Imaging Patents (Class 250/330)
  • Patent number: 11092507
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more embodiments, provide for indicating gas movement in a scene having a background and an occurrence of gas, and comprise obtaining a sequence of at least two thermal image frames of said scene recorded at different points of time, automatically identifying, in each image frame of said sequence of thermal image frames, a set of pixel coordinates representing gas above a predetermined concentration threshold present in the imaged scene at the point of time at which the image frame was recorded, and automatically determining the location of each of said sets of pixel coordinates in the imaged scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS AB
    Inventor: Lucas Ekeroth
  • Patent number: 11090833
    Abstract: Near InfraRed NIR technology, including NIR cameras and detectors, is used to accurately identify surface irregularities on a surface of a veneer sheet or other wood product. Based on the identified surface irregularities for a given wood product, one or more actions are taken with respect to wood product or production process to ensure the wood product is put to the most efficient, effective, and valuable use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Boise Cascade Company
    Inventors: David Bolton, Jude Richard Peek, Curtis Fennell
  • Patent number: 11079287
    Abstract: A method and system for determining temperature are provided. The method comprises using an x-ray source to irradiate a sample of a material with x-rays. Photon fluorescence produced by the sample in response to the x-ray irradiation is detected by a number of photon detectors. Based on the detected fluorescence a temperature of the sample is determined according to a predetermined relationship between photon fluorescence and temperature for the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kathryn N. Gabet Hoffmeister, Enrico C. Quintana, Walter Gill, Steven F. Son, Eric R. Westphal
  • Patent number: 11068700
    Abstract: A method for enhancing an image for facial recognition comprises capturing an image of the face with a polarizer and correcting the polarized image for non-uniformity. Stokes Parameters S0, S1, S2 are obtained by weighted subtraction of the polarized image to form Stokes images. DoLP is computed from the Stokes images, and facial recognition algorithms are applied to the DoLP image. A system for enhancing images for facial recognition comprises a polarimeter configured to record polarized image data of a subject's face, a signal processing unit and logic configured to receive and store in memory the image data from the polarimeter, calculate Stokes parameters from the image data, and compute a DoLP image from the Stokes parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: POLARIS SENSOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: J. Larry Pezzaniti, David B. Chenault
  • Patent number: 11054366
    Abstract: A device (1) for gas measurement in a measuring environment (7) with a first camera (3) configured to detecting an invisible image area (33) in the measuring environment (7) and with a second camera (5) configured to detecting a visible image area (55) in the measuring environment (7). A control unit (13) initiates a detection of invisible image information (33?) within at least one detection area (11, 33, 55) and a detection of visible image information (55?) in the detection area (11, 33, 55). The control unit (13) determines special image areas (66), which indicate individual persons (9) or a plurality of persons (9). The control unit (13) is configured to determine at least one gas concentration (21?) on the basis of the image information (33?), taking into account the special image areas (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Doreen Gimbel
  • Patent number: 11057592
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application disclose an image dehazing method and an image acquiring apparatus implementing image dehazing. In the embodiments of the present application, an RGBIR sensor can be adopted to generate a first RGBIR image and a second RGBIR image, such that the generated images are color images and contain infrared information; thus a finally generated image thus has a good dehazing effect; in addition, the image acquiring apparatus adjusts the first exposure time length and the second exposure time length based on the first RGBIR image and the second RGBIR image generated during each exposure, causing the RGB components and the IR component in the image to be balanced, which guarantees the display effect of the finally generated dehazed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventors: Shiliang Pu, Hai Yu, Meng Fan
  • Patent number: 11041693
    Abstract: A target marking system includes a light source configured to emit a beam of thermal radiation and to impinge the beam onto a target. The system also includes a detector configured to collect radiation passing from the target to the detector along a path. The radiation passing from the target in response to impingement of the beam onto the target. The system further includes an optics assembly disposed optically upstream of the detector along the path. The optics assembly includes at least one of an afocal power changer, a camera objective, a catadioptric lens, and a zoom system configured to condition the radiation passing from the target to the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: LMD Applied Science, LLC
    Inventors: Susan Houde-Walter, William Houde-Walter, Daniel J. Balonek, Brian L. Olmsted, Michael W. Allen
  • Patent number: 11039118
    Abstract: An interactive image processing system including a first infrared camera, a second infrared camera, an image processing circuit, a vision processing unit, an image signal processor, a central processing unit, and a memory device is disclosed. The present disclosure calculates depth data according to infrared images generated by the first and second infrared cameras to improve depth quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: XRSpace CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Kang Hsieh, Chun-Wei Lin, Cheng-Yu Hsu, Sheng-Hsiu Kuo
  • Patent number: 11034577
    Abstract: The present invention provides an infrared detector pixel structure and manufacturing method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SHANGHAI IC R&D CENTER CO., LTD
    Inventor: Xiaoxu Kang
  • Patent number: 11032492
    Abstract: A camera producing visible light images with thermal data. The camera may include visible light lens and sensor, an infrared light lens and sensor, and a display. The display displays some of the visible light image and thermal data from the respective sensors. The visible light image is divided into an array of zones where each zone may provide thermal data associated with the corresponding portion of the target shown in the zone. The camera may sense infrared images also provide audible alarms where the alarm is emitted with a tone of variable output to indicate the relative level of the alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. McManus, Kirk R. Johnson, Thomas Heinke, Mathew N. Rekow
  • Patent number: 11022546
    Abstract: Systems, cameras, and software for performing optical gas imaging using thermal imaging. Processors are programmed with instructions for a method of detecting gas that includes creating a filtered background image, a filtered foreground image, and optical gas image data, and generating a display image. The filtered background image and filtered foreground images may be created by combining infrared image data from a plurality of images captured by an infrared camera module using filtering processes. The optical gas image data may be created by comparing the filtered background image and the filtered foreground image. An image may be generated that includes the optical gas image data for presentation on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew F. Schmidt, Kirk R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11012656
    Abstract: Provided are a gas detection device, an information processing device, and a program which enable a user to accurately estimate a gas leak position. The gas detection device includes a hardware processor that causes a display screen to display a first image captured by a first imaging section and a second image captured by a second imaging section, and changes at least one of a first display position of a specific position included in the first image and a second display position of the specific position included in the second image on the display screen. The hardware processor causes the display screen to display the first display position and the second display position so that the first display position and the second display position can be compared with each other so as to recognize a difference between the first display position and the second display position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Saori Hirata, Mei Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11002670
    Abstract: A first beam source radiates, as a reference beam, 905 nm of near infrared beam having a characteristic in which light tends not to be absorbed in water toward a leaf of a plant. A second beam source radiates, as a measuring beam, 1550 nm of near infrared beam having a characteristic in which light tends to be absorbed in water toward the leaf of the plant. A threshold level setter/water content index detector calculates a water content index of one leaf which is a total sum ? Ln (I905/I1550) of the reflection intensity ratio. A controller displays a graph representing the time-serial change of the water content contained in the plant from the start to the end of the measurement period on a UI screen of a monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fujiyama, Yuuji Terashima
  • Patent number: 10991090
    Abstract: A gas detection-use image processing device includes a first processing part that acquires a first image including a first region image indicating a region where a gas candidate has appeared, extracted from an infrared image, on each of a plurality of infrared images captured in time series in a predetermined period to acquire a plurality of first images. The gas detection-use image processing device also includes a second processing part that generates a second image including a second region image in at least a part of the predetermined period, by using the plurality of first images. The first processing part acquires first images in each of at least two predetermined periods. The second processing part generates at least two second images. The gas detection-use image processing device further includes a calculation part that calculates similarity of the at least two second images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Motohiro Asano
  • Patent number: 10984271
    Abstract: A method of host-directed illumination for verifying the validity of biometric data of a user is provided that includes capturing biometric data from a user with an authentication device during authentication and directing illumination of the biometric data from a host authentication system during the capturing operation. Moreover, the method includes comparing illumination characteristics of the captured biometric data against illumination characteristics expected to result from the directing operation, and determining that the user is a live user when the illumination characteristics of the captured biometric data match the illumination characteristics expected to result from the directing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: DAON HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard Jay Langley, Michael Peirce, Nicolas Jacques Jean Sezille
  • Patent number: 10984519
    Abstract: A method for evaluating the optical insertion loss of a mechanical splice joint of two optical fibers with a laser source includes, upon initiation by a user, automatically performing the steps of: checking for ambient light, estimating the level of noise by analyzing an area of a sensor that is not illuminated by external sources and setting a noise threshold, checking self-alignment by taking a foreground image of the joint with the laser source turned on and one with it turned off, subtracting the images to obtain a resultant image, setting all pixels with levels below the noise threshold to zero, selecting a region of interest of the joint, computing a centroid and a width of the resultant image based on the region of interest, estimating a tilt and if the tilt is above a certain threshold, compensating for the tilt, and processing the resultant image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Jose M. Castro, Richard J. Pimpinella, Yu Huang, Bulent Kose, William Kidd
  • Patent number: 10977776
    Abstract: A method includes placing an imaging device in contact with a sample, irradiating the sample via an illuminator such that radiation scatters off of the structure, and providing the scattered radiation to a detector to generate a digital video signal. A processor then performs various operations including subtracting a sum of a black state value and a user-defined black level clamping value from the digital video signal to create subtracted image data, substituting negative values in the subtracted image data with a reference value to create modified image data, and amplifying the modified image data by a user-defined gain to create contrast enhanced image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Michael J. Krasowski, Joseph M. Flatico, Phillip P. Jenkins, Lawrence C. Greer
  • Patent number: 10955355
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a petrochemical installation is disclosed. The system can include an optical imaging system comprising an array of optical detectors. The system can comprise processing electronics configured to process image data detected by the optical imaging system. The processing electronics can be configured to detect a target species based at least in part on the processed image data. The processing electronics can further be configured to, based on a detected amount of the target species, transmit an alarm notification to an external computing device over a communications network indicating that the target species has been detected at the petrochemical installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: REBELLION PHOTONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Timothy Kester, Margarita Sergeyevna Odintsova
  • Patent number: 10942216
    Abstract: An interconnect circuit testing apparatus including: an electric signal generating circuit for generating an electric signal; a first electrode arranged at a first region of a substrate, wherein the substrate includes an interconnect circuit, an upper surface and a lower surface; a second electrode arranged at a second region of the substrate; and a sensor for detecting an electric field emitted from the first region or the second region when the electric signal is applied to the substrate through the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Yeol Kim, Jae-Hong Kim, Kyung-Min Lee, Mee-Hyun Lim
  • Patent number: 10943114
    Abstract: A method and system for multi-spectral imagery acquisition and analysis, the method including capturing preliminary multi-spectral aerial images according to pre-defined survey parameters at a pre-selected resolution, automatically performing preliminary analysis on site or location in the field using large scale blob partitioning of the captured images in real or near real time, detecting irregularities within the pre-defined survey parameters and providing an output corresponding thereto, and determining, from the preliminary analysis output, whether to perform a second stage of image acquisition and analysis at a higher resolution than the pre-selected resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Ira Dvir, Nitzan Rabinowitz Batz
  • Patent number: 10936900
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to color identification. In one example, an image processing method comprises receiving an infrared (IR) image including a plurality of IR pixels, each IR pixel specifying one or more IR parameters of that IR pixel, identifying, in the IR image, IR-skin pixels that image human skin, identifying a skin tone of identified human skin based at least in part on the IR-skin pixels, the skin tone having one or more expected visible light (VL) parameters, receiving a VL image including a plurality of VL pixels, each VL pixel specifying one or more VL parameters of that VL pixel, identifying, in the VL image, VL-skin pixels that image identified human skin, and adjusting the VL image to increase a correspondence between the one or more VL parameters of the VL-skin pixels and the one or more expected VL parameters of the identified skin tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Lin Liang, Christian F. Huitema
  • Patent number: 10933556
    Abstract: Near InfraRed NIR technology, including NIR cameras and detectors, and machine learning methods and systems, including one or more Machine Learning (ML) based surface irregularity prediction models, are used to accurately identify surface irregularities on a surface of a wood product, such as a veneer sheet or ribbon, and provide irregularity prediction data for the wood product. Based on the irregularity prediction data for a given wood product, one or more actions are taken with respect to wood product or the production process to ensure the wood product is put to the most efficient, effective, and valuable use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Boise Cascade Company
    Inventors: David Bolton, Jude Richard Peek, Curtis Fennell
  • Patent number: 10931925
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring camera having an autofocusing function based on a composite filtering robust against a change in visibility status and a video monitoring system employing the same. The present invention comprises: a hardware filter for blocking one of a visible light band and an infrared light band and allowing the other thereof to pass therethrough; and a software filter for filtering a color image or a black-and-white image generated by an image signal processor (ISP) by removing, from the color image or the black-and-white image, a factor reducing a visibility distance at the front side of a lens part, wherein the filtering band of the hardware filter and whether to perform filtering by the software filter are controlled according to a filtering level corresponding to a current visibility status at the front side of the lens part among a plurality of filtering levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: ESCA(ELECTRONIC SECURITY OF THE CREATIVE ASSOCIATION) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae-woong Jeong, Jeong-il Kim
  • Patent number: 10928269
    Abstract: A leak detecting device for a fluid filled vessel including a housing, tube, anchoring attachment, resilient member, and opening. The housing has a continuous perimeter edge sized to extend around an underwater surface, the housing forming a hollow interior. The tube extends through an aperture into the hollow interior of the housing, having a first end on an interior side of the housing and a second end on an exterior side of the housing. The anchoring attachment is secured to the first end of the tube. The resilient member is secured to the perimeter edge of the housing and adapted to contact and form a seal between the housing and the underwater surface. The opening is formed through an entirety of a wall of the housing, wherein the opening is accessible from an exterior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Red Rhino Leak Detection, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark D. Marino
  • Patent number: 10919626
    Abstract: Methods and an apparatus are presented. A method of monitoring utilities is presented. A rechargeable battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle is charged using an electromagnetic field of a high voltage power line within a right-of-way and a recharging system of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle is flown a specified distance from the high voltage power line during the charging. Utilities are inspected using a sensor of the unmanned aerial vehicle while flying the unmanned aerial vehicle the specified distance from the high voltage power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: John Jaugilas
  • Patent number: 10921243
    Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods directed to a multispectral absorption-based imaging approach that provides for rapid and accurate detection, localization, and quantification of gas leaks. The imaging technology described herein utilizes a scanning optical sensor in combination with structured and scannable illumination to detect and image spectral signatures produced by absorption of light by leaking gas in a quantitative manner over wide areas, at distance, and in the presence of background such as ambient gas and vapor. Moreover, the specifically structured and scannable illumination source of the systems and methods described herein provides a consistent source of illumination for the scanning optical sensor, allowing imaging to be performed even in the absence of sufficient natural light, such as sunlight. The imaging approaches described herein can, accordingly, be used for a variety of gas leak detection, emissions monitoring, and safety applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: MultiSensor Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen M. Waxman, Terrence K. Jones, Jason M. Bylsma, Stefan Bokaemper
  • Patent number: 10924719
    Abstract: Provided is a head-mounted video presentation device which has a visible light wavelength conversion and is designed for a user having degraded sensitivity to a first wavelength band as a part of a visible light wavelength band as compared with a second wavelength band as the remaining part of the visible light wavelength band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tomita, Eriko Sugano, Tsuyoshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 10917544
    Abstract: An image capture device is disclosed that includes: a body; first and second image capture devices supported within the body so as to define respective, overlapping first and second fields-of-view; and a thermal spreader. The first image capture device includes a first integrated sensor-lens assembly (ISLA) with a first image sensor and a first lens, and the second image capture device includes a second ISLA with a second image sensor and a second lens. The first lens faces in a first direction, and is positioned to receive and direct light onto the first image sensor, and the second lens faces in a second direction, and is positioned to receive and direct light onto the second image sensor, wherein the second direction is generally opposite to the first direction. The thermal spreader extends between, and is connected to, the first and second ISLAs, and is configured to transfer heat therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventor: Monika Sharma
  • Patent number: 10911696
    Abstract: The system and method for using morpho photonic structures to form small, lightweight imagers for use with SWIR, MWIR and LWIR. In some cases, the morpho photonic structure imagers are used in googles. The morpho photonic structure imagers have a frame rate ranging from 100 Hz to 200 Hz. In some cases, using a cluster of short wave infrared, mid wave infrared, and long wave infrared sensors to form a multi-spectral image is used to scan for chemical fingerprints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Choiniere, Pierre-Alain S. Auroux, Michael Bowers, Myeongseob Kim, Michael DeWeert, Don A. Harris
  • Patent number: 10909546
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods related to managing inventory by validating and returning fresh items for use with a user interface in a fulfillment center. A method for managing inventory comprises receiving, from a mobile device associated with a non-manager, a defect quantity associated with a fresh item, wherein the defect quantity is determined by an acceptability standard retrieved from a database, and storing an inspection task for validating the fresh item by at least one manager if the defect quantity is over a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Coupang Corp.
    Inventors: Hyeona Ha, Jinwon Jeong, SungWoo Kang, Jeong Seok Oh, Sun Young Hong
  • Patent number: 10904518
    Abstract: A goggle system is provided. The goggle system includes a computing device, a goggle device configured to be worn by a user and including a detector configured to simultaneously acquire image data of a subject in a first image mode and a second image mode, at least one eye assembly configured to display at least one of an image in the first image mode, an image in the second image mode, and a hybrid image including pixels of image data from the first image mode and pixels of image data from the second image mode, and a communications module configured to transmit acquired image data from the goggle device to the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Samuel Achilefu, Yang Liu
  • Patent number: 10904444
    Abstract: A dual-aperture zoom digital camera operable in both still and video modes. The camera includes Wide and Tele imaging sections with respective lens/sensor combinations and image signal processors and a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections. The Wide and Tele imaging sections provide respective image data. The controller is configured to combine in still mode at least some of the Wide and Tele image data to provide a fused output image from a particular point of view, and to provide without fusion continuous zoom video mode output images, each output image having a given output resolution, wherein the video mode output images are provided with a smooth transition when switching between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value or vice versa, and wherein at the lower ZF the output resolution is determined by the Wide sensor while at the higher ZF value the output resolution is determined by the Tele sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Oded Gigushinski, Noy Cohen
  • Patent number: 10894606
    Abstract: Passive reduction of internal jet engine component temperature in supersonic and hypersonic vehicles results from use of nanocomposite optical ceramic materials between the heat-generating portions of each jet engine and the ambient environment, allowing heat dissipation from the jet engine components directly to the ambient environment. A propulsion-airframe integrated scramjet aircraft includes a jet engine and an airframe supporting the jet engine, with at least a portion of the airframe between a heat-generating portion of the jet engine and an ambient environment comprising a nanocomposite optical ceramic material in the form of a panel or a grid of windows each supported within a frame. The nanocomposite optical ceramic material portion of the airframe disposed between the heat-generating portion of the jet engine and the ambient environment is infrared-transparent, and may transmit at least 75% of heat energy from the heat-generating portion of the jet engine to the ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Adam Wood
  • Patent number: 10887979
    Abstract: A system for reducing low cycle fatigue of a soldered connection includes a controller and a heating element operatively connected to the controller. The system also includes a printed wire board soldered in connection with an electronic component. The controller is configured to retrieve a signal indicative of a temperature of the electronic component, and compare the temperature to a stored predetermined range of operating temperatures. Responsive to determining that the temperature of the electronic component is less than a lower threshold temperature of the predetermined range of operating temperatures, the controller transmits a signal to the heating element that causes the heating element to heat the electronic component. The controller then saves, to an operatively connected computer readable memory, a magnitude of temperature difference and a number of times that magnitude is reached. The controller uses the stored information to track the life of the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Hamilton Severson, Ryan W. Schmid
  • Patent number: 10872404
    Abstract: Described herein is a method of detecting anomalies on a surface of a structure. The method may comprise taking a thermal image of the surface of the structure. The method may further comprise taking a visual image of the surface of the structure. The method may then comprise conducting a thermal image numerical analysis on the thermal image. The thermal image numerical analysis may comprise obtaining a thermal image numerical value table. The thermal image numerical analysis may then comprise obtaining a surface nominal thermal value of the surface material. The thermal image numerical analysis may then comprise eliminating a first subset of pixels having a thermal value within a nominal thermal variation from the plurality of pixels. The thermal image numerical analysis may then comprise comparing the thermal value of each pixel of the plurality of pixels not in the first subset of pixels to the surface nominal thermal value to identify at least one anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Roof Asset Management USA, Ltd.
    Inventor: Joseph C. Cobb
  • Patent number: 10871395
    Abstract: A system which may be used to increase the number of available spectrum bands in an inspection system is provided. The system may include an illumination source configured to emit broadband illumination. The system may also include a filter assembly including two or more filter units. The two or more filter units may include two or more filters with one or more varying filtering characteristics. The system may also include two or more motors configured to selectively actuate selected filters of the filter units into the beam of illumination. Using the system, the number of available spectrum bands to be used in an inspection system may be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: KLA Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy Nesbitt, Jagadeesh Kumar, David C. Oram
  • Patent number: 10869018
    Abstract: An optical imaging system for a three-dimensional image acquisition apparatus includes an object lens which focuses light, a first image sensor which senses light in a visible light band of the light focused by the object lens, and a second image sensor which senses light in an infrared ray band of light transmitted through the first image sensor. A three-dimensional image acquisition apparatus includes the optical imaging system for a three-dimensional image acquisition apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyu Sik Kim, Yong Hwa Park, Ryuichi Satoh, Jang Woo You
  • Patent number: 10852213
    Abstract: A gas-detection image-processing device includes: a calculation unit that calculates identification values respectively corresponding to a plurality of pixels constituting an infrared image of a monitoring target, the identification values being identification values for identifying a pixel constituting a gas image and a pixel constituting a non-gas image; and an identification unit that, on the basis of the identification values, identifies, in a monitoring image that is generated by using the infrared image, a pixel constituting the gas image and a pixel constituting the non-gas image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Motohiro Asano, Takashi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 10848725
    Abstract: Systems and methods for allocating display colors to thermal image intensity data acquired by thermal band photodetectors. Intensity data from the photodetectors corresponding to scene temperature is converted to a digital value within an analog to digital conversion (ADC) range. The full ADC range may be divided into two or more sub-ranges. In one sub-range, intensity values within that sub-range are assigned display colors from a first color table utilizing one or more Histogram Equalization (HE) techniques. In another sub-range, specific display values from a color table different from the first may be are assigned to specific intensity values. Lower temperatures may be assigned colors using HE and higher temperatures are assigned specific colors corresponding to specific temperatures. Such an arrangement is particularly applicable to thermal imaging use by firefighters because the arrangement allows them to determine temperature directly from displayed color for potentially dangerous temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Seek Thermal, Inc.
    Inventors: Romeo Chahine, Jason Wolfe, Ross Williams
  • Patent number: 10847030
    Abstract: A parking space search device includes an input receiver, and a controller. The input receiver receives, from an object detector mounted on a vehicle, information related to an object present at a travel direction-side with respect to the vehicle. The controller estimates a parking lot based on the information that the input receiver receives. The controller performs control of, when the estimated parking lot is on one of a left direction and a right direction with respect to the travel direction of the vehicle, shifting a travel route of the vehicle to another one of the left direction and the right direction. The controller searches for a parking space for the vehicle based on the information that the input receiver receives after the travel route of the vehicle is shifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toyoharu Kuroda, Hiroyuki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10839659
    Abstract: In an electronic video monitoring system for security and surveillance, a recording device can improve image quality, particularly in a night mode, while conserving battery power, by repeatedly activating an infrared (IR) light while capturing a video image, then deactivating the IR light and activating a visible light while capturing another video image, then blending the captured images to produce a blended video image. The blended video image can provide color in a foreground for improved detail where such detail is typically most important and grayscale in a background for effective monitoring of a broad field of view. The IR and visible lights can be controlled by Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) signals having duty cycles which can differ in various modes to achieve differing effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Arlo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Van Cleave, Glenn Garbeil
  • Patent number: 10834272
    Abstract: A reading device includes an imaging element and correcting circuitry. The imaging element is configured to receive light from an object selectively irradiated with visible light or invisible light. The correcting circuitry is configured to apply correction processing based on a difference in an optical characteristic between an invisible light region and a visible light region to an image signal in the invisible light region output from the imaging element and output the image signal corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamoto Nakazawa, Tadaaki Oyama, Masahiro Itoh, Masato Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10823553
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a component aligner including a base having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a first wall with first and second ends. The first wall extends from the second side of the base. The first end of the first wall is adjacent the second side of the base and opposite the second end of the first wall. The first wall includes a first interior wall surface defining a first bore configured for fixed placement of a first component. The apparatus includes a second wall including first and second ends, extending from the second side of the base. The first end of the second wall is adjacent the second side of the base and opposite the second end of the second wall. The second wall includes a second interior wall surface defining a second bore configured for fixed placement of a second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Timothy G. Ruther, Gary F. Stefanik, Robert Hoevenaar
  • Patent number: 10818723
    Abstract: A method of imaging infrared light is provided which comprises: exciting ultrasonic waves in a metal pillar (e.g., Cu pillar); measuring the Time-of-Flight (ToF) of the ultrasonic wave in the waveguide; whereas the ToF is a function of incident Infrared light energy on the waveguide, and reporting the infrared light energy to capture an image. An apparatus of imaging infrared light is provided which comprises: a transducer; a waveguide coupled with the transducer; and a pixel electronic circuit coupled to the transducer, wherein the transducer includes one or more of: PZT, LiNb, AlN, or GaN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SurfaSense LLC
    Inventor: Mohamed Abdelmoneum
  • Patent number: 10819919
    Abstract: A shutterless far-infrared (FIR) camera for advanced driver assistance systems, including at least one optical unit including at least one lens; an FIR sensor coupled to the optical unit and configured to capture FIR images; and an integrated circuit (IC) configured to process the captured FIR images to output an enhanced thermal video stream, wherein the IC further includes: a processing circuitry; and a memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, configure the processing circuitry to perform image corrections including at least a shutterless correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Adasky, Ltd.
    Inventors: Oleg Kuybeda, Eyal Madar, Sharon Ulman, Avi Katz
  • Patent number: 10813190
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting unit control device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a lighting unit control section controlling a lighting unit, a power supply section outputting electrical power to a fan device, and a power supply control section. The fan device includes a fan and a motor. The power supply control section includes a rotation information acquisition section and an output interruption section. If the fan locks, the output interruption section interrupts electrical power supplied from the power supply section to the fan device, before the fan device performs protective operation for interrupting electrical power supplied to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Uchida
  • Patent number: 10801888
    Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention, a detector assembly for an analyzer device for analysis of elemental composition of a sample using optical emission spectroscopy is provided. The detector assembly comprises an exciter for generating an excitation focused at a target position to invoke an optical emission from a surface of the sample at the target position; and a light collection arrangement for transferring the optical emission to a spectrometer. The light collection arrangement comprises a concave spherical mirror, an optical receiver arranged in an image point in the principal axis of the concave spherical mirror and a folding mirror including at least one aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Analytical Science Finland Oy
    Inventor: Esa Räikkönen
  • Patent number: 10798255
    Abstract: An image data generation apparatus includes circuitry configured to refer to image processing association information in which a plurality of image defect types is associated with a plurality of different image processing, respectively; apply, to image data, image processing selected from the plurality of different image processing in accordance with an image defect type included in the image data; and generate processed image data from the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Taku Kodama
  • Patent number: 10798307
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that enable appropriate imaging with the front camera of a smartphone or the like in the dark. An LCD backlight that is a white light emitting unit is made to emit intense light as white light, and an infrared light emitting unit that emits infrared light for capturing a live view image is turned off. In such a situation, an imaging unit captures a visible light image. The present disclosure can be applied to imaging devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamamoto, Takayoshi Ozone
  • Patent number: 10796424
    Abstract: A method for identifying a wellbore condition includes capturing a first image of cuttings on or downstream from a shale shaker using a first camera. A size, shape, texture, or combination thereof of the cuttings in the first image is analyzed. A wellbore condition may be identified based on the size, shape, texture, or combination thereof of the cuttings in the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Vishwanathan Parmeshwar, Jacques Orban, Babak Bob Arefi