Patents Assigned to Fluke Corporation
  • Patent number: 10726559
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to edge detection and presentation in thermal images. Infrared and visible light images comprising at least partially overlapping target scenes are analyzed. An edge detection process is performed on the visible light image to determine which pixels represent edges in the target scene. A display image is generated in which some pixels include infrared image data and in which pixels corresponding to edges in the visible light image include a predetermined color and do not include corresponding infrared image data to emphasize edges. Edge pixels in the display image can include exclusively the predetermined color, or in some examples, a blend of a predetermined color and visible light image data. Methods can include replacing one or the other of visible light edge pixels or corresponding infrared pixels with the predetermined color before combining the visible light and infrared image data to create a display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Bergstrom, Kirk R. Johnson, James T. Pickett
  • Patent number: 10724905
    Abstract: A device includes a tank, a motor, and a fluid propulsion device, for example, a propeller that is coupled to the motor. The tank includes a bottom wall and side walls. A first surface of a first side wall forms an obtuse angle with a surface of the bottom wall. The fluid propulsion device is disposed inside the tank opposite the first surface of the first side wall. A first surface of a second side wall forms an obtuse angle with the surface of the bottom wall. Rounded corners may be disposed within the tank where pairs of adjacent side walls meet the bottom wall. Rounded surfaces may be formed where the side walls meet the bottom wall. The structure of the tank enables the propeller to rapidly disperse a fluid throughout the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Farley, Michael W. Hirst
  • Patent number: 10725095
    Abstract: A system for measuring a device under test (DUT) includes a computing device and a measurement device that measures an electrical or physical parameter of the DUT. The computing device receives and stores measurement data in a DUT record associated with the DUT. The computing device further obtains a first image of the DUT, displays the first image as a reference image with a first reference frame, receives a live image of the DUT from an image sensor, and displays the live image with a second reference frame that corresponds to the first reference frame. A cursor on the live image moves according to movement of the image sensor relative to the DUT. A second image of the DUT is obtained, wherein the second image is substantially aligned with the reference image based on an alignment of the cursor with the second reference frame. The second image is stored in the DUT record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: John Neeley, Jordan Schlichting, Thomas McManus, Peter Bergstrom, Lindsey Berdan, Joseph V. Ferrante, Michael Devin Stuart
  • Patent number: 10728468
    Abstract: A thermal imaging camera comprises an infrared lens assembly and associated IR sensor for detecting thermal images of a target scene, a processor, and at least one additional sensor. The at least one additional sensor is configured to provide measurement data to the processor, where it is compared to a predetermined requirement. If the measurement data satisfies the predetermined requirement, the camera will prompt the user via a display. During use, the camera can prompt the user to provide annotation data, conduct a thermographic inspection, inspect the target scene, or perform other tasks based on the measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. McManus, Matthew F. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10719698
    Abstract: Systems and methods are directed toward occupancy detection in a predefined space including one or more sub-zones. Occupancy of the predefined space can be determined by determining the occupancy of an outer zone comprising the predefined space, and determining the occupancy of individual sub-zones to the outer zone. Occupancy values of the individual sub-zones can be rescaled such that the sum of the individual sub-zones occupancies sum to the already determined outer zone occupancy. The occupancy of the predefined space then may be determined using the rescaled occupancies of the various sub-zones included in the predefined space. Such processes can be repeated for individual sub-zones, which may be treated as a separate outer zone including one or more sub-zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart Andrew Holliday, Neil Johnson
  • Patent number: 10715205
    Abstract: A method and a testing device for determining signal-to-noise headroom of a pair of conductors are provided. In the method and testing device, a gain of electric signal transmissions over a pair of conductors is varied to reach a first gain. Prior to reaching the first gain a transition between reception failure and successful reception of the electric signal transmissions does not occur. A first electric signal having the first gain is transmitted over a first end of the pair of conductors and it is determined that the transition between reception failure and successful reception of the first electric signal occurred. A signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) headroom for the pair of conductors is determined based on the first gain at which the transition between reception failure and successful reception occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: John Paul Hittel, William F. Winston
  • Patent number: 10713781
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention generally relate to illumination gas imaging and detection. Camera systems can illuminate a target scene with light sources configured to emit absorbing and non-absorbing wavelengths with respect to a target gas. An image of the target scene illuminated with a non-absorbing wavelength can be compared to a non-illuminated image of the target scene in order to determine information about the background of the target scene. If sufficient light of the non-absorbing wavelength is scattered by the scene toward a detector, the target scene comprises an adequate background for performing a gas imaging process. A camera system can alert a user of portions of the target scene suitable or unsuitable for performing a gas imaging process. If necessary, the user can reposition the system until sufficient portions of the target scene are recognized as suitable for performing the gas imaging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew F. Schmidt, Tyler B. Evans, Derek Hutton
  • Patent number: 10705119
    Abstract: A test probe includes an electrically insulating handle, an electrically conducting blade extending from the handle, an electrically insulating shroud including a first portion and a second portion that are at least partially disposed around the electrically conducting blade. A housing is attached to the handle such that the first portion of the shroud is disposed within the housing, and the second portion of the shroud extends from an aperture formed in the housing. A spring disposed between the handle and the shroud biases the shroud toward the aperture formed in the housing. The shroud protects the electrically conducting blade from unintentional contact with a conductor during testing. When the test probe is correctly positioned on a device being tested, the shroud retracts into the housing exposing the electrically conducting blade. When the test probe is moved away from the device, the shroud returns to its original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Corrigan, Charles E. Marzette, Jr., David J. Gibson
  • Patent number: 10697491
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provides a camera, having a first camera sub-assembly, a hub coupled to the first camera sub-assembly, a second camera sub-assembly coupled to the hub and rotatable relative thereto and a third camera sub-assembly coupled to the hub and rotatable relative thereto. The third camera sub-assembly can be in electrical communication with the first camera sub-assembly and/or the second camera sub-assembly via the hub. The hub can include a slot to guide electrical cable(s). Net torque acting on the camera can be zero such that one of the first rotational coupling or the second rotational coupling when rotated to a new position via an applied torque remains in the new position when the applied torque is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis B. Shell, Charles E. Marzette, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10678060
    Abstract: A laser line generation device includes a unitary lens structure and a laser emitter. The unitary lens structure includes an aspheric surface, a conical surface, and a side surface. The conical surface tapers inwardly toward the aspheric surface to an apex of the conical surface that is opposite an interior side of the aspheric surface. In operation, the laser emitter emits light rays toward the unitary lens structure, and the light rays pass through the aspheric surface into the unitary lens structure, reflect off of the conical surface, and exit the lens structure through the side surface. The light rays exiting the unitary lens structure may be substantially perpendicular to the light rays entering the unitary lens structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Olsen, William John Weidner, William F. Jackson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10677876
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating and calibrating measurement devices are provided herein. The measurement devices generate reference current signals and sense the reference current signals in a conductor under test, which sensed signals are used to determine a calibration factor or a position of the conductor under test. A calibration system may control a calibration voltage source to selectively output calibration voltages in a calibration conductor. The calibration system may obtain data from the electrical parameter measurement device captured by the electrical parameter measurement device when measuring the calibration conductor. Such data may include one or more reference current measurements, one or more voltage measurements, etc. The calibration system utilizes the obtained measurements to generate calibration data which may be stored on the voltage measurement device for use thereby during subsequent operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Karl Schmitzer, Ronald Steuer, Ricardo Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10677369
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a temperature calibration system that includes a closed fluidic system, such as a thermosiphon or a heat pipe. The closed fluidic system includes a valve for fluidly separating components therein from each other. In one embodiment, the closed fluidic system is a thermosiphon (or a heat pipe) and the valve is configured, in a closed state, to cover a port of the condenser to fluidly separate the condenser from other components of the thermosiphon. The valve may be a passively activated valve or an electrically actuated valve. In some embodiments, the valve is thermally actuated such that the valve changes state in response to changes in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Nerdrum
  • Patent number: 10656031
    Abstract: A device includes a chamber having an interior surface formed from a material that reflects infrared energy. A tank is disposed within the chamber. A bottom wall of the tank is spaced apart from a bottom wall of the chamber, and side walls of the tank are spaced apart from side walls of the chamber. A conduit is formed between the bottom wall of the tank and the bottom wall of the chamber and between the side walls of the tank and the side walls of the chamber. A fan or pump moves air into the conduit past the bottom and side walls of the tank to cool a fluid disposed within the tank. A processor controls a speed at which a motor of the fan or pump rotates based on input received from one or more temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Farley, Michael W. Hirst
  • Patent number: 10636134
    Abstract: A display apparatus for optical fiber inspection includes a processor programmed to receive, from a camera, a visual image of an array of endfaces of fiber optic cables being inspected, and to produce, on a display, an inspection interface that includes a first section and a second section. The first section shows a portion of the received image that includes a portion of the endfaces captured in the image. The second section shows a graphical map containing icons that depict representations of the endfaces in the array of endfaces. A selection window identifies the icons representing the endfaces that are currently shown in the first section. In response to user input, the display apparatus correspondingly modifies which endfaces are shown in the first section and modifies the position and/or size of the selection window in the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Tsukamaki, J. David Schell, Glenn Keltto
  • Patent number: 10630914
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring a temperature of an object over time using a thermal imaging camera. The methods and apparatus may gather infrared temperature data from a selected source of temperature data within a scene at a selected time interval and display a graphical plot of the gathered temperature data on a digital display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Heinke, James T. Pickett
  • Patent number: 10612991
    Abstract: A method for expanding the dynamic range of a capacitive pressure sensor and a capacitive pressure sensor having an expanded dynamic range are provided. The capacitive pressure sensor may comprise capacitive plates. At least one plate may be contoured to increase a surface area exposed to the other of the capacitive plates. The capacitive pressure sensor may comprise a diaphragm that is movably responsive to pressure. The diaphragm may have a hollowed volume within an interior of the diaphragm operative to increase a flexibility of the diaphragm in response to the pressure. The capacitive pressure sensor may be one of a plurality of capacitive pressure sensors in a pressure sensing device. The capacitive pressure sensors may have different capacitive responses and may each output a pressure measurement, whereby the device may select a pressure measurement to output based at least in part on the capacitive responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy Byron Brown
  • Patent number: 10605834
    Abstract: A clamp meter to be used for detecting resistance of a ground loop on which the detection is to be performed includes a source transformer unit that is configured to receive an alternating input voltage signal and is capable of being electrically coupled to the ground loop on which the detection is to be performed; an induction transformer unit that is capable of being electrically coupled to the ground loop and the induction transformer unit being configured to be capable of generating an induced current signal as a response to the input voltage signal; a reference resistance loop that is electrically coupled to the source transformer unit and the induction transformer unit; and a processing controller that receives the induced current signal and the processing controller is configured to be capable of determining the resistance of the ground loop based on the induced current signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Qiqiang Long, Zhengping Wu
  • Patent number: D879841
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Ferdinand Y. Laurino, Simon J. Page
  • Patent number: D884520
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Corrigan, Charles E. Marzette, Jr.
  • Patent number: D886157
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Ferdinand Y. Laurino, Simon J. Page