Patents by Inventor Thomas J. McManus
Thomas J. McManus has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11032492Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 10, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Fluke CorporationInventors: Thomas J. McManus, Kirk R. Johnson, Thomas Heinke, Mathew N. Rekow
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Patent number: 10728468Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 17, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Fluke CorporationInventors: Thomas J. McManus, Matthew F. Schmidt
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Publication number: 20190364227Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2019Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: Thomas J. McManus, Kirk R. Johnson, Thomas Heinke, Mathew N. Rekow
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Patent number: 10015474Abstract: A thermal imaging system having visible light and infrared camera modules can perform various methods for reducing parallax errors between captured visible light and infrared images. The system can perform a first calibration method, which can be manual or automatic, and can receive subsequent parallax refinement adjustments via a user interface. The parallax refinement adjustments may be stored in memory for future use. Systems can include an add-on lens capable of interfacing with the infrared camera module for producing modified infrared images. The system can perform methods to reduce parallax between modified infrared and visible light images, and can receive subsequent parallax refinement adjustments to further reduce parallax between the modified infrared and visible light images. The add-on lens parallax refinement data can be stored in memory of the camera memory of the lens for future use in parallax correction.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2015Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: Fluke CorporationInventors: Jamie Rhead, Thomas J. McManus
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Publication number: 20170195548Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2017Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Thomas J. McManus, Kirk R. Johnson, Thomas Heinke, Mathew N. Rekow
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Publication number: 20170191875Abstract: An infrared imaging probe that includes an elongated wand and an electrically isolating connection between the imaging components, located at the distal end of the wand, and the image processing components, located at the proximal end of the wand.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2016Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Matthew F. Schmidt, Thomas J. McManus
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Patent number: 9635282Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 9, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Fluke CorporationInventors: Thomas J McManus, Kirk R. Johnson, Thomas Heinke, Mathew Rekow
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Patent number: 9442019Abstract: An infrared imaging probe that includes an elongated wand and an electrically isolating connection between the imaging components, located at the distal end of the wand, and the image processing components, located at the proximal end of the wand.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Fluke CorporationInventors: Matthew F. Schmidt, Thomas J. McManus
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Patent number: 9232142Abstract: A method for presenting a thermal image within a visible light image includes the steps of: identifying an outline of each object of interest within the visible light image; and, selecting an area of the visible light image, whose edge corresponds to the outline of each object of interest, in which to present the thermal image. An alternative method includes the steps of: identifying an area of interest within the thermal image; and selecting another area, separate from the area of interest, from which to remove a portion of the thermal image in order to display the visible light image therein. The visible light and thermal images are captured by a system that includes a visible light camera module and an infrared camera module. The visible light and thermal images are displayed on a display of the system, and selections are made via an interactive element of the system.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Fluke CorporationInventors: Thomas J. McManus, Kirk R. Johnson, Daren M. Thomas, Jody J. Forland, Eugene Skobov
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Patent number: 9204062Abstract: A thermal imaging camera may be used to capture a visible-light (VL) image and an infrared (IR) image. In some examples, the camera includes a range imaging camera module that captures the VL and an infrared camera module that captures the IR image. In such examples, the VL image may include a plurality of different portions that each correspond to a different portion of the scene and distance-to-target data associated with each of the different portions of the scene. The camera may align each of the plurality of different portions of the VL image based on the distance-to-target data associated with corresponding portions of the scene so as to correct a parallax error between the VL image and the IR image. The camera may then concurrently display the VL image in alignment with the IR image.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2011Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Fluke CorporationInventors: Peter A. Bergstrom, Thomas J. McManus, Kirk R. Johnson, Roger Schmidt
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Publication number: 20150304636Abstract: A thermal imaging system having visible light and infrared camera modules can perform various methods for reducing parallax errors between captured visible light and infrared images. The system can perform a first calibration method, which can be manual or automatic, and can receive subsequent parallax refinement adjustments via a user interface. The parallax refinement adjustments may be stored in memory for future use. Systems can include an add-on lens capable of interfacing with the infrared camera module for producing modified infrared images. The system can perform methods to reduce parallax between modified infrared and visible light images, and can receive subsequent parallax refinement adjustments to further reduce parallax between the modified infrared and visible light images. The add-on lens parallax refinement data can be stored in memory of the camera memory of the lens for future use in parallax correction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2015Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventors: Jamie Rhead, Thomas J. McManus
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Publication number: 20150022667Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Thomas J. McManus, Matthew F. Schmidt
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Publication number: 20130321641Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Inventors: Thomas J. McManus, Kirk R. Johnson, Thomas Heinke, Mathew Rekow
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Patent number: 8531562Abstract: A visible light (VL) and infrared (IR) combined image camera with a laser pointer. The laser pointer may be used for marking a hot spot on an object or for focusing an IR lens of a camera on an object. The laser pointer may be adjacent to the VL optics and offset from the IR optics. The VL sensor array may be much larger than the IR sensor array and the camera may also display the pixels of IR data with a much larger instantaneous field of view than the VL pixels. The camera may also provide audible alarms where the alarm is emitted with a tone of variable output to indicate the relative level of the alarm.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2008Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Fluke CorporationInventors: Roger Schmidt, Kirk R. Johnson, Thomas J. McManus
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Publication number: 20130155249Abstract: Thermal imaging cameras for use in retaking images and methods of retaking images with thermal imaging cameras that include the creation and use of a pose template that helps guide the camera back to the position where the original image was captured.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: FLUKE CORPORATIONInventors: John E. Neeley, Thomas J. McManus, Peter A. Bergstrom, Kirk R. Johnson, Ty Black
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Publication number: 20130155248Abstract: Thermal imaging cameras for use in retaking infrared images and methods of retaking thermal images with thermal imaging cameras and possibly employing computational rephotography on a visible light image taken concurrently with an original thermal image to help guide the camera back to the position where the original thermal image was captured.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: FLUKE CORPORATIONInventors: John E. Neeley, Thomas J. McManus, Peter A. Bergstrom, Kirk R. Johnson
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Publication number: 20130050453Abstract: A thermal imaging camera may be used to capture a visible-light (VL) image and an infrared (IR) image. In some examples, the camera includes a range imaging camera module that captures the VL and an infrared camera module that captures the IR image. In such examples, the VL image may include a plurality of different portions that each correspond to a different portion of the scene and distance-to-target data associated with each of the different portions of the scene. The camera may align each of the plurality of different portions of the VL image based on the distance-to-target data associated with corresponding portions of the scene so as to correct a parallax error between the VL image and the IR image. The camera may then concurrently display the VL image in alignment with the IR image.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: Fluke CorporationInventors: Peter A. Bergstrom, Thomas J. McManus, Kirk R. Johnson, Roger Schmidt
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Publication number: 20110001809Abstract: A method for presenting a thermal image within a visible light image includes the steps of: identifying an outline of each object of interest within the visible light image; and, selecting an area of the visible light image, whose edge corresponds to the outline of each object of interest, in which to present the thermal image. An alternative method includes the steps of: identifying an area of interest within the thermal image; and selecting another area, separate from the area of interest, from which to remove a portion of the thermal image in order to display the visible light image therein. The visible light and thermal images are captured by a system that includes a visible light camera module and an infrared camera module. The visible light and thermal images are displayed on a display of the system, and selections are made via an interactive element of the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2010Publication date: January 6, 2011Applicant: FLUKE CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas J. McManus, Kirk R. Johnson, Daren M. Thomas, Jody J. Forland, Eugene Skobov
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Publication number: 20100163730Abstract: An infrared imaging probe that includes an elongated wand and an electrically isolating connection between the imaging components, located at the distal end of the wand, and the image processing components, located at the proximal end of the wand.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2009Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: FLUKE CORPORATIONInventors: Matthew F. Schmidt, Thomas J. McManus
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Patent number: 7535002Abstract: A camera that can capture a visible light image and an infrared image of a target scene. The camera includes a focusable infrared lens and a display. The display provides the visible light and infrared images in a focus mode or an analysis mode. In the focus mode, the percentage of infrared imagery of the target scene is relatively higher to assist the user in focusing the infrared image. In analysis mode, the percentage of infrared imagery is relatively lower to assist the user in analyzing and visualizing the target scene. The modes may be switched manually or automatically.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2007Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Fluke CorporationInventors: Kirk R. Johnson, Thomas J. McManus