Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Scanlon

Thomas J. Scanlon 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).

  • Patent number: 11169028
    Abstract: Flight based infrared imaging systems and related techniques, and in particular UAS based thermal imaging systems, are provided to improve the monitoring capabilities of such systems over conventional infrared monitoring systems. An infrared imaging system is configured to compensate for various environmental effects (e.g., position and/or strength of the sun, atmospheric effects) to provide high resolution and accuracy radiometric measurements of targets imaged by the infrared imaging system. An infrared imaging system is alternatively configured to monitor and determine environmental conditions, modify data received from infrared imaging systems and other systems, modify flight paths and other commands, and/or create a representation of the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Frank, Thomas J. Scanlon, Theodore R. Hoelter, Nicholas Hogasten, Austin A. Richards, Michael Kent, Julie R. Moreira, Pierre M. Boulanger, Raymond Valdes, Jonathan Li
  • Patent number: 10841508
    Abstract: Various techniques are provided to monitor electrical equipment. In some implementations, a monitoring system for a cabinet may include an infrared camera and a non-thermal camera. The infrared camera may be configured to capture one or more thermal images of at least a portion of electrical equipment positioned in an interior cavity of the cabinet. The non-thermal camera may be configured to capture one or more non-thermal images such as visible light images of the portion of electrical equipment. In some implementations, combined images may be generated that include characteristics of the thermal images and the non-thermal images for viewing by a user. In some implementations, the cameras may receive electrical power through a physical coupling to an electrical connector within the cabinet and/or through electromagnetic energy harvesting techniques. Other implementations are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Scanlon, Michael Fox, Nicholas Högasten, Theodore R. Hoelter, Katrin Strandemar, Pierre Boulanger, Barbara Sharp, Mark Nussmeier, Eric A. Kurth
  • Publication number: 20180283953
    Abstract: Flight based infrared imaging systems and related techniques, and in particular UAS based thermal imaging systems, are provided to improve the monitoring capabilities of such systems over conventional infrared monitoring systems. An infrared imaging system is configured to compensate for various environmental effects (e.g., position and/or strength of the sun, atmospheric effects) to provide high resolution and accuracy radiometric measurements of targets imaged by the infrared imaging system. An infrared imaging system is alternatively configured to monitor and determine environmental conditions, modify data received from infrared imaging systems and other systems, modify flight paths and other commands, and/or create a representation of the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Frank, Thomas J. Scanlon, Theodore R. Hoelter, Nicholas Hogasten, Austin A. Richards, Michael Kent, Julie R. Moreira, Pierre M. Boulanger, Raymond Valdes, Jonathan Li
  • Patent number: 9706137
    Abstract: Various techniques are provided to monitor electrical equipment. In some implementations, a monitoring system for a cabinet may include an infrared camera configured to capture thermal images of at least a portion of electrical equipment positioned in an interior cavity of the cabinet. In some implementations, the monitoring system also includes a communication interface configured to transmit the thermal images from the infrared camera for external viewing by a user. In some implementations, the thermal images may be provided through various wired and wireless communication techniques. In some implementations, the infrared camera may receive electrical power through a physical coupling to an electrical connector within the cabinet and/or through electromagnetic energy harvesting techniques. Other implementations are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Scanlon, Michael Fox, Nicholas Högasten, Theodore R. Hoelter, Katrin Strandemar
  • Patent number: 9635284
    Abstract: An infrared camera system is provided to detect absorption of infrared radiation in a selected spectral bandwidth. In one example, an infrared camera system includes a lens adapted to receive infrared radiation from a survey scene comprising one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes a focal plane array comprising a plurality of quantum well infrared photo detectors (QWIPs). The QWIPs are tuned to detect a limited spectral bandwidth of the infrared radiation corresponding to at least a portion of an infrared absorption band of the one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes an optical band pass filter positioned substantially between the lens and the focal plane array. The optical band pass filter is adapted to filter the infrared radiation to a wavelength range substantially corresponding to the limited spectral bandwidth of the QWIPs before the infrared radiation is received by the focal plane array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
  • Publication number: 20160255284
    Abstract: An infrared camera system is provided to detect absorption of infrared radiation in a selected spectral bandwidth. In one example, an infrared camera system includes a lens adapted to receive infrared radiation from a survey scene comprising one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes a focal plane array comprising a plurality of quantum well infrared photo detectors (QWIPs). The QWIPs are tuned to detect a limited spectral bandwidth of the infrared radiation corresponding to at least a portion of an infrared absorption band of the one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes an optical band pass filter positioned substantially between the lens and the focal plane array. The optical band pass filter is adapted to filter the infrared radiation to a wavelength range substantially corresponding to the limited spectral bandwidth of the QWIPs before the infrared radiation is received by the focal plane array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
  • Publication number: 20160203694
    Abstract: Infrared imaging systems and methods disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more embodiments, provide for an infrared camera system comprising a protective enclosure and an infrared image sensor adapted to capture and provide infrared images of areas of a structure. The infrared camera system includes a processing component adapted to receive the infrared images of the areas of the structure from the infrared image sensor, process the infrared images of the areas of the structure by generating thermal information, and store the thermal information in a memory component for analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Högasten, Mary L. Deal, Arthur J. McGowan, JR., Jeffrey D. Frank, Andrew C. Teich, Thomas W. Rochenski, Thomas J. Scanlon
  • Publication number: 20160156880
    Abstract: Systems having throwable devices with thermal imaging capabilities may be provided for observing a potentially hazardous environment with possible human or environmental threats. A system may include a throwable observation device configured to be thrown into the potentially hostile environment and to capture at least thermal images of portions of the environment and a mobile handset configured to wirelessly receive the captured thermal images from the observation device. The observation device may include a durable housing structure having openings, an imaging module in each of the openings, a processor for processing the captured thermal images, and communications components for transmitting the captured thermal images to the mobile handset. The mobile handset may include a processor for further processing the received captured thermal images and a display for displaying processed thermal images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew C. Teich, Jeffrey D. Frank, Brent Lammert, Thomas J. Scanlon, Nicholas Högasten, Theodore R. Hoelter, Katrin Strandemar, Pierre Boulanger, Eric A. Kurth, Barbara Sharp
  • Patent number: 9276161
    Abstract: An infrared camera system is provided to detect absorption of infrared radiation in a selected spectral bandwidth. In one example, an infrared camera system includes a lens adapted to receive infrared radiation from a survey scene comprising one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes a focal plane array comprising a plurality of quantum well infrared photo detectors (QWIPs). The QWIPs are tuned to detect a limited spectral bandwidth of the infrared radiation corresponding to at least a portion of an infrared absorption band of the one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes an optical band pass filter positioned substantially between the lens and the focal plane array. The optical band pass filter is adapted to filter the infrared radiation to a wavelength range substantially corresponding to the limited spectral bandwidth of the QWIPs before the infrared radiation is received by the focal plane array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
  • Publication number: 20150296146
    Abstract: Various techniques are provided to monitor electrical equipment. In some implementations, a monitoring system for a cabinet may include an infrared camera and a non-thermal camera. The infrared camera may be configured to capture one or more thermal images of at least a portion of electrical equipment positioned in an interior cavity of the cabinet. The non-thermal camera may be configured to capture one or more non-thermal images such as visible light images of the portion of electrical equipment. In some implementations, combined images may be generated that include characteristics of the thermal images and the non-thermal images for viewing by a user. In some implementations, the cameras may receive electrical power through a physical coupling to an electrical connector within the cabinet and/or through electromagnetic energy harvesting techniques. Other implementations are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas J. Scanlon, Michael Fox, Nicholas Högasten, Theodore R. Hoelter, Katrin Strandemar, Pierre Boulanger, Barbara Sharp, Mark Nussmeier, Eric A. Kurth
  • Publication number: 20140160278
    Abstract: An infrared camera system is provided to detect absorption of infrared radiation in a selected spectral bandwidth. In one example, an infrared camera system includes a lens adapted to receive infrared radiation from a survey scene comprising one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes a focal plane array comprising a plurality of quantum well infrared photo detectors (QWIPs). The QWIPs are tuned to detect a limited spectral bandwidth of the infrared radiation corresponding to at least a portion of an infrared absorption band of the one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes an optical band pass filter positioned substantially between the lens and the focal plane array. The optical band pass filter is adapted to filter the infrared radiation to a wavelength range substantially corresponding to the limited spectral bandwidth of the QWIPs before the infrared radiation is received by the focal plane array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
  • Patent number: 8659664
    Abstract: A portable camera system (100) includes a lens (104) for forming a focused image of a survey scene (106) onto a focal plane array (108). The focal plane array (108) comprises a cooled two dimensional array of quantum well infrared photo detectors, (QWIP) having a peak spectral responsivity in the wavelength range of 10.4 to 10.8 ?m. The camera includes a cooled band pass optical filter (110) having a peak spectral transmittance approximately centered at a wavelength of 10.57 ?m and a full width half maximum spectral transmittance bandwidth of approximately 10.3 to 10.7 ?m. The camera system (100) is usable to detect an invisible gas plume in a video image of a survey scene if the gas plume contains sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), ammonia, (NH3), Uranyl Fluoride (U2O2F2), or any other gas having an absorption band that that at least partially falls within the wavelength band 10.3 to 10.8 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
  • Patent number: 8653461
    Abstract: An infrared camera system is provided to detect absorption of infrared radiation in a selected spectral bandwidth. In one example, an infrared camera system includes a lens adapted to receive infrared radiation from a survey scene comprising one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes a focal plane array comprising a plurality of quantum well infrared photo detectors (QWIPs). The QWIPs are tuned to detect a limited spectral bandwidth of the infrared radiation corresponding to at least a portion of an infrared absorption band of the one or more gasses. The infrared camera system also includes an optical band pass filter positioned substantially between the lens and the focal plane array. The optical band pass filter is adapted to filter the infrared radiation to a wavelength range substantially corresponding to the limited spectral bandwidth of the QWIPs before the infrared radiation is received by the focal plane array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
  • Publication number: 20130250102
    Abstract: Various techniques are provided to monitor electrical equipment. In some implementations, a monitoring system for a cabinet may include an infrared camera configured to capture thermal images of at least a portion of electrical equipment positioned in an interior cavity of the cabinet. In some implementations, the monitoring system also includes a communication interface configured to transmit the thermal images from the infrared camera for external viewing by a user. In some implementations, the thermal images may be provided through various wired and wireless communication techniques. In some implementations, the infrared camera may receive electrical power through a physical coupling to an electrical connector within the cabinet and/or through electromagnetic energy harvesting techniques. Other implementations are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Scanlon, Michael Fox, Nicholas Högasten, Theodore R. Hoelter, Katrin Strandemar
  • Publication number: 20080231719
    Abstract: A portable camera system (100) includes a lens (104) for forming a focused image of a survey scene (106) onto a focal plane array (108). The focal plane array (108) comprises a cooled two dimensional array of quantum well infrared photo detectors, (QWIP) having a peak spectral responsivity in the wavelength range of 10.4 to 10.8 ?m. The camera includes a cooled band pass optical filter (110) having a peak spectral transmittance approximately centered at a wavelength of 10.57 ?m and a full width half maximum spectral transmittance bandwidth of approximately 10.3 to 10.7 ?m. The camera system (100) is usable to detect an invisible gas plume in a video image of a survey scene if the gas plume contains sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), ammonia, (NH3), Uranyl Fluoride (U2O2F2), or any other gas having an absorption band that that at least partially falls within the wavelength band 10.3 to 10.8 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
  • Patent number: 4455519
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a device for continuous analog position control of multiple torque receivers by a single low power synchro signal source. The device provides continuous control of the magnitude and direction of current flow between the stators of the controlled torque receiver(s). The current flow produces torque which moves the rotor(s) to the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Inventors: Thomas J. Scanlon, Gerald P. Scanlon