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).
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Patent number: 11169028Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 4, 2018Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 10841508Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 24, 2015Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20180283953Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 9706137Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Scanlon, Michael Fox, Nicholas Högasten, Theodore R. Hoelter, Katrin Strandemar
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Patent number: 9635284Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 29, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
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Publication number: 20160255284Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
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Publication number: 20160203694Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2013Publication date: July 14, 2016Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20160156880Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 9276161Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 14, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
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Publication number: 20150296146Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventors: Thomas J. Scanlon, Michael Fox, Nicholas Högasten, Theodore R. Hoelter, Katrin Strandemar, Pierre Boulanger, Barbara Sharp, Mark Nussmeier, Eric A. Kurth
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Publication number: 20140160278Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2014Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
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Patent number: 8659664Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 23, 2007Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
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Patent number: 8653461Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
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Publication number: 20130250102Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: FLIR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Scanlon, Michael Fox, Nicholas Högasten, Theodore R. Hoelter, Katrin Strandemar
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Publication number: 20080231719Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2007Publication date: September 25, 2008Inventors: Robert G. Benson, Thomas J. Scanlon, Paul A. Czerepuszko
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Patent number: 4455519Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 28, 1981Date of Patent: June 19, 1984Inventors: Thomas J. Scanlon, Gerald P. Scanlon