Illumination and imaging devices and methods
US7579592B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 23, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 31, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N9/3161
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A thermal torch (12) comprises an infrared camera (22) and a visible light emitter (28, 26) arranged so as to illuminate hot objects with visible light. This projection of visible light onto the scene, rather than observing it at infrared wavelengths converted to visible light by a display screen, makes viewing the scene more natural. Applications include medical imaging equipment, night driving systems, stage lights, and security lights. The profile of the beam of visible light can be modulated with a beam profiler (26) which may be a LCD. The infrared camera (22) and visible projector (28,26) may be bore-sighted to facilitate overlying of the visible projected image onto the scene.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.