Infrared imaging system

Claim 2

Apparatus for scanning electromagnetic radiation of an object field and displaying a visible image thereof, comprising: means for scanning a two-dimensional electromagnetic energy image of an object line-by-line in a given raster pattern to produce a time varying signal proportional to the intensity thereof, a video monitor display system including means for scanning an image line-by-line over a display face of the video monitor in a raster pattern that is proportionally the same as said given raster pattern, and a video processor receiving said time varying electrical signal for modulating the intensity of the video scanning means to trace a picture on the display face of the video monitor, said video processor including: means for modulating the video scanning means for a certain number of scanned raster lines to produce a visual image of the two dimensional object image, and means modulating the video scanning means when scanning other of its raster lines for displaying a graph of the time varying signal occurring along one line of the object image, said graph being displayed without disturbing the line-by-line raster scan of the video scanning means.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said video processor additionally includes means for generating a plurality of bright graticular lines on the graph portion of the display, whereby the intensity of the object image radiation across said one image line may be quantitatively determined by comparison with the reference graticule lines.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 which additionally comprises means for displaying a bright line on the face of the video monitor which is coincident with said one line of the image that is being graphically displayed as to its electromagnetic intensity.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 which additionally comprises, a memory for receiving and storing at least one frame of the time varying signal from the scanning and detecting means in synchronism with the image of the object field being scanned, and means responsive to the memory for repetitively displaying on the video monitor a stored frame of the time varying signal at television rates.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 which additionally comprises: means for detecting and storing the maximum level of the time varying electrical signal output of said scanning means during the time that the scanning means scans one frame of the object field electromagnetic radiation, whereby said maximum level of the electrical signal is proportional to the maximum brightness of the object field image, means for transferring the stored maximum electrical signal level from said detecting and storing means to a second storage means after the end of each scanned frame, and means for combining the maximum signal level stored in said second storage means with said time varying electrical signal generated by the scanning means before it is applied to the video monitor, whereby an automatic brightness control is provided.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said scanning means included a detector characterized by a changing electrical characteristic proportional to the intensity of electromagnetic radiation within the infrared wavelength range falling thereon, whereby said apparatus becomes a thermograph.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said detector is a single element infrared detector, and wherein the scanning means additionally comprises: an electronic preamplifier responsive to the changing electrical characteristic of said detector for generatiNg a time varying electronic video signal, means for imaging an object field onto said detector, a reference temperature object disposed adjacent the object field, a rotating mirror assembly for scanning the object image horizontally relative to said detector, said mirror assembly reflecting the reference temperature object onto said detector prior to each horizontal scan of the object image, a rocking mirror assembly for scanning the object image vertically with respect to the detector, said rotating mirror assembly scanning the object image a large number of horizontal times for each time that the rocking mirror assembly scans the object image once vertically with respect to the detector, whereby the time varying electronic signal at the output of the pre-amplifier is representative of the object field infrared intensity line-by-line horizontally across the object, a capacitor coupling the output of said pre-amplifier and subsequent video processing circuits, and means responsive to the rotating mirror position for connecting the side of said capacitor removed from the output of the pre-amplifier to a fixed potential for a time period in each horizontal scan of the object image coincident with the detector being exposed to the reference temperature object, whereby the time varying electronic video signal supplied to said video processor is referenced to a fixed potential for each horizontal scan line.

Claim 9

Apparatus for scanning electromagnetic radiation of an object field and displaying a visible image thereof, comprising: means for scanning a two-dimensional electromagnetic energy image of an object line-by-line in a given raster pattern to produce a time varying signal proportional to the intensity thereof, a video monitor display system including means for scanning an image line-by-line over a display face of the video monitor in a raster pattern that is proportionally the same as said given raster pattern, and a video processor receiving said time varying electrical signal for modulating the intensity of the video scanning means to trace a picture on the display face of the video monitor, said video processor including: means for modulating the video scanning means for a certain number of scanned raster lines to produce a visual image of the two-dimensional object image, and means modulating the video scanning means when scanning other of its raster lines for displaying a graph of said time varying signal occurring along one line of the object image, said graph being displayed without disturbing the line-by-line raster scan of the video scanning means, said means for modulating the video scanning means to display a graph including: means for repetitively comparing a time varying signal for said one line across the image with a reference voltage that is proportional in magnitude to the raster line being scanned by the video scanning means as the graph is being displayed thereby, means for detecting when the time varying signal for one line of the image is greater than said reference voltage, and means for modulating the intensity of said scanning means while it is displaying said graph according to the detection of the signal voltage of said one line being greater than said reference voltage.

Claim 10

Apparatus for scanning electromagnetic radiation of an object field and displaying a visible image thereof, comprising: means for scanning a two-dimensional electromagnetic energy image of an object line-by-line in a given raster pattern to produce a time varying signal proportional to the intensity thereof, a video monitor display system including means for scanning an image line-by-line over a display face of the video monitor in a raster pattern that is proportionally the same as said given raster pattern, and a video processor receiving said time varying electrical signal for modulating the intensity of the video scanning means to trace a picture on the display face of the video monitor, said video processor including: means for modulating the video scanning means for a certain number of scanned raster lines to produce a visual image of the two-dimensional object image, and means modulating the video scanning means when scanning other of its raster lines for displaying a graph of said time varying signal occurring along one line of the object image, said graph being displayed without disturbing the line-by-line raster scan of the video scanning means, said means for modulating the video scanning means to display a graph including: means for repetitively comparing a time varying signal for said one line across the image with a reference voltage that is proportional in magnitude to the raster line being scanned by the video scanning means as the graph is being displayed thereby, means for detecting when the time varying signal for one line of the image is greater than said reference voltage, and means for modulating the intensity of said scanning means while it is displaying said graph according to the detection of the signal voltage of said one line being greater than said reference voltage.

Claim 11

Apparatus for scanning electromagnetic radiation of an object field and displaying a visible image thereof, comprising: means for scanning a two-dimensional electromagnetic energy image of an object line-by-line in a given raster pattern to produce a time varying signal proportional to the intensity thereof, a video monitor display system including means for scanning an image line-by-line over a display face of the video monitor in a raster pattern that is proportionally the same as said given raster pattern, said video monitor display system including a single cathode ray tube as the video monitor and having an electron beam as its video scanning means, means for scanning the cathode ray tube eLectron beam at a slow rate of one frame in about two seconds or longer in synchronism with the scanning of said image of the object field, and means for scanning the cathode ray tube electron beam at a fast rate of about 60 frames per second, and a video processor receiving said time varying electrical signal for modulating the intensity of the video scanning means to trace a picture on the display face of the video monitor, said video processor including: means for modulating the video scanning means for a certain number of scanned raster lines to produce a visual image of the two-dimensional object image, and means modulating the video scanning means when scanning other of its raster lines for displaying a graph of said time varying signal occurring along one line of the object image, said graph being displayed without disturbing the line-by-line raster scan of the video scanning means.

Claim 12

Apparatus for scanning electromagnetic radiation of an object field and displaying a visible image thereof, comprising: means for scanning a two-dimensional electromagnetic energy image of an object line-by-line in a given raster pattern to produce a time varying signal proportional to the intensity thereof, a video monitor display system including means for scanning an image line-by-line over a display face of the video monitor in a raster pattern that is proportionally the same as said given raster pattern, said video monitor display system including a single cathode ray tube as the video monitor and having an electron beam as its video scanning means, means for scanning the cathode ray tube eLectron beam at a slow rate of one frame in about two seconds or longer in synchronism with the scanning of said image of the object field, and means for scanning the cathode ray tube electron beam at a fast rate of about 60 frames per second, and a video processor receiving said time varying electrical signal for modulating the intensity of the video scanning means to trace a picture on the display face of the video monitor, said video processor including: means for modulating the video scanning means for a certain number of scanned raster lines to produce a visual image of the two-dimensional object image, and means modulating the video scanning means when scanning other of its raster lines for displaying a graph of said time varying signal occurring along one line of the object image, said graph being displayed without disturbing the line-by-line raster scan of the video scanning means.

Claim 13

A thermograph system, comprising: a single element detector with a changing electrical characteristic proportional to the intensity of electromagnetic radiation within the infrared range falling thereon, a polygon mirror assembly having a plurality of mirror surfaces parallel with an axis of rotation wherein each mirror surface scans an object image horizontally with respect to the detector, said polygon mirror assembly including a motor means for driving said mirror about its axis of rotation at substantially a constant angular velocity, a rocking mirror assembly positioned for scanning said object image vertically with respect to the detector, said mirror assembly including a driving motor that angularly positions said mirror in proportion to the level of direct current voltage applied thereto, means for sensing the position of said polygon mirror and emitting a horizontal synchronizing pulse each time one of its mirror surfaces is in a predetermined angular position with respect to the object field and the detector, a free running digital counter for controlling the vertical object image scanning mirror, logic circuitry connected to said digital counter for emitting a vertical synchronizing pulse when said digital counter reaches a certain predetermined count, a video display system including horizontal and vertical sweep oscillators that are triggered by said horizontal and vertical synchronizing pulses, respectively, for scanning an electron beam over an entire display surface line by line in a raster pattern, an adjustable direct current voltage source, means for supplying a voltage function to the rocking mirror driving motor that is related to the output of said vertical sweep oscillator for a certain number of counts of said digital counter, said rocking mirror motor supplying means additionally including means for switching the supply to the mirror motor from a signal proportional to the output of the vertical sweep oscillator to a constant voltage of said adjustable direct current voltage source for a period of time controlled by logic circuitry connected with said digital counter, whereby said constantly rotating polygon mirror repetitively scans a single line of the object image during the period of time that the rocking mirror motor is connected with the adjustable D.C. voltage source and further whereby the particular line of the object image to be so repetitively scanned is selected by the level of the adjustable direct current voltage source, and a video processor for applying time varying electrical changes of said detector to modulate the intensity of said electron beam, said video processor including means for displaying a graph of a temperature profile across the one line of the object image that is being repetitively scanned during the period of time controlled by said digital counter wherein the rotating mirror motor is connected with said adjustable direct current voltage source, said graph of the temperature profile being displayed on a portion of the screen not occupied by the display of an image oF the object field and further without alterning the horizontal and vertical sweep oscillator outputs according to the magnitude or shape of the temperature profile.

Claim 14

A thermograph system, comprising: a single element detector with a changing electrical characteristic proportional to the intensity of electromagnetic radiation within the infrared range falling thereon, a polygon mirror assembly having a plurality of mirror surfaces parallel with an axis of rotation wherein each mirror surface scans an object image horizontally with respect to the detector, said polygon mirror assembly including a motor means for driving said mirror about its axis of rotation at substantially a constant angular velocity, a rocking mirror assembly positioned for scanning said object image vertically with respect to the detector, said mirror assembly including a driving motor that angularly positions said mirror in proportion to the level of direct current voltage applied thereto, means for sensing the position of said polygon mirror and emitting a horizontal synchronizing pulse each time one of its mirror surfaces is in a predetermined angular position with respect to the object field and the detector, a free running digital counter for controlling the vertical object image scanning mirror, logic circuitry connected to said digital counter for emitting a vertical synchronizing pulse when said digital counter reaches a certain predetermined count, a video display system including horizontal and vertical sweep oscillators that are triggered by said horizontal and vertical synchronizing pulses, respectively, for scanning an electron beam over an entire display surface line by line in a raster pattern, an adjustable direct current voltage source, means for supplying a voltage function to the rocking mirror driving motor that is related to the output of said vertical sweep oscillator for a certain number of counts of said digital counter, said rocking mirror motor supplying means additionally including means for switching the supply to the mirror motor from a signal proportional to the output of the vertical sweep oscillator to a constant voltage of said adjustable direct current voltage source for a period of time controlled by logic circuitry connected with said digital counter, whereby said constantly rotating polygon mirror repetitively scans a single line of the object image during the period of time that the rocking mirror motor is connected with the adjustable D.C. voltage source and further whereby the particular line of the object image to be so repetitively scanned is selected by the level of the adjustable direct current voltage source, and a video processor for applying time varying electrical changes of said detector to modulate the intensity of said electron beam, said video processor including means for displaying a graph of a temperature profile across the one line of the object image that is being repetitively scanned during the period of time controlled by said digital counter wherein the rotating mirror motor is connected with said adjustable direct current voltage source, said graph of the temperature profile being displayed on a portion of the screen not occupied by the display of an image oF the object field and further without alterning the horizontal and vertical sweep oscillator outputs according to the magnitude or shape of the temperature profile.

Claim 15

A thermograph system according to claim 10 wherein said video processor additionally includes means responsive to the direct current level of said adjustable direct current source to add a bright mark across the video display system screen coincident with the line of the object image that is being repetitively scanned for displaying a temperature profile thereacross.

Claim 16

A thermograph system according to claim 10 wherein said video processor additionally includes means responsive to said digital counter for adding a plurality of graticule lines at fixed vertical positions across the video display system screen in that area thereof wherein the profile temperature curve is displayed.

Claim 17

A thermograph according to claim 10 wherein said means for displaying a temperature profile curve of the object image across said one line comprises: a capacitor connected across a constant current drain circuit in order to produce a voltage discharge curve that is substantially a straight line, a fixed direct current voltage source, means responsive to said digital counter for connecting said capacitor to said direct current voltage source during the period of time of each frame wherein the object image is being scanned in two dimensions over the detector and for disconnecting the battery from the capacitor during the period of time of each frame that a single line of the object image is being repetitively scanned for displaying a temperature profile thereof, and means for repetitively comparing the signal of said one line of the object image with the voltage across said capacitor during the period of time that the one line is being repetitively scanned, said comparison means producing an output for the period that the signal of the one line is greater than the gradually decreasing voltage across said capacitor, said comparator output being used to modulate the video display system electronic beam for displaying a temperature profile curve.

Claim 18

A thermograph system according to claim 13 wherein the video processor additionally includes a differentiating circuit connected to the output of said comparator so that the video display system electron beam is modulated to form a single line temperature profile curve on the face of the video monitor.

Claim 19

Apparatus for generating a video frame signal, comprising: means for scanning in two-dimensions an electromagnetic energy field line-by-line in a raster scan and for detecting a time varying signal proportional to the intensity thereof, means for applying said time varying signal as said video frame signal for one portion thereof, whereby the video frame signal permits reconstruction of an image of said electromagnetic energy field during said portion by a raster scan display device, and means receiving the time varying signal during one scan line thereof for developing said video frame signal for a second portion thereof that permits displaying a graph of the electromagnetic field intensity across said one scan line thereof with a raster scan, whereby a two-dimensional image of said object field and said graph may be simultaneously displayed by a raster scan video monitor.

Claim 20

Apparatus for generating a video frame signal, comprising: means for scanning in two-dimensions an electromagnetic energy field line-by-line in a raster scan and for detecting a time varying signal proportional to the intensity thereof, means for applying said time varying signal as said video frame signal for one portion thereof, whereby the video frame signal permits reconstruction of an image of said electromagnetic energy field during said portion by a raster scan display device, and means receiving the time varying signal during one scan line thereof for developing said video frame signal for a second portion thereof that permits displaying a graph of the electromagnetic field intensity across said one scan line thereof with a raster scan, whereby a two-dimensional image of said object field and said graph may be simultaneously displayed by a raster scan video monitor.