Advanced Medical Electronics Corporation

Other

Gregory John Seifert

Gary David Havey

Paul Lorn Gibson

Peter G Seifert

Scott Kalpin

A sensory substitution device according to an embodiment of the invention includes a thermal imaging array for sensing thermal characteristics of an external scene. The device includes a visual prosthesis adapted to receive input based on the scene sensed by the thermal imaging array and to convey information based on the scene to a user of the sensing device. The visual prosthesis is adapted to simultaneously convey to the user different visual information corresponding to portions of the scene having different thermal characteristics. One type of thermal imaging array includes a microbolometer imaging array, and one type of visual prosthesis includes a retinal implant. According to additional embodiments, an apparatus for obtaining thermal data includes a thermal detector adapted to sense thermal characteristics of an environment using a plurality of pixels. The apparatus also includes a pixel translator, operably coupled with the thermal detector, adapted to translate pixel data of the thermal detector to a lower resolution. The apparatus also includes an interface, operably coupled with the pixel translator, adapted to communicate the thermal characteristics of the environment to a user of the apparatus at a lower resolution than sensed by the thermal detector.

Method and apparatus for sensory substitution, vision prosthesis, or low-vision enhancement utilizing thermal sensing

Endoscope apparatus and methods provide measurements of infrared radiation in the 2 to 14 micrometer wavelength range by mounting an array of infrared radiation detecting elements at the distal end of the endoscope, according to aspects of the invention. Sensor packaging techniques and elemental distributions for the sensor array provide additional advantages.

Infrared endoscope with sensor array at the distal tip

A method and apparatus for measuring and recording peak RMS electrical current over multiple moving-average time periods provides current-flow information in the same units used to characterize electrical system distribution components--primarily overcurrent protective devices such as fuses and circuit breakers. Rather than reporting current-flow information based on a series of brief observations of a few line cycles or seconds, short duration RMS current-flow information in multiple geometrically increasing time intervals is calculated and accumulated to form longer duration RMS values of current. The resulting set of peak RMS current-flow values properly characterizes both the long and short term heating effects of the electrical current in the circuit under inspection, and is used in direct side-by-side comparisons with manufacturer provided data for specific distribution components in the evaluation of usage versus capacity and other functions relevant to distribution system design.

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Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Gregory John Seifert