The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 30, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 20, 1997
Keiichi Akagawa, Kamakra, JP;
Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Thermographic infrared cameras are disclosed that comprise an infrared image sensor having linearly positioned thermosensing elements. A physical property of each thermosensing element changes in proportion to a corresponding temperature change caused by infrared irradiation incident on the thermosensing element. The infrared image sensor comprises a read device that reads signals from each thermosensing element in an ordered manner. A logarithmic converter receives signals from the infrared image sensor and outputs corresponding logarithmic values of the signals. An image information output device receives the logarithmic values from the logarithmic converter and outputs a corresponding infrared image. Such thermographic infrared cameras can further comprise a reference infrared image sensor. The reference infrared image sensor includes reference thermosensing elements each having a physical property that exhibits a change in value in proportion to a temperature change of the respective thermosensing element. A compensating logarithmic converter outputs a logarithmic value of the ratio of the signal read by the infrared sensor and the signal read by the reference infrared sensor. An image information output device receives the logarithmic values output by the compensating logarithmic converter and outputs corresponding infrared image information.