Brian Drew Heise

US Patent:

53861175, Jan 31, 1995

Filed:

Jun 7, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/073132

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Piety - Knoxville TN
Brian D. Heise - Knoxville TN
Rexford A. Battenberg - Knoxville TN
Willie T. King - Powell TN

Assignee:

Computational Systems Incorporated - Knoxville TN

International Classification:

G01N 2572

US Classification:

250330

Abstract:

A system including a mobile infrared thermography unit and a base station for automating the collection of thermographic data and for facilitating the efficient generation of reports. The mobile infrared thermography unit includes an infrared camera, a storage device such as a videotape recorder for at least recording thermographic images captured by the infrared camera, and a mobile unit computer. The mobile unit computer includes a touch screen display for presenting information to a thermographer and for receiving data and command inputs from the thermographer. The mobile unit computer is interfaced to the infrared camera or the videotape recorder for maintaining a record, either by tape position or date/time stamp, where thermographic images of particular equipment are recorded. The mobile unit computer includes a display operable to prompt the thermographer with route information regarding particular equipment to be thermographically inspected, as well as to suggest to the thermographer particular problems possibly indicated by a particular thermographically-observed condition. The base station includes a base station computer which transfers information to the mobile unit computer prior to undertaking an inspection route, and receives information from the mobile unit computer when the route is completed.