Infrared-Based Vehicle Component Imaging and Analysis

摘要

An improved system for evaluating one or more components of a vehicle is provided. The system includes a set of imaging devices configured to acquire image data based on infrared emissions of at least one vehicle component of the vehicle as it moves through a field of view of at least one of the set of imaging devices. An imaging device in the set of imaging devices can include a linear array of photoconductor infrared detectors and a thermoelectric cooler for maintaining an operating temperature of the linear array of detectors at a target operating temperature. The infrared emissions can be within at least one of: the mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) radiation spectrum or the long wavelength infrared (LWIR) radiation spectrum.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
an imaging device configured to acquire infrared-based image data corresponding to at least one vehicle component of a vehicle moving through a field of view of the imaging device, wherein the imaging device includes an infrared detector and a temperature element for maintaining an operating temperature of the infrared detector at a target operating temperature, wherein the temperature element comprises a multi-stage cooler configured to maintain the target operating temperature between approximately −80 degrees Celsius and approximately −25 degrees Celsius, and wherein the infrared-based image data is at least partially based on infrared within the mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) radiation spectrum; and a computer system for evaluating the at least one vehicle component based on the infrared-based image data, wherein the evaluating includes:
generating temperature distribution data for the at least one vehicle component based on the infrared-based image data acquired by the imaging device; andevaluating the at least one vehicle component using the temperature distribution data.