US 12,146,794 B2
Infrared inspection system for heaters comprised of positive temperature coefficient resistors
Daniel Hanson, Shakopee, MN (US); and Richard Alan Schwartz, Faribault, MN (US)
Assigned to Rosemount Aerospace Inc., Burnsville, MN (US)
Filed by Rosemount Aerospace Inc., Burnsville, MN (US)
Filed on May 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/302,959.
Prior Publication US 2022/0364926 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. G06V 10/40 (2022.01); G01J 5/00 (2022.01); G01J 5/02 (2022.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); G06V 10/22 (2022.01); G06V 10/75 (2022.01); H04N 5/33 (2023.01)
CPC G01J 5/0096 (2013.01) [G01J 5/025 (2013.01); G06T 7/001 (2013.01); G06V 10/22 (2022.01); G06V 10/40 (2022.01); G06V 10/758 (2022.01); H04N 5/33 (2013.01); G01J 2005/0077 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10048 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30164 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of inspecting an article comprising a plurality of positive temperature coefficient resistors, the method comprising:
receiving, by a thermal imager, a first thermal image of the article at a first time;
identifying two or more exterior features of the article based on the first thermal image;
receiving, by the thermal imager, a second thermal image of the article at a second time after the first time;
supplying, using a power source, a target voltage across each of the plurality of positive temperature coefficient resistors after the first time and up to the second time;
identifying a region within the first and second thermal images corresponding to a position of a first positive temperature coefficient resistor among the plurality of positive temperature coefficient resistors based on the two or more exterior features of the article; and
outputting a health indication of the first positive temperature coefficient resistor based on a comparison between the first thermal image and the second thermal image, wherein the health indication represents one of an operative condition, an inoperative condition, and a degraded condition of the first positive temperature coefficient resistor.