A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN INFRA-RED (IR) THERMOMETER WITH A BUILT-IN SELF-TEST

• Main Author: BYCHKOV, Eyal
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.11.2023
• Subjects: COLORIMETRY; MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT,POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRA-RED,VISIBLE OR ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT; MEASURING; PHYSICS; RADIATION PYROMETRY; TESTING

An Infra-Red (IR) thermometer with a built-in self-test, the IR thermometer comprising: an IR sensor configured to determine a temperature of an object based on thermal radiation emittance from the object; a thermal radiation generation source capable of emitting known thermal radiation upon receiving an instruction; a cap, comprising a reflective surface for reflecting thermal radiation generated by the thermal radiation generation source into the IR sensor upon the cap being in a closed position wherein the cap is covering a part of the IR thermometer including the IR sensor and the thermal radiation generation source, so that the IR sensor does not receive radiation from sources other than the thermal radiation generation source; and a processing circuitry configured to perform the built-in self-test by: instructing the thermal radiation generation source to emit the known thermal radiation, when the cap is in the closed position; obtaining at least one temperature measurement from the IR sensor after a time period required for the thermal radiation generation source to emit the known thermal radiation; and upon the temperature measurement deviating above a threshold from the expected temperature, generating a failure indication of failure of the built-in self-test or upon the temperature measurement deviating below the threshold from the expected temperature, generate a success indication of success of the built-in self-test.