G01J5/10

Silicon nitride-carbon nanotube-graphene nanocomposite microbolometer IR detector

The present disclosure is a infrared sensor capable of being integrated into a IR focal plane array. It includes of a CMOS based readout circuit with preamplification, noise filtering, and row/column address control. Using either a microbolometer device structure with either a thermal sensing element of vanadium oxide or amorphous silicon, a nanocomposite is fabricated on top of either of these materials comprising aligned or unaligned carbon nanotube films with IR trans missive layer of silicon nitride followed by one to five monolayers of graphene. These layers are connected in series minimizing the noise sources and enhancing the NEDT of each film. The resulting IR sensor is capable of NEDT of less than 1 mK. The wavelength response is from 2 to 12 microns. The approach is low cost using a process that takes advantage of the economies of scale of wafer level CMOS.

COST EFFECTIVE, MASS PRODUCIBLE SYSTEM FOR RAPID DETECTION OF FEVER CONDITIONS BASED ON THERMAL IMAGING
20230084786 · 2023-03-16 ·

Systems and methods based on thermal imaging for rapid detection of fever conditions in humans that provide for extremely inexpensive, mass producible, field deployable devices accurate in specific, relatively low temperature ranges, and in particular temperatures near nominal human body temperature. The system may include a thermal imager tailored for the application and a corresponding mass producible controlled temperature calibration source configured to provide real time calibration near the human body temperature of interest. The imager and source are deployed in a way such that target people and the calibration source will be within the imager FOV for fever detection. The combination of real time near measurement temperature calibration, with suitable thermography approaches, yield fast, accurate measurements in the fever range using low cost, easy-to-produce components. In combination with a visible imager and pattern/facial recognition techniques, detection of a human target's facial regions of interest suitable for fever detection can be accurately accomplished.

COST EFFECTIVE, MASS PRODUCIBLE SYSTEM FOR RAPID DETECTION OF FEVER CONDITIONS BASED ON THERMAL IMAGING
20230084786 · 2023-03-16 ·

Systems and methods based on thermal imaging for rapid detection of fever conditions in humans that provide for extremely inexpensive, mass producible, field deployable devices accurate in specific, relatively low temperature ranges, and in particular temperatures near nominal human body temperature. The system may include a thermal imager tailored for the application and a corresponding mass producible controlled temperature calibration source configured to provide real time calibration near the human body temperature of interest. The imager and source are deployed in a way such that target people and the calibration source will be within the imager FOV for fever detection. The combination of real time near measurement temperature calibration, with suitable thermography approaches, yield fast, accurate measurements in the fever range using low cost, easy-to-produce components. In combination with a visible imager and pattern/facial recognition techniques, detection of a human target's facial regions of interest suitable for fever detection can be accurately accomplished.

METHOD OF OPERATION FOR AN APPARATUS FOR LAYER-BY-LAYER MANUFACTURE OF 3D OBJECTS
20230082932 · 2023-03-16 ·

A method of manufacturing 3D objects with an apparatus having first and second heat sources and a thermal sensor. The method includes carrying out a build process after a thermal calibration process for a thermal control component(s). The calibration and build processes include a layer cycle including (i) providing a layer of particulate material defining a build bed surface; (ia) heating the surface; (ii) depositing absorption modifier over a layer-specific region and/or a surrounding area; (iii) heating the layer-specific region with the first heat source; and (iv) measuring a temperature of the surface after at least one of (i) to (iii). The layer cycle includes heating the surface of each layer with the second heat source and repeating until the calibration/build processes are complete. The outcome of each calibration routine being based on the measured temperature and being applied to the thermal control component for the subsequent layer cycle.

METHOD OF OPERATION FOR AN APPARATUS FOR LAYER-BY-LAYER MANUFACTURE OF 3D OBJECTS
20230082932 · 2023-03-16 ·

A method of manufacturing 3D objects with an apparatus having first and second heat sources and a thermal sensor. The method includes carrying out a build process after a thermal calibration process for a thermal control component(s). The calibration and build processes include a layer cycle including (i) providing a layer of particulate material defining a build bed surface; (ia) heating the surface; (ii) depositing absorption modifier over a layer-specific region and/or a surrounding area; (iii) heating the layer-specific region with the first heat source; and (iv) measuring a temperature of the surface after at least one of (i) to (iii). The layer cycle includes heating the surface of each layer with the second heat source and repeating until the calibration/build processes are complete. The outcome of each calibration routine being based on the measured temperature and being applied to the thermal control component for the subsequent layer cycle.

METHOD OF OPERATION FOR AN APPARATUS FOR LAYER-BY-LAYER MANUFACTURE OF 3D OBJECTS
20230079559 · 2023-03-16 ·

A method of manufacturing 3D objects in an apparatus having a thermal sensor, a stationary heat source and one or more further heat sources. The method includes a warm up and a build process; each processing multiple layers by a layer cycle. The layer cycles include (a) providing build bed surface of particulate material; (b) heating the surface using the stationary or a first moving heat source; (b1) depositing absorption modifier (absorber) over one or more layer-specific regions and/or depositing absorption modifier (inhibitor) over a surrounding area; (c) heating the surface by the first or a second moving heat source; and (d) measuring the temperature of the surface after (a) and/or (b) and/or (c). During one or more of (a) to (c), heating the surface to a target temperature, such that (c) causes the layer-specific region of each layer to melt and form a portion of the 3D object.

METHOD OF OPERATION FOR AN APPARATUS FOR LAYER-BY-LAYER MANUFACTURE OF 3D OBJECTS
20230079559 · 2023-03-16 ·

A method of manufacturing 3D objects in an apparatus having a thermal sensor, a stationary heat source and one or more further heat sources. The method includes a warm up and a build process; each processing multiple layers by a layer cycle. The layer cycles include (a) providing build bed surface of particulate material; (b) heating the surface using the stationary or a first moving heat source; (b1) depositing absorption modifier (absorber) over one or more layer-specific regions and/or depositing absorption modifier (inhibitor) over a surrounding area; (c) heating the surface by the first or a second moving heat source; and (d) measuring the temperature of the surface after (a) and/or (b) and/or (c). During one or more of (a) to (c), heating the surface to a target temperature, such that (c) causes the layer-specific region of each layer to melt and form a portion of the 3D object.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PERMITTING USER TO IMAGINE CLEAR DETACHMENT PROCEDURE OF TONER CARTRIDGE FROM PROCESS CARTRIDGE
20230125715 · 2023-04-27 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a first process cartridge. The first process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The first process cartridge includes a first photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, and a developing frame. The developing frame has a toner inlet opening. A toner cartridge has a toner supply opening. The toner cartridge is positioned above the developing frame such that the toner supply opening and the toner inlet opening face with each other in upward/downward direction. In the state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is attached to the housing, the toner cartridge is incapable of being detached from the first process cartridge. In a state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is detached from the housing, the toner cartridge is detachable from the first process cartridge.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PERMITTING USER TO IMAGINE CLEAR DETACHMENT PROCEDURE OF TONER CARTRIDGE FROM PROCESS CARTRIDGE
20230125715 · 2023-04-27 · ·

An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a first process cartridge. The first process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the housing. The first process cartridge includes a first photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, and a developing frame. The developing frame has a toner inlet opening. A toner cartridge has a toner supply opening. The toner cartridge is positioned above the developing frame such that the toner supply opening and the toner inlet opening face with each other in upward/downward direction. In the state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is attached to the housing, the toner cartridge is incapable of being detached from the first process cartridge. In a state where the first process cartridge to which the toner cartridge is attached is detached from the housing, the toner cartridge is detachable from the first process cartridge.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REAL-TIME WIDE-FIELD DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE SENSING

A method and a system method for real-time wide-field dynamic temperature sensing of an object, the method comprising producing wide-field illumination to upconverting nanoparticles at the object plane, collecting a light emitted by the upconverting nanoparticles, dividing a collected light into a reflected component and a transmitted component; imaging the reflected component into a first image, imaging the transmitted component into a second image; processing the images; and reconstruction of the object from resulting proceed images.