Equipment and method for furnace visualization using virtual interactive windows

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9702555-B2
Application number	US-201414508405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2014
Priority date	Oct 7, 2014
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

A process is provided for analyzing and visualizing conditions of a combustion process in an enclosure, and includes steps of providing continuously updated images of the enclosure for visualization of the enclosure to a user, using a viewing device having a display representing a virtual window of the enclosure; detecting a viewing angle and a viewing position of the user relative to the enclosure; illustrating an interior prospect of the enclosure relative to the viewing angle and position of the user based on the images of the enclosure; and adjusting, in realtime, the illustration of the interior prospect of the enclosure as at least one of the viewing angle and position of the user is changed for reflecting a changed view of the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process for analyzing and visualizing conditions of a combustion process in an enclosure, comprising:
providing continuously updated images of the enclosure for visualization of the enclosure to a user, using a viewing device having a display representing a virtual window of the enclosure;
detecting a viewing angle and a viewing position of the user relative to the enclosure;
illustrating an interior prospect of the enclosure relative to the viewing angle and position of the user based on the images of the enclosure; and
adjusting, in realtime, the illustration of the interior prospect of the enclosure as at least one of the viewing angle and position of the user is changed for reflecting a changed view of the user.

2. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising capturing the images of the enclosure using a plurality of image-capturing devices connected to the enclosure.

3. The process according to claim 2 , further comprising compiling the images received from the plurality of image-capturing devices, and constructing a three-dimensional (3D) view of the interior prospect of the enclosure based on the compiled images.

4. The process according to claim 3 , further comprising transmitting the 3D view of the interior prospect of the enclosure wirelessly in realtime to the user.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the viewing device includes at least one of: a portable computer device, a wearable computer display, and an optical head-mounted display for the viewing of the interior prospect of the enclosure.

6. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising transforming walls of the enclosure virtually transparent for the viewing of the interior prospect of the enclosure.

7. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising integrating the illustration of the interior prospect of the enclosure with at least one enclosure parameter for describing the conditions of the combustion process in the enclosure.

8. An apparatus for analyzing and visualizing conditions of a combustion process in an enclosure, the apparatus comprising:
a visualization unit configured for providing continuously updated images of the enclosure for visualization of the enclosure to a user, using a viewing device having a display representing a virtual window of the enclosure;
detecting a viewing angle and a viewing position of the user relative to the enclosure;
illustrating an interior prospect of the enclosure relative to the viewing angle and position of the user based on the images of the enclosure; and
adjusting, in realtime, the illustration of the interior prospect of the enclosure as at least one of the viewing angle and position of the user is changed for reflecting a changed view of the user.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of image-capturing devices connected to the enclosure, the plurality of image-capturing devices configured for capturing the images of the enclosure.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the visualization unit is configured for compiling the images received from the plurality of image-capturing devices, and constructing a three-dimensional (3D) view of the interior prospect of the enclosure based on the compiled images.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the visualization unit is configured for transmitting the 3D view of the interior prospect of the enclosure wirelessly in realtime to the user.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the viewing device includes at least one of: a portable computer device, a wearable computer display, and an optical head-mounted display for the viewing of the interior prospect of the enclosure.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the visualization unit is configured for transforming walls of the enclosure virtually transparent for the viewing of the interior prospect of the enclosure.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the visualization unit is configured for integrating the illustration of the interior prospect of the enclosure with at least one enclosure parameter for describing the conditions of the combustion process in the enclosure.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a computer processor to analyze and visualize conditions of a combustion process in an enclosure, comprising instructions to:
provide continuously updated images of the enclosure for visualization of the enclosure to a user, using a viewing device having a display representing a virtual window of the enclosure;
detect a viewing angle and a viewing position of the user relative to the enclosure;
illustrate an interior prospect of the enclosure relative to the viewing angle and position of the user based on the images of the enclosure; and
adjust, in realtime, the illustration of the interior prospect of the enclosure as at least one of the viewing angle and position of the user is changed for reflecting a changed view of the user.

16. The medium according to claim 15 , further comprising instructions to capture the images of the enclosure using a plurality of image-capturing devices connected to the enclosure.

17. The medium according to claim 16 , further comprising instructions to compile the images received from the plurality of image-capturing devices, and construct a three-dimensional (3D) view of the interior prospect of the enclosure based on the compiled images.

18. The medium according to claim 17 , further comprising instructions to transmit the 3D view of the interior prospect of the enclosure wirelessly in realtime to the user.

19. The medium according to claim 15 , wherein the viewing device includes at least one of: a portable computer device, a wearable computer display, and an optical head-mounted display for the viewing of the interior prospect of the enclosure.

20. The medium according to claim 15 , further comprising instructions to transform walls of the enclosure virtually transparent for the viewing of the interior prospect of the enclosure, and integrate the illustration of the interior prospect of the enclosure with at least one enclosure parameter for describing the conditions of the combustion process in the enclosure.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc
• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Bietto Stefano
• Martin Matthew
• Kraus Kurt

Classifications

• H04N23/555

  for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes · CPC title

• F23N2223/08

  Microprocessor; Microcomputer · CPC title

• F23N2229/20

  Camera viewing · CPC title

• F23N5/003 Primary

  using detectors sensitive to combustion gas properties (F23N5/02, F23N5/18 - F23N5/26 take precedence) · CPC title

• F23N5/082

  using electronic means · CPC title