A GSM / GPRS ENABLED BORESCOPE (01-Oct-2009)

234495

A GSM / GPRS ENABLED BORESCOPE

BACKGROUND

    The present invention relates generally to inspection devices, and more particularly to a borescope that is configured to communicate directly with a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) / General packet radio service (GPRS) network.

    In today's world, innovations and technologies have generated various useful products that are used for multiple applications. Among these products, a borescope is widely used for imaging remote and inaccessible locations in industries, such as aerospace, power generation, oil and gas exploration, automotive and the like. The borescope is an optical device that includes a rigid or a flexible tube having an eyepiece on one end and an objective lens on the other end. Also, the borescope includes one or more optical fibers that are used for illuminating remote objects. The flexible tube is used for relaying an image of the remote object to a user.

    Further, the borescopes are primarily used as inspection devices that are generally deployed in inaccessible locations for multiple applications. For example, in an automotive industry, auto technicians use the borescope in order to inspect the valves and pistons without removing the heads of engine combustion chambers. In another example, the borescope is used by HVAC technicians to inspect mold in ducts and on evaporator coils. In yet another example, the borescope is used for inspecting water pump weep holes for a coolant leak, for inspecting radiators for restrictions and many more.

    Generally in these applications, information (e.g., video images) that is generated by the borescope is shared among multiple users. These multiple users are located at different geographical areas. For example, during the oil exploration projects in remote locations, an output (e.g., video images) of the borescope is sent to experts for

234495

performing various analyses. In another example, during various maintenance processes in the aerospace or chemical industry, video images that are obtained from the borescope are shared among the various engineers, analysts or quality inspectors for examining the internal inaccessible part of the products (e.g., aircraft engine parts).

    In addition, in order to communicate the information to the multiple users, the borescope is generally coupled to an external network (e.g., Internet). Figure 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a system that connects the borescope to a GSM/GPRS network for communicating an output of the borescope to the multiple users. This system includes an intermediary link that connects a borescope to the GSM/GPRS network. In an example, the intermediary link is an Ethernet network and the borescope is coupled to the Ethernet using a network cable. In another example, the intermediary link can be a local wireless connection that...