Patent ID: 7758239

Claim:
A method of sensing the temperature of a heated object associated with a heat source and having at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is less affected by the heat source than the second portion, comprising: obtaining past temperature data relating to the heated object and associated with past temperature measurements; capturing a thermal image of the heated object; obtaining a reference temperature of the heated object based on the captured thermal image, wherein the reference temperature is associated with the first portion of the heated object; and calculating a normalized hotspot temperature based on at least the obtained past temperature data, the captured thermal image, and the reference temperature to compensate for environmental factors associated with the heated object, wherein the heated object is a molten metal vehicle, and wherein the first portion of the heated object is less affected by a molten metal than the second portion of the heated object, wherein the second portion is in contact with the molten metal.