Patent ID: 7995830

Claim:
An inspection camera for conducting an equipment inspection process comprising: a housing; a lens mounted in an opening in the housing; a focal plane array mounted in the housing in a position to receive radiation from the lens; a microprocessor mounted in the housing and connected to the focal play array for receiving image data from the focal plane array; an input device operatively connected to the microprocessor to accept input data from an operator; a data storage memory operatively connected to the microprocessor, the data storage memory for storing operator proficiency application software to provide instruction to a camera operator in preparation for the equipment inspection process, for recording image data received by the microprocessor from the focal plane array, for storing image data from the microprocessor, for storing input from the input device, and for collecting operator validation information to assess an operator's qualifications to perform at least one aspect of an inspection process including at least one validation question associated with the at least one aspect of the inspection process and requiring at least one correct answer to the at least one validation question to confirm that the operator is sufficiently knowledgeable about the at least one aspect of the inspection process; and a display operatively connected to the microprocessor for displaying the image data, and the input data to the operator; a power distribution system; and a microprocessor operating system installed in the microprocessor for managing flow of data between the microprocessor and (a) the focal plane array, and (b) the data storage memory, and (c) the display, and (d) the input device under direction of the operator proficiency application software.