Thermal imaging operates on a simple yet effective principle: all objects emit infrared energy as a function of their temperature. This form of energy, invisible to the human eye, can be detected and translated into a visual image by a thermal imaging system. Here’s a step-by-step look at the process:
1.The thermal camera, equipped with an infrared detector, captures the infrared radiation emitted from all objects in its field of view.
2.The captured radiation data is then processed by the camera’s built-in software. An optical system focused infrared energy to a sensor array, or detector chip, with thousands of pixels in a grid.
3.The software translates the data into an image, known as a thermal image or thermogram, representing the temperature variations of the scene.
4.Each temperature value is assigned a different color. Typically, warmer areas are represented in red, and cooler areas are shown in blue. A matrix of colors corresponding to temperatures is sent to the camera display as a picture.
What is an Infrared Thermal Imaging Camera？
An infrared thermal imaging camera, often referred to as a thermal camera or an infrared camera, is a device that creates an image using infrared radiation.
Unlike conventional cameras that create pictures using visible light, thermal cameras operate in the long-wavelength infrared spectrum, which extends up to 14,000 nanometers.
A thermal camera works by detecting the heat emitted by objects and converting it into an electronic signal. This signal is then processed to produce a thermal image on a video monitor. The camera can also perform temperature calculations, making it a versatile tool for any application that requires accurate temperature readings. From diagnosing electrical issues to identifying insulation gaps in buildings, infrared thermal imaging cameras are invaluable in many professional fields.
How Infrared Cameras Work
All objects emit infrared energy, known as a heat signature. An infrared camera (also known as a thermal imager) detects and measures the infrared energy of objects. The camera converts that infrared data into an electronic image that shows the apparent surface temperature of the object being measured.
An infrared camera contains an optical system that focuses infrared energy onto a special detector chip (sensor array) that contains thousands of detector pixels arranged in a grid.
Each pixel in the sensor array reacts to the infrared energy focused on it and produces an electronic signal. The camera processor takes the signal from each pixel and applies a mathematical calculation to it to create a color map of the apparent temperature of the object. Each temperature value is assigned a different color. The resulting matrix of colors is sent to memory and to the camera’s display as a temperature picture (thermal image) of that object.
Many infrared cameras also include a visible light camera that automatically captures a standard digital image with each pull of the trigger. By blending these images it is easier to correlate problem areas in your infrared image with the actual equipment or area you are inspecting.
Beyond basic thermal imaging capabilities, you can find infrared cameras with a wide range of additional features that automate functions, allow voice annotations, enhance resolution, record and stream video of the images, and support analysis and reporting.